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What is a supply chain lead and how to become one
The role of a Supply Chain Lead is to oversee and manage the production of a company's products. They are involved in every part, from the acquisition of the raw materials to the finished product and sometimes even further to its shipment off to stores and customers.
Of course, due to the nature of their job, the Lead will have to interact and build relationships with a number of different people, such as procurement managers and customers, suppliers, and inventory and product managers, and other leads. They will also have to negotiate contracts, do research on materials, factories, and manufacturing processes, manage budgets and deadlines, oversee the storage of materials and products, oversee inventory, and plan and apply strategies.
A person hoping to work in this position should generally have a university degree in a subject relevant to the position, such as business or supply chain management, finance or transport management, or a similar field. Excellent planning and communication skills are a must, as are computer literacy, negotiation, and risk assessment and management.
What general advice would you give to a supply chain lead?
Priya Nagaraj
Professor of Economics and Global Business, Website
Avg. Salary $101,348
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 8.80%
Black or African American 7.44%
Hispanic or Latino 12.45%
Unknown 4.68%
White 65.96%
Genderfemale 28.54%
male 71.46%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Supply chain lead career paths
Key steps to become a supply chain lead
Explore supply chain lead education requirements
Start to develop specific supply chain lead skills
Skills Percentages Supply Chain 16.66% Project Management 8.16% KPIs 7.10% Customer Satisfaction 6.20% HR 5.67% Complete relevant supply chain lead training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New supply chain leads 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 supply chain lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real supply chain lead resumes.Research supply chain lead duties and responsibilities
- Expand role to manage TMS standalone and combine WMS / TMS implementation projects.
- Manage RFP bids and vendor selection process including negotiation of scope and contract.
- Lead product distribution and logistics, including contract negotiation, carrier qualification and claims management for international and domestic shipments.
- Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.
Get supply chain lead experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a supply chain lead. The most common roles before becoming a supply chain lead include purchasing manager, supply chain manager team lead and buyer.Prepare your supply chain lead resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your supply chain lead 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 supply chain lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable supply chain lead resume templates
Build a professional supply chain lead 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 supply chain lead resume.
Apply for supply chain lead jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a supply chain lead job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first supply chain lead job
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Average supply chain lead salary
The average supply chain lead salary in the United States is $101,348 per year or $49 per hour. Supply chain lead salaries range between $75,000 and $136,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do supply chain leads rate their job?
Supply chain lead reviews
Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.
its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.
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.
I am working to improve my area of concern which is having limitations when managing employees.
Updated January 8, 2025
