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The differences between senior manager-supply chain managers and directors of purchasing can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior manager-supply chain manager and a director of purchasing. Additionally, a senior manager-supply chain manager has an average salary of $124,984, which is higher than the $106,945 average annual salary of a director of purchasing.
The top three skills for a senior manager-supply chain manager include supply chain, logistics and project management. The most important skills for a director of purchasing are supply chain, purchase orders, and product development.
| Senior Manager-Supply Chain Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Yearly salary | $124,984 | $106,945 |
| Hourly rate | $60.09 | $51.42 |
| Growth rate | - | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 52,379 | 17,847 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A supply chain senior manager is responsible for monitoring the company's supply logistics processes and chain strategies, implementing process improvement techniques to maximize the staff's productivity and optimal performance. Supply chain senior managers coordinate with suppliers and third-party vendors, negotiating contracts, and maintaining stable business relationships with distributors. They also identify inconsistencies in supply chain operations, ensure the adequacy of stock inventories, implement quality control procedures, and analyzing industry trends to identify business opportunities, meeting consumer demands and public needs.
A director of purchasing oversees the procedures related to buying resources and supplies, directing operations from planning to execution while adhering to standards and company policies. They primarily perform research and assessments to understand project needs in terms of price, quality, and delivery time. They also identify ideal suppliers, negotiate deals, and build positive business relationships. Additionally, a director of purchasing has the authority to make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities among staff, oversee employment procedures within the department, and solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Senior manager-supply chain managers and directors of purchasing have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Manager-Supply Chain Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average salary | $124,984 | $106,945 |
| Salary range | Between $92,000 And $169,000 | Between $68,000 And $166,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Washington |
| Best paying company | Rivian | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a senior manager-supply chain manager and a director of purchasing in terms of educational background:
| Senior Manager-Supply Chain Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between senior manager-supply chain managers' and directors of purchasing' demographics:
| Senior Manager-Supply Chain Manager | Director Of Purchasing | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.8% Female, 19.2% | Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |