The supply chain industry is growing rapidly, particularly as more products become available online and the global economy continues to evolve. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the logistics industry as a whole is growing at a rate of 19%, significantly faster than the average growth rate of other professional fields. With the median pay in this industry at approximately $81,000 per year, it’s no surprise that more people are looking to enter this critical field.
Successful supply chain management is the ability to oversee end-to-end processes, including procurement, production, logistics, and distribution of supplies and labor. In this article, we’ll cover top supply chain careers by stage and provide tips on how to join and grow in the field.
Procurement Careers: Where the Supply Chain Begins
Supply chains start at procurement. This involves sourcing raw materials, components, and services to provide the rest of the supply chain with what they need to create products and meet practical needs. Common sourcing and procurement jobs include Procurement Analyst, Sourcing Specialist, and Director of Supply Chain.
Typical responsibilities for supply chain procurement professionals include:
Managing sourcing strategies: To work with suppliers and keep sustainability top of mind, supply chain procurers ensure that sourcing strategies follow best practices. They may innovate sourcing protocols and collaborate with the overall supply chain team to maximize the use of money and resources invested in the product.
Negotiating with suppliers: One of the best ways to make the most of supplies is to keep costs as low as possible. Supply chain procurers collaborate with their suppliers to secure the best possible prices for high-quality materials, allowing dollars to stretch farther.
Ensuring timely material acquisition: Procurement professionals help keep production on schedule by acquiring supplies promptly. This removes roadblocks for later stages of production and can lower overall costs.
Production and Inventory Roles: Keeping Operations on Track
This stage of the supply chain transforms raw materials into finished goods, ensuring production runs smoothly. Professionals in this stage often find jobs in the following roles:
Demand Planner: This role involves predicting future inventory needs based on market trends and sales data.
Production Scheduler: This professional crafts daily, weekly, and monthly schedules for production projects and allocates resources between different teams.
Operations Manager: This role oversees the day-to-day operations of supply chain activities, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Logistics Jobs: Moving Products Efficiently
This stage of the supply chain involves storing and transporting goods across various nodes. Keeping things moving through the system and to customers is essential to the health of a supply chain and the success of a business. Typical jobs in logistics and supply chain management include:
Logistics Manager: This position coordinates the transportation and storage of goods, ensuring their timely and cost-effective delivery to maintain a smooth supply chain.
Warehouse Manager: Professionals in this role oversee warehouse operations to ensure inventory is processed on schedule. They prepare schedules for warehouse associates and monitor compliance with safety standards.
Supply Distribution Positions: The Final Stage
The final stage in supply chain management involves delivering products to end-users. Professionals in these roles help bring all the parts of the supply chain together. Typical roles in this phase of the supply chain include:
Fulfillment Specialist: These professionals process customer orders and accurately and efficiently coordinate with shipping carriers for timely delivery. A key part of this role is maintaining accurate inventory, so customers can see a real-time list of what’s in stock.
Distribution Center Manager: Professionals in this role determine when the products are distributed, where they are sent, and at what volume they are sent. Their work is essential in fulfilling orders and keeping the supply chain organized, as their inventory reports inform the rest of the supply chain about product needs and general timelines for inventory movement.
How to Get a Job in Supply Chain Management
- Know the fundamentals
- Build technical skills
- Grow your network
- Find your niche
Many of these steps can be completed or accelerated through a specialized master’s program in supply chain management!
Breaking into a supply chain career starts with understanding the data-driven nature of the field. From planning to delivery, every stage relies on using data to improve efficiency, cut costs, and support smart, strategic decisions. Employers are looking for professionals who not only understand how supply chains work but can also think critically about the bigger picture.
Along with this mindset, it’s important to build technical skills. Experience with tools like Excel, SQL, Tableau, or Power BI, and Python can make your resume stand out and help you contribute more effectively from day one. This is where an advanced degree in supply chain management can really come into play.
Networking is a valuable way to establish connections within the industry. Associations like the Association of Supply Chain Management or the Institute for Supply Chain Management can connect you with like-minded professionals working in the field, and can give you experience learning more about the work of supply chain management. Or, a master’s degree with networking baked in can provide direct access to faculty mentors, industry partnerships, and a cohort of peers already working toward similar career goals.
Finding your niche in supply chain management starts with understanding where your interests and strengths align—whether that's procurement, logistics, planning, or a specific industry like healthcare or tech. A master’s program can help you explore these paths, connect with industry professionals, and identify the specific skills and certifications needed to break into your ideal role.
Invest in Your Career Growth with Ashland’s MS in Supply Chain Management
Demand for supply chain professionals is unlikely to slow anytime soon. Supply chain management impacts nearly every sector, making it a suitable fit for individuals interested in a variety of fields and industries.
If you want to lead in this sector, earning a master’s in supply chain management will help you get the expertise and experience you need to guide teams in supply chain management. Throughout the master’s program, you’ll gain the practical experience and strategic skills required to succeed in the field and successfully lead teams in all stages of the supply chain.
At Ashland University, our Master of Science in Supply Chain Management prepares you to become a leader in the field, no matter what stage of the supply chain you want to work in. We offer in-person and online programs that can be completed in 1-2 years.
To discover more about earning a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management and to see what makes Ashland’s program unique, download our guide, The Future of Logistics: Master of Science in Supply Chain Management.
You can also request more information about our program.
