What does a director of supply chain operations do?
A director of supply chain operations is in charge of spearheading the manufacturing processes in a company, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to improve procedures and systems, setting goals and objectives, managing the workforce, liaising with key distributors and clients, and monitoring the progress of every function. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals and optimal performance, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Director of supply chain operations responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real director of supply chain operations resumes:
- 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.
- Improve MRP system effectiveness and reliability through employee training and data integrity validation.
- Develop, analyze and evaluate KPIs and effectiveness of update long-range global distribution programs.
- Institute new requisitioning standard operating procedures resulting in effective use of MRP data and elimination of non-system driven production shortages lists.
- Execute integrated sales, inventory and operations planning process (SIOP).
- Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.
Director of supply chain operations skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Directors Of Supply Chain Operations are proficient in Supply Chain, Chain Operations, and Customer Service.
We break down the percentage of Directors Of Supply Chain Operations that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Supply Chain, 25%
Devised and executed strategic plan for new product/market development and global partnerships to improve supply chain efficiency and market advantage.
- Chain Operations, 8%
Lead the transformation of global supply chain operations through development and execution of supply chain simplification and variable/base cost productivity projects.
- Customer Service, 8%
Assumed General Manager responsibilities for primary distribution center including customer service, product support, manufacturing, and warehouse activities.
- Chain Management, 7%
Gained hands-on experience in multiple aspects of supply-chain management: demand planning, material management, warehousing/transportation, and customer service.
- Continuous Improvement, 5%
Coordinated team activities focusing on safety, productivity, inventory control, sanitation, & continuous improvement.
- Project Management, 4%
Project management duties include developing, maintaining and continuously improving the new product commercialization process and total supplier management.
Most directors of supply chain operations use their skills in "supply chain," "chain operations," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential director of supply chain operations responsibilities here:
The three companies that hire the most director of supply chain operationss are:
- Bristol-Myers Squibb5 directors of supply chain operations jobs
- Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego
4 directors of supply chain operations jobs
- HealthTrust4 directors of supply chain operations jobs
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Compare different directors of supply chain operations
Director of supply chain operations vs. Material manager
A material manager is responsible for monitoring inventories and stock supplies, ensuring the adequacy of materials needed for manufacturing or other operations, depending on the organization's industry. Material managers meet with suppliers and third-party vendors, negotiating contracts that would fit the budget goals of the company without compromising quality. They manage the distribution of resources throughout the organizations' department and provide purchase reports for the management. A material manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to address the needs of an organization for smooth operations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, director of supply chain operations responsibilities require skills like "chain operations," "project management," "demand planning," and "lean six sigma." Meanwhile a typical material manager has skills in areas such as "logistics," "materials management," "shipping receiving," and "purchase orders." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Material managers tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $97,765. In contrast, directors of supply chain operations make the biggest average salary, $117,181, in the pharmaceutical industry.The education levels that material managers earn slightly differ from directors of supply chain operations. In particular, material managers are 9.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a director of supply chain operations. Additionally, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director of supply chain operations vs. Planning manager
Planning managers perform various duties and responsibilities for an organization. These include planning and monitoring a project or department's budget, production schedule, and inventory, creating reports of new plans, programs, and regulations, and ensuring development proposals comply with requirements and regulations. Additionally, planning managers are expected to serve as an intermediary between developers, government entities, businesses, and communities. They also oversee site plans, rezoning, and special-use permits, set schedules for the project, and supervise other personnel such as developers and consultants.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real director of supply chain operations resumes. While director of supply chain operations responsibilities can utilize skills like "supply chain," "chain operations," "chain management," and "lean six sigma," planning managers use skills like "strong analytical," "capacity planning," "excellent interpersonal," and "logistics."
Planning managers earn a lower average salary than directors of supply chain operations. But planning managers earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $107,807. Additionally, directors of supply chain operations earn the highest salaries in the pharmaceutical with average pay of $117,181 annually.planning managers earn similar levels of education than directors of supply chain operations in general. They're 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Director of supply chain operations vs. Logistics director
A logistics director spearheads and oversees a company's logistics operations. They are primarily responsible for setting goals and guidelines, managing the budgets and timelines, researching new opportunities, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of operations, and implementing solutions against problem areas. They must also maintain positive relationships with key clients and external parties, such as distributors and suppliers. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead employees while implementing the company's policies and regulations, recommending new ones as needed.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a director of supply chain operations is likely to be skilled in "demand planning," "lean six sigma," "chain functions," and "customer satisfaction," while a typical logistics director is skilled in "logistics operations," "oversight," "logistics support," and "ltl."
When it comes to education, logistics directors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to directors of supply chain operations. In fact, they're 4.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Director of supply chain operations vs. Procurement officer
A procurement officer is primarily in charge of overseeing the procurement of supplies and equipment for an organization, prioritizing cost-efficiency and quality. It is their duty to manage the company's supply inventory, compile and analyze procurement requests, develop purchase plans, handle purchase procedures, and maintain records of all transactions, producing reports regularly. They must also liaise and negotiate with vendors and suppliers, building positive relationships with them. Furthermore, as a procurement officer, it is essential to lead the procurement team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between directors of supply chain operations and procurement officers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a director of supply chain operations might have more use for skills like "supply chain," "chain operations," "customer service," and "chain management." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of procurement officers require skills like "purchase orders," "purchase requisitions," "contract management," and "logistics. "
The retail industry tends to pay the highest salaries for procurement officers, with average annual pay of $74,267. Comparatively, the highest director of supply chain operations annual salary comes from the pharmaceutical industry.procurement officers reach lower levels of education compared to directors of supply chain operations, in general. The difference is that they're 8.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of director of supply chain operations
Updated January 8, 2025
