How to hire a supply chain director

How to hire a supply chain director, step by step

Here's a step-by-step supply chain director hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a supply chain director job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new supply chain director
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a supply chain director do?

Post a supply chain director job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The supply chain director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A supply chain director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, supply chain directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of supply chain directors.

   Type of Supply Chain Director	Description	Hourly rate
   Supply Chain Director		$43-88
   Procurement Officer	A procurement officer is primarily in charge of overseeing the procurement of supplies and equipment for an organization, prioritizing cost-efficiency and quality. It is their duty to manage the company's supply inventory, compile and analyze procurement requests, develop purchase plans, handle purchase procedures, and maintain records of all transactions, producing reports regularly... Show more	$25-48
   Inventory Control Manager	An inventory control manager is a professional who is responsible for directing all tasks related to inventory management of a company. They manage the allocation of materials, supplies, and finished goods as well as design strategies to minimize the cost or time to move goods... Show more	$19-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Supply Chain
   • Logistics
   • Chain Operations
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Chain Management
   • Supply Chain Planning
   • Inventory Management
   • Business Processes
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • KPIs
   • ERP
   • Process Improvement
   • Sigma
   • Demand Planning

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the NPI function from sourcing to production in low cost regions.
   • Lead DC improvements including cross-docking, order handling automation, re-slotting, bar coding and WMS.
   • Manage procurement method (contract, kanban, PO, consignment) as well as stocking/inventory parameters.
   • Manage``Pluto"( NPI) launch in NA, balancing between factory ramp-up, sales / customer expectations.
   • Attain ISO certifications and environmental stewardship.
   • Lead the development of integrate ERP processes require to support consign inventory initiatives.

   More supply chain director duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your supply chain director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A supply chain director salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, supply chain directors' average salary in missouri is 39% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level supply chain directors earn 51% less than senior-level supply chain directors.
   • Certifications. A supply chain director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a supply chain director's salary.

   Average supply chain director salary

   $129,438yearly

   $62.23 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level supply chain director salary

   $90,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average supply chain director salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$162,244	$78
   2	Washington	$155,316	$75
   3	Massachusetts	$152,448	$73
   4	Nevada	$144,214	$69
   5	District of Columbia	$132,890	$64
   6	Virginia	$132,262	$64
   7	New York	$130,773	$63
   8	North Carolina	$126,950	$61
   9	Pennsylvania	$125,035	$60
   10	Texas	$121,615	$58
   11	Maryland	$118,772	$57
   12	Arizona	$118,273	$57
   13	Florida	$117,820	$57
   14	Connecticut	$117,171	$56
   15	Indiana	$115,979	$56
   16	Tennessee	$112,696	$54
   17	Georgia	$112,678	$54
   18	Minnesota	$110,478	$53
   19	Colorado	$105,686	$51
   20	Illinois	$104,147	$50

   Average supply chain director salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chewy	$173,792	$83.55
   2	Meta	$173,208	$83.27	84
   3	Nike	$166,488	$80.04	10
   4	DoorDash	$166,166	$79.89	15
   5	Benjamin Moore	$162,955	$78.34
   6	Google	$162,376	$78.07	60
   7	Zymeworks	$153,522	$73.81
   8	Emergent BioSolutions	$153,158	$73.63
   9	Nikola Motor	$150,712	$72.46
   10	Macy's	$148,794	$71.54	9
   11	BJ Energy Solutions	$148,249	$71.27
   12	Tesla	$147,263	$70.80	1
   13	Novant Health	$147,063	$70.70
   14	Ready Pac Foods	$146,404	$70.39
   15	Ross Stores	$146,050	$70.22	13
   16	Baylor Scott & White Health	$145,687	$70.04	6
   17	Sleep Number	$145,546	$69.97	1
   18	Ulta Beauty	$145,126	$69.77	1
   19	BJC HealthCare	$145,044	$69.73	7
   20	Bed Bath & Beyond	$144,416	$69.43

4. Writing a supply chain director job description

   A supply chain director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a supply chain director job description:

   Supply chain director job description example

   Lovejoy, a company in the Timken family of brands, is looking to hire a Director of Supply Chain. The purpose of this position is to lead the supply chain team for the Lovejoy business. This position is responsible for all the supply chain functions for the business. Supply chain functions include strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, planning & scheduling, inventory management, warehousing, and logistics. These functions span the full value creation cycle from raw material through delivery to the customer. This position reports to the president of the business and is a key contributor to the business planning process and establishing a long-term strategic direction. Essential Responsibilities:
   
   Develop and maintain a high-performing organization through the selection, development, motivation, and leadership of supply chain team members.
   
   Lead the Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process to drive operational alignment with customer demand.
   
   Lead strategic sourcing activities to ensure robustness of supply and reduce overall supply chain costs.
   
   Manage procurement activities for direct and indirect materials, and lead supplier performance management activities.
   
   Develop production schedules that support exceptional customer service levels and overall operational efficiency.
   Manage warehousing and all shipping and receiving functions. Lead inventory management processes to ensure efficient flow of material, appropriate inventory levels and global stocking positions. Leverage SAP system and integrated applications to optimize business processes through detailed knowledge of the applications and strict management of data integrity. Continually refine overall supply chain design and implement processes, from supplier to customer, that ensure optimal operational efficiency and cost performance. Technical/Functional Skills: Lean Manufacturing experience People leadership ability Strong planning and organization skills Advanced problem-solving ability Excellent written and verbal communications ability Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree is required; Concentration in Business, Engineering, or Technical is preferred Minimum of 7 years relevant work experience in supply chain is required Minimum of 5 years of SAP experience (or similar business system) is required APICS certificaiton is preferred All qualified applicants shall be treated equally according to their individual qualifications, abilities, experiences and other employment standards. There will be no discrimination due to gender or gender identity, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran/military status or any other basis protected by applicable law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right supply chain director for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your supply chain director job on Zippia to find and recruit supply chain director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit supply chain directors, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new supply chain director

   Once you've found the supply chain director candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new supply chain director first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a supply chain director?