Delivery Manager Job Description
This Delivery Manager job description explains responsibilities, required skills, career routes, CV advice, and related roles within transport and logistics.
Thinking about a career as a Delivery Manager? This role is central to ensuring transport operations, customer commitments and service levels are met every day. Here, we’ll walk through what a Delivery Manager does day-to-day, how to become one, what to include on your CV and some related roles worth considering if you’re building a career in transport, warehousing or wider supply chain leadership.
What Is a Delivery Manager in Logistics?
A Delivery Manager oversees the performance, coordination, and service execution of transport operations. You’ll be responsible for ensuring goods are delivered safely, on time, and in line with customer expectations, while managing communication between the transport team, drivers, warehouse, planning, customer service, and external partners.
On a typical day, you might start by reviewing the status of ongoing deliveries, checking route performance, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) such as OTIF (On Time, in Full), failed deliveries, route adherence, fuel usage, and updating the wider operations team on any risks. You’ll work closely with Transport Planners, Warehouse Supervisors, and Customer Service teams to ensure routes are achievable, loads are ready, and urgent orders are prioritised.
A key part of the role involves managing service performance. You’ll lead daily or shift check-ins, handle escalations from customers or drivers, and ensure delays or issues are communicated early. You’ll also play a crucial role in recovery planning, including rerouting vehicles, arranging additional loads, reallocating drivers, or coordinating with third-party carriers where needed.
Delivery Managers also focus on continuous improvement. This might mean reviewing failed delivery reasons, analysing customer feedback, identifying route inefficiencies, or improving communication routines between transport and warehouse teams. Safety, compliance, and quality are also central: you’ll ensure driver briefings are clear, checks are followed, and any incidents are investigated and recorded correctly.
The role is ideal for someone who enjoys leadership, real-time problem-solving, communication, and keeping fastmoving operations running smoothly.
How to Become a Delivery Manager?
Many Delivery Managers come from roles such as Transport Supervisor, Transport Planner, Senior Customer Service Coordinator, or Operations Team Leader. Experience working in a transport office, warehouse environment, or customer service role within logistics is highly valued and often required when applying for this role.
You don’t always need a degree, but training in logistics, supply chain, transport operations, or business management can be beneficial. Qualifications such as Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) can also help, particularly within more transportfocused environments.
Employers look for people who can manage pressure, communicate clearly, support teams, and understand the demands of transport and distribution. Experience using systems such as transportation management systems (TMS), telematics, route-planning tools, or logistics dashboards is highly beneficial.
What to Put on a Delivery Manager CV
Your CV should emphasise service performance, communication, and leadership across transport or logistics operations. Useful experience includes: Coordinating transport or delivery operations, Handling customer escalations or service issues, Managing delivery timelines, driver communication, and ETAs, Improving OTIF or reducing failed delivery rates, Running shift briefings or performance huddles, Supporting planning, dispatch, or route optimisation and Working with TMS dashboards or GPS/tracking tools.
Employers will also look for evidence of your ability to manage tight deadlines, respond to unexpected issues, and build strong relationships with drivers, warehouse colleagues, planners, and customers.
Similar Jobs to Delivery Manager
Delivery Managers gain skills in communication, planning, leadership, and service performance that transfer well across transport, warehousing, and broader supply chain operations. Some similar jobs to Delivery Manager include ACT Team Leader, Transportation Manager or Distribution Manager. Each of these roles requires strong leadership skills, regular communication with various teams across an organisation, and a strong grasp of KPI measurements and analysis.
Other Jobs in Logistics and Supply Chain
Whether you’re looking to expand your career potential or plan your next move, there are plenty of roles available in the logistics and supply chain sector. Some roles you might consider include Demand Planning Manager, Distribution Manager, Service Delivery Lead, Operations Team Leader, or Transport Planner. These roles require strong leadership and communication skills as you will be the first contact point for many teams across a business.
With more experience, you may progress into roles such as Transport Manager, Logistics Manager, Operations Manager, Distribution Manager, or Customer Service Manager. These roles exist across retail, ecommerce, FMCG, manufacturing, parcel networks, and 3PLs.
Apply for Delivery Manager Jobs Near You
Delivery Manager roles are available across the UK in distribution centres, transport depots, parcel hubs, fulfilment centres, and multiclient logistics operations. Employers include national retailers, 3PL providers, manufacturing operations with inhouse fleets, and parcel delivery networks.
Whether you prefer fast paced transport operations, customer focused logistics roles, or multisite service management, there are opportunities matched to different experience levels and working patterns including day shifts, hybrid roles, and multishift operations. Locations that regularly hire Delivery Manager positions include London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Leeds.
Delivery Manager Job Description FAQ
Is a Delivery Manager in Logistics a Good Career Choice?
Yes, a Delivery Manager is an excellent choice if you enjoy leading teams, overseeing transport performance, and working at the heart of a busy logistics operation. It offers clear progression routes into senior operational roles.
What Skills Does a Delivery Manager Need?
As a Delivery Manager, you’ll need strong communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills, along with confidence managing drivers, transport plans, delivery timelines, and customer expectations. Experience with logistics systems and a strong understanding of transport processes is a major advantage.
What Are the Biggest Challenges of Being a Delivery Manager?
Common challenges you will face include managing delays, balancing customer expectations, handling lastminute changes, supporting drivers, and keeping services running smoothly during peak periods or unforeseen disruptions.
What Personal Qualities Make a Great Delivery Manager?
Great Delivery Managers are calm under pressure, supportive, proactive, and excellent communicators. They work well with teams, have strong situational awareness, and are always focused on delivering a high-quality service for customers.
