The supply chain is fast becoming the epicenter of every business and instrumental to growth and success. There’s no doubt that the interaction between money, markets, and resources drives performance, results, and value to any organization. As a supply chain professional, it would be helpful to understand the trends and supply chain management jobs outlook to uncover fresh opportunities and build better career paths. At SMJ, our dedicated teams work tirelessly to help you keep up with the latest trends and insights in supply chain management.
Rapidly Growing Supply Chain Management Jobs Market
Supply chain career options are extensive and versatile, extending across industries and is still increasing. There are career opportunities across traditional, remote, and even freelancing positions. Over 44 million people making 37% of all jobs in the US are found in supply chain positions. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the supply chain management jobs market will increase by seven percent in the next few years.
You can work in businesses of all sizes beginning from mom and pop establishments to large corporations across diverse work environments.
Industries | Operations | Service positions | Strategy & Optimization |
Medical Device | Global sourcing & procurement | Advisory | Supply Chain Mapping |
Pharmaceuticals | Supply chain management | Management | Transport fleet-routing and scheduling |
Aerospace & Defense | Supply chain planning | Supply chain consulting | Aerospace & Defense |
Energy | Supply Chain sales | Supply chain technology | Functional Audits |
Retail | Quality Management | Associations | Customer Contribution Analysis |
Chemicals | Customer Service | Academic positions | Supply Chain Audit |
Automotive | Manufacturing | Carriers/shipping outfits/ Offshore/onshore | Distribution Network Design |
Healthcare | Returns/Reverse Logistics | 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) | Freight, Inventory, Warehouse Bench markers |
Consumer packaged goods | Warehousing/Distribution | 4th Party Logistics (4PL) | Business rationalization |
Consumer electronics | Resource Management | Staffing & Executive Search | Supply Chain Strategy Alignment |
Hospitality | Relationship Management | … and more. | Regional Planning |
E-commerce | Logistics & Transportation | Business integration | Technology Evaluation |
…., and more. | Project management | Infrastructure development | and more… |
Construction | Contract Management | Transport Contract Negotiation Services | |
Government & Economic Development | Technology Implementation | …and more… | |
IT & Telecommunications | Inventory management | ||
| …and more… |
The Current & Future Potential Of Careers In Supply Chain Management
Today’s CEO roles are more complex than ever seen before, with rapidly changing consumer demands, technological advances, and global uncertainties. Presently, Chief Supply Chain Officers (CSCO) are controlling over 50% of a typical company’s spending. And these numbers are getting bigger.
It’s no wonder CEOs today come from operational roles such as supply chain management because of their value to understanding and tackling these issues. Businesses have come to realize the vast potentials supply chain leaders can deliver, beginning from helping control costs, managing risks to driving product innovation.
SCM.Jobs believes that supply chain professionals today can become CEOs of the future. However, the typical time frame for promotion to management level or CEO positions is 15 years.
Besides the increasing prospects of CEO positions, you must also pay heed to other trends in the supply chain to forge a better career path and upskill in the right direction. Trends and skills driving present supply chain management jobs outlook include:
- Real-time response to customer’s needs
- Better forecasting, sales, and operations planning
- Information sharing
- Sustainability and optimal resource consumption
- Outsourcing
- Risk management
- Centralized logistics/procurement for efficient cost tracking
- Innovative & sustainable cost savings solutions
- The growing emphasis on certifications and training for supply chain professionals (especially procurement professionals)
- Technological advancements (IoTs, Data Analytics, AI, Machine learning, automation, and Robotics)
- Rationalization to minimize the supply base to a small set of strategic supplies
Maximizing Supply Chain Potential For CEO Positions
Supply chain executives are rapidly taking over CEO positions in diverse organizations all over the world. Their jobs encompass all aspects of the supply chain, and so building a career path to the executive level requires a wide array of capabilities. As a supply chain executive, you need knowledge across boards, especially in procurement, logistics, personnel management, data analysis, strategic planning, and supply chain operations.
Here are our steps to improve your advantage towards the CEO position.
- Bachelor’s degree: The most popular education paths for supply chain executives today began at business administration and engineering courses. According to a review, 44 percent of top-level supply executives studied business administration, while 19 percent studied engineering, and 14 percent studied industrial engineering. Also, business majors in accounting, sales, marketing, finance, and economics are considered.
- Advanced Education – Masters in supply chain management or related master’s degree programs (18 months to five years). Executive MBA programs in Global Supply chain is also a welcome advantage (less than a year).
- Certifications: Certifications such as CSCP, CPIM, SCOR-P, CPSM, SCPro™, CSSBB, CPSD, Oracle E-Business Suite, CPL, and CPCM
- External training: Over 88 percent of supply chain executives have previous experience in positions not entirely related to the supply chain, bringing more exposure and driving their ability to see the big picture. Firms value previous experience in staffing and recruitment, sales, marketing, finance positions, manufacturing background, consulting positions.