supply-chain-management-jobs

The Top Supply Chain Management Jobs

By Published On: March 13, 2023

Supply Chain Management – What is it?

Simply put, Supply Chain Management is flow management of raw and refined materials from source to production to storage and distribution. As one can imagine, this process flow requires a lot of management along with tactical and strategic expertise and experience. Here are some of the supply chain jobs that are required to ensure efficient and successful supply chain management.

Entry-Level Supply Chain Positions | Average Salary: $69,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Even entry-level supply chain management jobs pay decent wages. That’s not bad for a recent college graduate or even a younger person wanting to transfer some skills into entry-level supply chain management. Typical education requirements are a Bachelor’s Degree in logistics, supply chain, or another related field.

  • Supply Chain Specialist
  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Business Analyst
  • Transportation Analyst
  • Operations Analyst

Mid-Level Supply Chain Positions | Average Salary: $115,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

As you begin to climb the supply chain management ladders, you get into being responsible for larger portions or your company’s supply chains. You will take on direct reports and will be logging more consequential time. In this day and age of supply chain consistent supply chain disruptions, these mid-level positions have to have a thorough tactical and operational understanding of all supply chain movements. However, a more strategic approach is necessary to maneuver potential disruptions.

Salary ranges for these positions typically fall between $100K to $130K. Bachelor’s Degrees are definitely required but often a Master’s is preferred.

  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Supply Chain Director
  • Supply Chain Strategist

Senior-Level Supply Chain Positions | Average Salary: $260,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Preferred

Organizations need to place an emphasis on this role in order to ensure security in supply chains. This position oversees so many essential elements of the supply chain that getting this choice right will yield safe and better margins in the future. That’s why it’s wise to invest heavily in this role. Ensure this person has technical expertise, heavy experience managing diverse personalities, and is a good culture fit for the company.

  • Chief Supply Chain Officer
  • Vice President of Supply Chain

Logistics and Transportation- What is it?

Supply chain logistics is the backbone of international trade and commerce. It literally is the work of moving product around and getting it into the hands of consumers. 

Entry Level Logistics Positions | Average Salary: $46,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

An example of an entry-level logistics position would be the “logistics coordinator.” These positions play a critical role in tactically moving product around and tracking its progress.

Mid-Level Logistics Positions | Average Salary: $97,000 – 127,000| Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

These positions entail more supervision and responsibility within a single facility. Typical duties include supervision of the flow of goods within a warehouse or distribution center as well as yard management, information systems, and security.

Senior Level Logistics positions | Average Salary: $250,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s

Senior-level logistics positions oversee logistics departments at one or more facilities of a given company. They are responsible for strategy, policy, production, and overall storage and movement of product. 

  • VP of Transportation
  • VP of Distribution
  • VP of Logistics

Procurement and Strategic Sourcing – What is it?

This is the process of using data collection and spend analysis to come up with the best and most strategic sources for supply. This is everything leading up to the actual purchasing of the product.

Entry-Level Procurement Jobs | Average Salary: $55,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Entry-level procurement positions typically manage the ordering process while creating relationships with vendors and ensuring timely orders and delivery of materials at the optimal price point.

Mid-Level Procurement Jobs | Average Salary: $85,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

As one climbs the procurement ladder, more experience is necessary to oversee more of the procurement process. These positions typically require a Bachelor’s Degree and earn around $85,000, on average

Senior-Level Procurement Jobs | Average Salary: $215,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree & Masters Degree Preferred

The education levels of senior-level procurement executives are split evenly between Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Bachelor’s is the minimum, but more than half of these execs continue on to obtain a Master’s in their field.

  • VP of Procurement
  • Director of Procurement

Supply and Demand Planning – What is it?

Supply and Demand planning is a supply chain management process that predicts or forecasts the product demand and works to ensure delivery. Ideally a balance is struck between having enough supply to meet the demand without creating too much of a surplus, which isn’t cost effective.

Entry-Level Planning Jobs | Average Salary: $61,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

Entry-level supply chain planners work to monitor and manage inventories while forecasting sales and production levels for needed raw materials. They create and manage inventory budgets that ensure demand is adequately met.

Mid-Level Planning Jobs | Average Salary: $88,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

This position is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the planning department. Aligning supplies with demand is crucial to maintaining profitability and ensuring that customer needs are met while not overstocking.

Senior-Level Planning Jobs | Average Salary: $200,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

These positions oversee, plan, direct, strategize, and manage the entirety of the inventory planning process and personnel. These directors will work with teams across all of the different functional enterprises and stakeholders impacted by inventory planning. These planning jobs have perhaps been impacted more by recent disruptions than other supply chain management jobs.

  • Director of Inventory Planning
  • VP of Inventory Planning

Manufacturing – What Is it?

As simply put, manufacturing is the function within supply chain management that deals with assembling and creating a product from materials.

Entry Level Manufacturing Jobs | Salary Range: $66,000 – $78,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

Generally a single contributor who serves on the front line of the manufacturing process. Daily tasks include analyzing/performing operations, building workflows, operating machinery, and eliminating wastefulness.

Mid-Level Manufacturing Jobs | Salary Range: $110,000 – $143,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

Responsibilities can be to lead operations within a plant, factory, or distribution center. Daily tasks include ensuring safety, leading operations, and overseeing performance levels.

Senior-Level Manufacturing Jobs | Salary Range: $239,000 – $338,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree generally along with higher education

Oversees all aspects of an organization’s manufacturing processes. Ensures manufacturing performance and quality goals are met. Daily tasks include overseeing all production operations, planning, strategizing, and implementing new systems.

  • Vice President of Manufacturing
  • VP of Manufacturing Operations
  • Executive Director of Manufacturing

Continuous ImprovementWhat Is it?

Continuous improvement is having a culture where process, system, service, and product improvement is an ongoing and continuous activity amongst an organization.

Entry Level Continuous Improvement Jobs | Salary Range: $72,000 – $97,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

Generally, a single contributor analyzes specific process’s within a company or organization and makes suggestions on how to improve them. Daily tasks include measuring metrics, identifying improvements, and monitoring processes.

Mid-Level Continuous Improvement Jobs | Salary Range: $103,000 – $133,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree

Responsible for the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure adherence to production quality standards. Daily tasks include developing, implementing, and managing processes to ensure that products meet required specifications for quality, function, and reliability prior to delivery.

  • Quality Assurance Manager
  • Quality Systems Manager
  • Lean Manufacturing Leader

Senior-Level Continuous Improvement Jobs | Salary Range: $188,000 – $282,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree with a preferred master’s degree

Lead strategic, transformational, and operational improvement projects working with a cross-functional team to enable process, technology, and organizational effectiveness.

  • Director of Continuous Improvement
  • Director of Operational Excellence
  • Vice President of Continuous Improvement

Operations – What Is it?

Operations has a more internal company focus relative to supply chain. It focuses on running a business efficiently, covering areas such as maintenance, material planning, and the analysis of production systems. 

Entry Level Operations Jobs | Salary Range: $56,000 – $73,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field

Operations analysts examine the workings of an organization to offer solutions to problems and develop procedures for better decision-making. Daily tasks include gathering information by observing workflows, reading company reports, and conducting employee interviews.

  • Operations Specialist
  • Operations Analyst
  • Business Operations Analyst

Mid-Level Operations Jobs | Salary Range: $88,000 – $114,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field

Manage overall operations and is responsible for the effective and successful management of labor, productivity, quality control, and safety measures as established and set for the Operations Department. Daily tasks involve managing day to day business of the operations department while balancing the responsibilities of various business lines such as business analysis, vendor, and risk management.

  • Operations Manager
  • Plant Manager
  • Director of Operations

Senior-Level Operations Jobs | Salary Range: $125,000 – $170,000 | Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree with a preferred master’s degree and/or certifications

Assists in the growth and ongoing operational success of the company’s business initiatives, leads collaborative efforts with partners on strategic and operational issues, and provides oversight and guidance to departmental operations. Daily tasks include planning, coordinating, and overseeing operations activities in an organization. These operations positions seem broad but they require more of a laser focus than many of the other supply chain management jobs.

  • VP of Operations
  • Chief Operations Officer

Distribution – What Is it?

In the shortest terms possible, within the supply chain, distribution is the process in how organizations get their products to their customers. How goods are distributed to end-users.

Entry Level Distribution & Warehousing Jobs | Salary Range: $29,000 – $50,000 | Education Requirement: No formal education required

Description: An individual contributor who is in charge of storing, moving, and managing product materials. Daily tasks include moving stock, documenting deliveries, and monitoring supplies.

  • Fulfillment Associate
  • Material Handler
  • Distribution/Warehouse Associate

Mid-Level Distribution & Warehousing Jobs | Salary Range: $83,000 – $115,000 | Education Requirement: High school diploma with potential undergrad degree in business management

The distribution manager’s key responsibilities are to organize safe and efficient storage and distribution of goods and to ensure that orders are fulfilled. Daily tasks include managing shipments and operating IT systems to manage timings/costs/stock levels. It may be the most commonly overlooked in importance of all the supply chain management jobs.

Senior-Level Distribution & Warehousing Jobs | Salary Range: $186,000 – $267,000 | Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree with a preferred master’s degree and/or certifications

Responsibilities are being accountable for leading innovation, cost control, and continuous improvement across all global distribution facilities. Daily tasks involve overseeing global distribution capacity management in alignment with demand forecasting.

  • VP of Warehousing
  • VP of Distribution