Who hires supply chain professionals and why?

The basic reality is that supply chain professionals are necessary in nearly every business or industry that works with physical products. What’s more, even in service industries, companies still often need to replenish their stocks of hardware and other work-related inventory. This too can be a complex task with many different details to cover.

Highly organized professionals who have experience in data-driven product sourcing are becoming very useful. High-level supply chain managers can also help you predict near-future trends in efficient input sourcing and environmentally sustainable supply chain practices.

As your business grows, you might want to consider hiring at least one of the following chain of supply jobs:

Basic supply chain job positions

At the entry level of the supply chain management profession, you have the staff who handle the most elemental and often manual tasks of ensuring that merchandise and inventory are received, counted, stocked and organized. These people have a challenging job, and they’re essential for organizations that receive frequent deliveries.

Supply chain and logistics coordinator

These entry-level professionals oversee the flow of shipments and their handling inside your warehouse or office. Their fundamental duties include:

• Coordinating both domestic and international shipments
• Using your warehouse management systems to store deliveries efficiently
• Handling documentation and customs procedures for imports and exports
• Communicating with brokers, carriers, suppliers and freight forwarders

Inventory clerk

Inventory clerks are entry-level supply chain professionals who handle inventory management inside your distribution facilities or warehouse. They receive inventory, count it, make sure it tallies with shipping records and log its processing. Their basic duties include:

• Inventory record-keeping
• Receiving deliveries and counting their products
• Comparing delivered quantities to invoices and records
• Labeling stock with RFID tags, SKU stickers or other markers

Production clerk

Production clerks organize, expedite and distribute work orders for different company departments to meet their inventory needs. They also apply pressure for timely deliveries of supplies. Some of their duties involve:

• Keeping the company on track with its production and workflow schedules
• Distributing the production schedules they organize
• Organizing and distributing departmental work orders
• Expediting deliveries and supply distribution with providers

Middle management supply chain job titles

Mid-level supply chain management specialists occupy management positions that deal with the overall organization of product shipments between companies and countries. They’re experts in the logistics of customs controls, cross-border shipping, insurance regulations and nurturing relationships with suppliers and transport companies.

Logistics analyst

The logistics analyst’s job is to examine supply chain processes and optimize them with the use of good logistical data. They examine costs and see how they can be cut down strategically. These are just some of their responsibilities:

• Analyzing the supply chain process
• Honing in on parts of the supply chain that can be streamlined or optimized
• Using information to improve performance and sharing reports about logistics
• Tracking transportation or other costs to find areas for effective cuts

Import/Export specialist

Import/export specialists deal with the logistics of cross-border shipping regulations and customs rules. They offer advice to companies on tariffs, taxes, insurance and quotas. Their duties include:

• Organizing shipments across international borders
• Making sure that customs regulations are followed
• Tracking shipments to avoid losses or theft
• Handling compliance between companies and government customs authorities

Supply chain and logistics sourcing specialist

The responsibilities of supply chain logistics (SCL) sourcing experts are multifaceted and complex. These highly experienced professionals on the sourcing side handle the supplier relations aspect of the supply chain while negotiating costs and contracts. They’re responsible for:

• Creating an efficient, profitable product sources system for their company
• Consulting with upper management on best practices and strategies for effective supply chain sourcing
• Building strong relationships with suppliers and drafting contracts that robustly work for both parties

Supply chain logistics transport specialist

As their name implies, individuals with this chain of supply job handle the logistics of organizing transportation for products and inventory. They work closely with import/export managers and sourcing specialists in your supply chain process. Their job includes:

• Finding providers and building relationships with transportation companies
• Creating transportation strategies that minimize costs and save time
• Selecting carriers, routes, shipping methods and rates for merchandise delivery and shipping to your customers

High-level supply chain management positions

Upper-level supply chain management professionals handle the major purchasing, storage, distribution and production strategies of your supply chain. They also decide on agreements for procuring the raw inputs that a business uses to manufacture its products.

Purchasing agent

Purchasing agents decide on what products to buy based on strategic supply chain and market research. They also handle the major logistics of long-term costs for supply chain choices. Their areas of management include:

• Evaluating products to buy and procuring inventory for customers or for your company’s own use
• Developing large-scale purchasing strategies that are cost effective and benefit the company’s goals
• Creating major purchasing contracts with key suppliers

Supply chain manager

Supply chain managers have a general range of responsibilities that often overlap with those of supply chain purchasers and with the jobs of mid-level SCL personnel. They procure raw materials, negotiate supplier contracts and supervise shipping and transportation agreements for cost effectiveness. Their responsibilities include:

• Procuring raw materials for company production quotas
• Evaluating transportation agreements and shipping prices to negotiate better rates
• Overall inventory supervision
• Decision-making on which suppliers and vendors to work with

Operations manager

Operations managers handle the overall supply chain operations of their company. They coordinate between production, sales and distribution and monitor productivity in all of these areas. They also handle:

• Coordinating between supply chain operations areas
• Supervising production, sales and distribution logistics
• Overall supervision of supply chain productivity
• Cutting costs wherever they identify a chance to do so

The bottom line for supply chain jobs and hiring

Your company may not need most or any of the above supply chain professionals. Many of the jobs for supply chain management described here have overlapping responsibilities. You should only hire personnel that could potentially lower your own inventory management burden and improve your company’s performance. This might involve hiring only entry-level staff or organizing a whole team coordinated by a management-level supply chain specialist.