About the Supply Chain Manager role
A Supply Chain Manager owns the end-to-end flow of materials, information, and money from suppliers through production and warehousing to the customer. They forecast demand, plan inventory, manage supplier and logistics performance, and balance three forces that constantly pull against each other: cost, service level, and risk. Done well, the role turns the supply chain from a cost center into a competitive advantage.
Scope varies with the business model. In manufacturing, the role leans toward materials planning, production scheduling, and supplier development. In retail and e-commerce, it centers on demand forecasting, inventory positioning, and distribution. Global businesses add multi-country sourcing, customs, and disruption planning. Some companies place procurement under this role; others keep it separate.
In your posting, define what the manager will actually own: which parts of plan, source, make, and deliver, the team size, the systems in use, and the KPIs that matter to you, such as OTIF, inventory turns, or landed cost. Strong candidates will ask about data quality and decision authority, so be ready to describe both.
Supply Chain Manager job description template
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Job brief
We are hiring a Supply Chain Manager to own how goods and information move from our suppliers through to our customers. You will build the demand plan, set inventory targets, manage supplier and carrier performance, and make the calls where cost, service, and risk pull in different directions.
You will fit here if you can hold a forecast in one hand and a difficult supplier conversation in the other. The job is judged on availability, on working capital, and on how quickly the chain recovers when something breaks.
Responsibilities
- Design and manage the end-to-end supply chain strategy across planning, sourcing, warehousing, and delivery
- Lead demand forecasting and the S&OP process together with sales, finance, and production
- Set inventory policies, safety stock levels, and replenishment rules across the network
- Manage supplier relationships and performance on quality, cost, and delivery reliability
- Oversee logistics operations and negotiate contracts with carriers and 3PL partners
- Define and track supply chain KPIs such as OTIF, forecast accuracy, inventory turns, and cost to serve
- Identify supply risks and build mitigation plans, including alternative suppliers and buffer strategies
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of planners, buyers, and logistics coordinators
- Drive improvement projects across systems, processes, and network design
- Ensure compliance with trade, customs, safety, and sustainability requirements
Requirements and skills
- Several years running supply chain, planning, or logistics at a senior level
- Knows forecasting, inventory management, sourcing, and distribution as a connected system
- Has run or contributed to a working sales and operations planning cycle
- Strong analytically, at home in Excel and in an ERP or planning system
- Can point to a measurable improvement in service level, inventory, or cost
- Has negotiated with suppliers, carriers, or third-party logistics providers
- Has led a team and developed the people in it
- A degree in supply chain, engineering, or business, or equivalent practical experience
Nice to have
- APICS CPIM or CSCP certification, or an equivalent supply chain qualification
- Experience with advanced planning systems or supply chain analytics tools
- International sourcing and customs experience across multiple regions
- Lean or Six Sigma training applied to supply chain processes
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