The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Senior International Logistics Specialist (L3)
3-5 years as a Senior SpecialistSkills to master
- Leading complex, high-value shipments
- mentoring junior colleagues
- owning specific trade lanes end-to-end
- demonstrating strong problem-solving and negotiation skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently hitting OTIF targets for your assigned lanes/projects.
- Successfully leading small improvement projects (e.g., process optimisation, new carrier onboarding).
- Being the 'go-to' person for complex issues within your specialism.
- Proactively identifying and mitigating risks without constant supervision.
- 2
Logistics Project Manager (from a different industry)
Roughly 8-10 years in project management, with significant exposure to logistics operations.Skills to master
- Adapting project management methodologies to the unpredictable nature of logistics
- quickly learning our specific products, trade lanes, and regulatory environment
- demonstrating strong stakeholder management in a new context.
You're ready to move on when
- A proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and budget.
- Strong leadership skills, even without direct functional expertise initially.
- A quick learner who can rapidly absorb new industry-specific knowledge.
- Excellent problem-solving and communication skills applicable to any domain.