Management
Supply Chain Managers
Also called: Global Supply Chain Director, Material Requirements Planning Manager, Solution Design and Analysis Manager, Supply Chain Director
US median pay
$107,230
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.1%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
18,300
228,100 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Direct or coordinate production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, or financial forecasting services or activities to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service, or safety. Examine existing procedures or opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs. Direct the movement, storage, or processing of inventory.
What they do day to day
- Determine appropriate equipment and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials.
- Manage activities related to strategic or tactical purchasing, material requirements planning, controlling inventory, warehousing, or receiving.
- Select transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution.
- Define performance metrics for measurement, comparison, or evaluation of supply chain factors, such as product cost or quality.
- Implement new or improved supply chain processes to improve efficiency or performance.
- Develop procedures for coordination of supply chain management with other functional areas, such as sales, marketing, finance, production, or quality assurance.
- Confer with supply chain planners to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials or products.
- Analyze inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste, or optimize customer service.
- Negotiate prices and terms with suppliers, vendors, or freight forwarders.
- Analyze information about supplier performance or procurement program success.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Coordination4.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9/5
- Systems Analysis3.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Negotiation3.8/5
Knowledge
- Transportation4.5/5
- Administration and Management4.3/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Economics and Accounting3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Production and Processing3.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree67%
- Master's degree19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.