Inventory management specialist vs director of supply chain management

The differences between inventory management specialists and directors of supply chain management can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an inventory management specialist and a director of supply chain management. Additionally, a director of supply chain management has an average salary of $131,875, which is higher than the $56,032 average annual salary of an inventory management specialist.

The top three skills for an inventory management specialist include customer service, inventory management system and purchase orders. The most important skills for a director of supply chain management are supply chain, logistics, and chain management.

Inventory management specialist vs director of supply chain management overview

	Inventory Management Specialist	Director Of Supply Chain Management
Yearly salary	$56,032	$131,875
Hourly rate	$26.94	$63.40
Growth rate	1%	-
Number of jobs	108,982	91,983
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does an inventory management specialist do?

An inventory management specialist is responsible for maintaining the adequacy of stock supplies to support customers' needs. Inventory management specialists help develop inventory processes and strategies to keep the supplies organized and free of any defects while on storage. They also monitor inventory costs and process orders through various software tools, requiring them to have a working knowledge of computer systems and the ability to operate warehouse equipment and machinery on moving merchandise around the warehouse.

What does a director of supply chain management do?

A supply chain management director is responsible for overseeing the supply chain management operations by managing the distribution process and material delivery. Supply chain management directors coordinate with the suppliers and vendors to negotiate contracts and conditions, monitor the production deadline, confirm shipment details, and resolve distribution delays. They also conduct data and statistical analysis to identify methodologies that would increase the staff's productivity and efficiency. A supply chain management director analyzes financial transactions, manage cost-reduction expenses, and discuss production reports to the senior management.

Inventory management specialist vs director of supply chain management salary

Inventory management specialists and directors of supply chain management have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Inventory Management Specialist	Director Of Supply Chain Management
Average salary	$56,032	$131,875
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $81,000	Between $94,000 And $184,000
Highest paying City	Tracy, CA	San Mateo, CA
Highest paying state	Maryland	California
Best paying company	NVIDIA	Mayo Clinic
Best paying industry	Government	Manufacturing

Differences between inventory management specialist and director of supply chain management education

There are a few differences between an inventory management specialist and a director of supply chain management in terms of educational background:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Director Of Supply Chain Management
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Inventory management specialist vs director of supply chain management demographics

Here are the differences between inventory management specialists' and directors of supply chain management' demographics:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Director Of Supply Chain Management
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%	Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between inventory management specialist and director of supply chain management duties and responsibilities

Inventory management specialist example responsibilities.

Plan, purchase and manage various commodities through the use of various MRP systems.
Experience decision-maker in high-pressure environments; efficiently manage vital decision points autonomously to ensure mission accomplishment in multiple combat deployments.
Scan product bins with RF scanner for refills.
Update the department's inventory with the RF scanner.
Update on hand counts to ensure accurate ordering through the POS system.
Create purchase requisitions base on MRP recommendations, as well as external factors.

Director of supply chain management example responsibilities.

Manage and troubleshoot variations in demand; review and revise ERP system requisition inventory allocation recommendations.
Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.
Initiate MRP and forecasting implementation utilizing ERP system.
Analyze financial and operating data to create KPIs for the monitoring of progress.
Develop KPIs for various functions; measure performance and set goals for improvement.
Assist in the management and fine tuning of the MRP system in conjunction with the purchasing manager.

Inventory management specialist vs director of supply chain management skills

Common inventory management specialist skills

Customer Service, 23%
Inventory Management System, 15%
Purchase Orders, 7%
Sales Floor, 5%
Stock Merchandise, 5%
Safety Standards, 5%

Common director of supply chain management skills

Supply Chain, 19%
Logistics, 9%
Chain Management, 8%
Continuous Improvement, 4%
Project Management, 4%
Chain Operations, 4%

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Inventory Management Specialist
Inventory Management Specialist vs Director Of Supply Chain Management

Updated January 8, 2025

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