Post job

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

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

Global supply chain managers oversee a company's international procurement strategies, making sure they secure high-quality material for the best prices. They take care of logistics and manage inventory, collaborating with suppliers to make sure safety standards are adhered to.

As a global supply chain manager, your main responsibilities will be monitoring supply chain performance and analyzing data related to this area of business. Recruiting and training staff will be your job as well, along with creating viable business plans and collaborating with other departments of the company.

You will need to have previous experience on the job to take on this role and know the ins and outs of supply chain processes. You will be expected to be familiar with relevant software used for logistics and the organization of stocks, supplies, and shipments. Communication and problem-solving skills will make your life a whole lot easier working in this position.

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

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 ManagerUS Average
Salary
8.2

Avg. Salary $122,423

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.82%

Black or African American 7.46%

Hispanic or Latino 12.49%

Unknown 4.69%

White 65.89%

Gender

female 21.41%

male 78.59%

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
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Global supply chain manager career paths

Key steps to become a global supply chain manager

  1. Explore global supply chain manager education requirements

    Most common global supply chain manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.6 %

    Master's

    19.3 %

    Associate

    6.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific global supply chain manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Supply Chain25.47%
    Continuous Improvement6.02%
    Demand Planning3.66%
    Chain Management3.35%
    Supply Chain Planning2.89%
  3. Complete relevant global supply chain manager training and internships

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

    • Lead operation planning across the Americas, Asia, EMEA.
    • Develop advance excel templates to automate monthly financial reports from ERP system.
    • Manage strategy development, process re-engineering, logistics management, and information technology support for the supply chain enterprise.
    • Establish MRP policies and procedures to help reduce inventory levels by $250K while minimizing stockouts.
  5. Prepare your global supply chain manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your global supply chain manager 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 manager 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 manager resume templates

    Build a professional global supply chain manager 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 manager resume.
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
    Global Supply Chain Manager Resume
  6. Apply for global supply chain manager jobs

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

Zippi

Are you a global supply chain manager?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average global supply chain manager salary

The average global supply chain manager salary in the United States is $122,423 per year or $59 per hour. Global supply chain manager salaries range between $87,000 and $170,000 per year.

Average global supply chain manager salary
$122,423 Yearly
$58.86 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do global supply chain managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Global supply chain manager reviews

profile
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!


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

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


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 manager? 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