Post job

What is a global supply chain director and how to become one

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

A global supply chain director oversees the production and field operations of an organization. They supervise the production process starting from the procurement and processing of raw materials to the delivery and deployment of finished products.

They handle the logistical elements of the production and secure the sufficiency of supplies. They devise and develop product delivery systems and participate in inventory management. Aside from paying close attention to the requirements of field operations, they also negotiate with manufacturers to find more efficient methods and options of production.

Pursuing a career path for a global supply chain director requires a bachelor's degree in supply management. The related field of business administration may also pave the way for this position. Some employers, however, prefer a master's degree holder. On average, the global supply chain director earns $63.13 an hour, or $131,308 in a year.

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

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.
ScoreGlobal Supply Chain DirectorUS Average
Salary
8.6

Avg. Salary $139,768

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 9.00%

Black or African American 7.64%

Hispanic or Latino 12.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 65.17%

Gender

female 15.32%

male 84.68%

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

Global supply chain director career paths

Key steps to become a global supply chain director

  1. Explore global supply chain director education requirements

    Most common global supply chain director degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.4 %

    Master's

    22.2 %

    Associate

    3.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific global supply chain director skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Supply Chain18.82%
    Continuous Improvement7.86%
    KPIs3.58%
    Cost Reduction3.04%
    Materials Management3.02%
  3. Complete relevant global supply chain director training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New global supply chain directors 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 global supply chain director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real global supply chain director resumes.
  4. Research global supply chain director duties and responsibilities

    • Manage inbound/outbound logistics domestically and internationally.
    • Develop and test a lean, simplify ERP process for 2013 deployment.
    • Implement a global demand forecasting, planning and management system tie directly to the company ERP system.
    • Manage inbound/outbound logistics domestically and internationally.
  5. Get global supply chain director experience

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

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your global supply chain director 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 global supply chain director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable global supply chain director resume templates

    Build a professional global supply chain director 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 global supply chain director resume.
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
    Global Supply Chain Director Resume
  7. Apply for global supply chain director jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a global supply chain director 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 global supply chain director job

Zippi

Are you a global supply chain director?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average global supply chain director salary

The average global supply chain director salary in the United States is $139,768 per year or $67 per hour. Global supply chain director salaries range between $99,000 and $196,000 per year.

Average global supply chain director salary
$139,768 Yearly
$67.20 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do global supply chain directors rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Global supply chain director reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.


profile
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.


Working as a global supply chain director? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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.

Browse executive management jobs