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What is a director of supply chain operations and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Priya Nagaraj

Supply chain operations are a crucial factor in business continuity. That said, the role of a director of supply chain operations is imperative to keeping the business operational and efficient.

As a director of supply chain operations, your responsibilities will revolve around spearheading various operational processes involved in the supply chain, overseeing operations to ensure optimal workflow, and devising strategies to make further improvements and correct weaknesses in the process. You are also expected to communicate updates frequently to managers to ensure that everyone is on the same page, which is critical for efficient workflow in the workplace.

When hiring for this role, employers look for candidates with at least a bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, or something similar. And although some employers may not require it, having a master's degree in a relevant field is a great advantage. Furthermore, the ideal candidate should possess exemplary skills in communication, management, coordination, and problem-solving.

In terms of salary, a director of supply chain operations makes an average of $123,000 per year, which is quite similar to other director-level employees.

What general advice would you give to a director of supply chain operations?

Priya NagarajPriya Nagaraj LinkedIn profile

Professor of Economics and Global Business, Website

Students should be able to analyze and interpret data. For instance, demand forecasting and predictive analytics are a large part of this industry today. As the number of regulations across nations increases, it is important to have at least some knowledge of foreign regulations. Cross-cultural knowledge and experience are always a plus in this area for prospective employees. People skills are also important along with knowledge of additional languages.
ScoreDirector Of Supply Chain OperationsUS Average
Salary
8.0

Avg. Salary $117,026

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.87%

Black or African American 7.51%

Hispanic or Latino 12.57%

Unknown 4.69%

White 65.70%

Gender

female 16.92%

male 83.08%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress level
7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Director of supply chain operations career paths

Key steps to become a director of supply chain operations

  1. Explore director of supply chain operations education requirements

    Most common director of supply chain operations degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.7 %

    Master's

    20.1 %

    Associate

    4.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of supply chain operations skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Supply Chain25.23%
    Chain Operations8.47%
    Customer Service8.08%
    Chain Management6.63%
    Continuous Improvement5.41%
  3. Complete relevant director of supply chain operations training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of supply chain operations learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of supply chain operations based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of supply chain operations resumes.
  4. Research director of supply chain operations duties and responsibilities

    • Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.
    • Accelerate the implementation of NetSuite ERP software.
    • Review monthly establish KPIs and associate scorecards.
    • Complete and fine-tune implementation of ERP system.
  5. Get director of supply chain operations experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a director of supply chain operations. The most common roles before becoming a director of supply chain operations include supply chain manager, operations manager team lead and purchasing manager.
  6. Prepare your director of supply chain operations resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of supply chain operations resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of supply chain operations resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director of supply chain operations resume templates

    Build a professional director of supply chain operations resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of supply chain operations resume.
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
    Director Of Supply Chain Operations Resume
  7. Apply for director of supply chain operations jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of supply chain operations job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of supply chain operations job

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Average director of supply chain operations salary

The average director of supply chain operations salary in the United States is $117,026 per year or $56 per hour. Director of supply chain operations salaries range between $71,000 and $191,000 per year.

Average director of supply chain operations salary
$117,026 Yearly
$56.26 hourly

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Director of supply chain operations reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.

Cons

Works not recognized by upper management!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

I am continuously working to develop my the communication and computer skills necessary listed in the job description job description. My formal education which is bachelors degree in philosophy and a minor in economics. I am currently furthering my education in the area of computer science.

Cons

I am working to improve my area of concern which is having limitations when managing employees.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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