CareerDev4AI

Supply Chain Manager

Plans and runs the flow of materials and finished goods, balancing availability, cost, inventory and supplier performance.

Operations & Supply Chain Mid level $70,000 - $115,000 / year

What the role involves

  • Forecast demand and plan supply to meet service levels at lowest cost
  • Manage inventory across raw materials, work in progress and finished goods
  • Own supplier relationships, performance and sourcing decisions
  • Coordinate logistics, warehousing and distribution with partners
  • Reduce supply risk through dual sourcing and contingency planning

Core skills

  • Demand Forecasting & Supply Planning (level 4/5)
  • Inventory & Warehouse Management (level 4/5)
  • Supplier & Vendor Management (level 4/5)
  • Logistics & Distribution (level 3/5)
  • ERP Systems (SAP, NetSuite) (level 3/5)
  • Cost & Service Level Trade-offs (level 4/5)

Preferred skills

  • Lean / Six Sigma
  • Procurement & Contracts
  • Power BI

Tools

SAPNetSuiteExcelPower BIKinaxiso9SAP IBPJira

Experience expected

3-6 years in supply chain, planning, procurement or logistics

Projects that prove the role

  • Inventory reduction that freed working capital while holding service level
  • Supplier consolidation improving cost and reducing supply risk
  • Demand planning process that cut forecast error on key lines

Evidence to collect

  • A forecast accuracy or service level improvement with numbers
  • An inventory reduction case with working capital released
  • A supplier scorecard you built and used in negotiation

What the interview covers

  • A stockout you caused and how you recovered it
  • Balancing a costly expediting decision against stock risk
  • Negotiating with a supplier who has all the power
  • Improving forecast accuracy with limited data

How the role progresses

  • Supply Chain Planner
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Senior Supply Chain Manager
  • Director of Supply Chain
  • VP Operations

Certifications that carry weight

  • APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
  • APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Related roles

  • procurement-specialist
  • logistics-coordinator
  • operations-manager
  • inventory-planner

Turn this into a plan

Inside CareerDev4AI, choosing this role generates a roadmap of the skills, projects and milestones that move you towards it.

Plan this career