What Can You Do With a Supply Chain Management Degree? 15 Jobs

When the pandemic hit, the importance of supply chain management became clear. Supply chain managers ensure products get where they need to go, and a degree in supply chain management will help you understand business processes and optimization strategies as well as hone your problem-solving skills.

The supply chain has many parts, and as a result, there are a variety of different supply chain jobs. Keep reading to learn what you can do with a supply chain management degree.

What Is Supply Chain Management?

Supply chains refer to the process that a product goes through, from sourcing the materials to manufacturing the product to sending it out to warehouses and stores to getting it to customers. Supply chain management (SCM) is the oversight of the entire supply chain or a specific part of that process.

In addition, supply chain management also oversees things like efficiency and finances within the supply chain. Supply chain management is most common in retail settings, when a product needs to get into the hands of consumers, but is also key for manufacturing, business, healthcare, and more.

Career Paths With a Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management

Bachelor's degrees are undergraduate degrees that usually take about four years of full-time study to complete. You can pursue several career paths with a bachelor's degree in supply chain management. Looking into affordable supply chain management degree options will help you stay out of debt and focus on your career.

You'll usually start with entry-level roles and work your way into management positions. We've highlighted some top supply chain career options below.

Supply Chain Analyst

Supply chain analysts collect and analyze supply chain data to help the company plan and monitor their supply chain. Their job duties often include:

• collecting and analyzing supply chain data
• cultivating and maintaining relationships with vendors
• forecasting demand
• managing supply chain processes and inventory
• monitoring information on business operations and supply chain issues
• working to improve efficiency within a business's supply chain

Supply chain analysts often act as liaisons for a company and its vendors or suppliers, including those overseas. They may be tasked with focusing on a specific product or part of the supply chain. Supply chain analysts usually work in the retail sector.

Logistics Manager

Logistics managers, sometimes called logisticians, oversee the supply chain of a specific organization. Their jobs usually involve tasks like:

• product acquisition
• inventory management
• shipment scheduling
• logistical process improvement
• logistics team management

Logistics managers need to be skilled in information systems, project management, and leadership. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job demand for logistics managers to increase by 19% over the next decade.

Procurement Specialist

Procurement specialists are primarily responsible for sourcing, or procuring, goods and services for an organization. While job duties can vary depending on the organization, they often include:

• researching products to determine what is best for the business
• comparing and analyzing costs to determine what products and vendors are best
• overseeing the inventory of raw materials and other goods
• negotiating contracts with suppliers and distributors
• forecasting future needs or potential problems

Procurement specialists are important because they help companies get the items they need while helping them save money and reduce risk. They work under the direction of procurement managers.

Operations Manager

Operations managers oversee the operations of a business, not just the supply chain. They focus on internal processes rather than receiving or sending materials. A company may have several operations managers for different areas.

Depending on the business, operations managers and supply chain managers may work closely together. This is especially true if the operations manager is in charge of manufacturing.

Inventory Control Manager

Inventory control managers are primarily responsible for overseeing distribution and maintaining proper inventory levels. Their job duties may include:

• auditing inventory
• using information systems to manage inventory
• purchasing products
• making processes more efficient
• hiring and managing staff

Inventory control managers usually work in manufacturing or retail settings.

Transportation Manager

Transportation managers are focused on the part of the supply chain that involves moving goods and materials from one place to another. They often do tasks like:

• overseeing routing, dispatching, and tracking transportation vehicles and aircraft
• ensuring goods are loaded and unloaded properly
• ensuring vehicles and aircraft are properly maintained
• securing contracts with other vendors or customers
• creating transportation operation policies and procedures
• hiring and overseeing staff

Transportation managers typically work for government agencies, manufacturing companies, freight companies, and warehousing businesses. However, they can even work for more unique employers, like cruise lines.

Distribution Manager

Distribution managers oversee the distribution of various goods, which requires factoring things like cost, speed, and efficiency. Their job duties may include:

• creating, implementing, and managing processes to ensure all product is delivered on time
• ensuring safe transportation of products
• coordinating inventory systems with suppliers
• developing and implementing safety and security programs

The roles of distribution managers often overlap quite a bit with that of transportation managers.

Inventory Manager

Inventory managers are responsible for overseeing a company's inventory to ensure that the company has enough stock for its demand. Depending on the industry, this inventory could be raw materials or could be finished products. Inventory managers often do tasks like:

• using software to monitor inventory levels
• ordering new inventory as needed
• cultivating relationships with suppliers
• preparing inventory for delivery or shipping
• forecasting future inventory needs.

Inventory managers are similar to inventory control managers, but are not quite the same. Inventory managers focus on all aspects of inventory, while inventory control managers typically focus just on stock control.

Logistics Analyst

Logistics analysts are responsible for ensuring every step in the supply chain is productive, efficient, and cost-effective. Their job duties often include:

• collecting and analyzing logistics data
• researching supply chain issues
• identifying and preemptively addressing potential supply chain problems
• developing and revising logistics policies and procedures

Logistics analysts are constantly analyzing data to create solutions that make customers happy and increase company profits.

Purchasing Manager

Purchasing managers do the purchasing of products and services for an organization. They usually oversee a team of purchasing agents. Their jobs are heavily based in cultivating relationships with suppliers and negotiating contracts.

Purchasing managers often work closely with procurement managers and specialists. About a quarter of purchasing managers work in manufacturing, while others work in retail, wholesale trade, and government agencies.

Career Paths With a Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management

Holding a graduate-level supply chain management degree can help you move up within the field. Many supply chain management professionals hold master's degrees in supply chain management or business administration with a supply chain management or logistics specialization. We've listed some career paths for master's supply chain management graduates below.

Supply Chain Director

Supply chain directors are in charge of overseeing the entire supply chain for an organization. They develop networks for purchasing and managing commodities while also keeping a close relationship with vendors and distributors.

These directors may work in industries like distribution, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. An advanced degree and several years of work experience are usually required for this job.

Global Supply Chain Manager

Global supply chain managers do all the work of standard supply chain managers, but they manage worldwide product flow. Their job duties include:

• purchasing materials and goods
• choosing locations for manufacturing and warehousing
• analyzing inventory
• creating transportation strategies

Many colleges and universities offer specializations in global or international supply chains. It can also help to have a strong understanding of culture and language.

Senior Operations Manager

Senior operations managers oversee the company's operations managers. It's a role less based in managing operations and more on developing employees.

Their primary jobs are employee evaluation and feedback as well as training and professional development. Senior operations managers don't often have much communication with clients.

Chief Procurement Officer (CPO)

Chief procurement officers are executive-level managers who are in charge of a company's sourcing and procurement, and occasionally other aspects of the supply chain. Their job duties can vary depending on the company and industry.

Primarily, CPOs oversee procurement specialists and managers, purchasing agents and managers, and the overall procurement and purchasing departments. They may also oversee more high-cost purchases for a company.

Supply Chain Strategy Consultant

Companies hire supply chain strategy consultants for assistance with streamlining their supply chain processes. These consultants usually work for exterior firms rather than the company itself.

A supply chain strategy consultant will usually analyze business data and suggest ways that a company can improve its supply chain. They may also work with companies to implement those changes.

Start Your Supply Chain Management Career Today

To start your career in supply chain management, explore the colleges and universities on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about their supply chain management programs.