Materials director vs supply chain manager

The differences between materials directors and supply chain managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a materials director and a supply chain manager. Additionally, a materials director has an average salary of $127,061, which is higher than the $100,414 average annual salary of a supply chain manager.

The top three skills for a materials director include supply chain, logistics and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a supply chain manager are supply chain, logistics, and project management.

Materials director vs supply chain manager overview

	Materials Director	Supply Chain Manager
Yearly salary	$127,061	$100,414
Hourly rate	$61.09	$48.28
Growth rate	-6%	-
Number of jobs	20,718	37,773
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a materials director do?

A materials director oversees daily operations of a purchasing office and storeroom. They oversee an organizations' policies, supervise staff within the purchasing office, distribute supplies, carry out requisitions, coordinate warehouse activities, and maintain relationships with vendors. They also need to keep detailed records of procurement activities and material quantities.

What does a supply chain manager do?

A supply chain manager is an individual who takes responsibility for managing hardware, equipment, and any other logistical details of an organization. Supply chain managers work alongside the external partners for parts and raw material procurement. They make sure that global companies coordinate with their sources of goods. These professionals also assess their suppliers and negotiate corporate contracts with vendors. The skills they needed include technical understanding, project management, cost accounting skills, and business ethics.

Materials director vs supply chain manager salary

Materials directors and supply chain managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Materials Director	Supply Chain Manager
Average salary	$127,061	$100,414
Salary range	Between $92,000 And $173,000	Between $72,000 And $139,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Vermont
Best paying company	Koch Industries	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Energy	Professional

Differences between materials director and supply chain manager education

There are a few differences between a materials director and a supply chain manager in terms of educational background:

	Materials Director	Supply Chain Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Materials director vs supply chain manager demographics

Here are the differences between materials directors' and supply chain managers' demographics:

	Materials Director	Supply Chain Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 88.0% Female, 12.0%	Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	11%	10%

Differences between materials director and supply chain manager duties and responsibilities

Materials director example responsibilities.

Manage cross-functional teams during the implementation of an ERP system that are successfully install and maintain without affecting the revenue stream.
Lead assembly operations and materials during major line reconfiguration and ISO certification.
Manage supplier performance base on identify KPIs and implement supplier-sourcing strategies to improve performance.
Implement and enhance use of MRP system, allowing use of accurate inventory reporting for fiscal year end.
Stream line and upgrade the planning process improving internal and external service levels in an ISO certify environment.
Enhance the functionality of the ERP system by revising all part numbers to conform to standardize part number/description protocols.

Supply chain manager example responsibilities.

Lead the SIOP process to establish continuous flow for customer deliveries while achieving a reduction in inventory.
Manage RFP process to identify best partners.
Develop and implement a process to manage and maintain accurate item master in LAWSON procurement system.
Raise capital, set up PMO office & lead cross-functional team to deliver a document management technology solution.
Pilot software implementation by establishing requirements, creating strategy, and defining implementation plan; manage integration with ERP system.
Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.

Materials director vs supply chain manager skills

Common materials director skills

Supply Chain, 17%
Logistics, 9%
Continuous Improvement, 6%
Materials Management, 5%
Inventory Control, 5%
On-Time Delivery, 5%

Common supply chain manager skills

Supply Chain, 20%
Logistics, 9%
Project Management, 5%
Customer Service, 5%
Chain Management, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

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Materials Director
Materials Director vs Supply Chain Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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