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Planning & network operations
Supply Chain Manager
Invisible until something does not arrive.
Typical pay
$85k-$150k
How you get in
Supply chain degree plus APICS certification
Outlook
Strong; permanently elevated after global disruptions
Supply chain managers plan demand, inventory and the movement of goods across a network. Recent global disruption permanently raised the profile of the function, and it is now a genuine executive track.
A day in the life
- 8:00aReview overnight exceptions and inventory positions
- 9:30aDemand planning meeting with sales
- 11:00aSupplier capacity and lead time review
- 1:00pLunch
- 2:00pNetwork analysis for a distribution change
- 4:00pEscalate a shortage before it becomes a stockout
How to get in
Supply chain degree
Duration
4 years
Cost
$40,000-$150,000
Credential
Bachelor's plus CSCP or CPIM
- Complete a supply chain or operations management degree
- Intern with a manufacturer, retailer or 3PL
- Enter as a planner, buyer or analyst
- Add APICS certification and move toward management
Operations into supply chain
Duration
3-6 years
Cost
$1,500-$6,000
Credential
CPIM or CSCP
- Work in warehouse, logistics or production planning
- Learn the physical flow before managing the plan
- Get APICS certified while employed
- Move into planning, then network and category management
Analytics-driven route
Duration
2-5 years
Cost
$0-$10,000
Credential
Degree plus analytics skills
- Build strong SQL, Excel and modeling capability
- Enter as a supply chain analyst
- Own forecasting and inventory optimization models
- Analytical supply chain roles pay above traditional planning positions
What people love
- · Strategic visibility across the whole business
- · Strong pay and clear executive path
- · Applies to every product company
- · Analytical and operational combined
What wears people down
- · Disruptions become your emergency at any hour
- · Blamed for shortages caused upstream
- · Forecasts are wrong and you own the consequences
- · Global operations mean off-hours calls