How to hire a supply chain lead

How to hire a supply chain lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step supply chain lead 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 lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new supply chain lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a supply chain lead do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The supply chain lead 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 lead's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, supply chain leads 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.

   Here's a comparison of supply chain lead salaries for various roles:

   Type of Supply Chain Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Supply Chain Lead		$36-65
   Director, Procurement	The responsibilities of a procurement director revolve around ensuring the efficient and smooth flow of supplies within the company, developing procurement strategies for optimal services and operations, assessing risks, and overseeing the implementation of new policies and regulations in the company. It is essential to coordinate with analysts to identify areas with potential opportunities or those needing improvements... Show more	$47-95
   Contracts Director	A contract director is primarily in charge of developing and negotiating contracts with clients and partners, ensuring adherence to the company's policies and regulations. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing extensive research and analysis to foresee potential advantages and disadvantages, coordinating with analysts and other experts, monitoring the progress of operations to ensure contract compliance of both parties, and overseeing the development of proposals within the organization... Show more	$22-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Supply Chain
   • Project Management
   • KPIs
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • HR
   • ERP
   • Logistics
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Customer Service
   • Chain Management
   • Supply Chain Planning
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Process Improvement
   • SCM

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Develop KPIs for inventory management and demand forecasting.
   • Establish clearly define SCM targets base on project goals and client input.

   More supply chain lead duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the supply chain lead job description is a good way to get more applicants. A supply chain lead salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a supply chain lead in Mississippi may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level supply chain lead. Additionally, a supply chain lead with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average supply chain lead salary

   $101,348yearly

   $48.73 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level supply chain lead salary

   $75,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average supply chain lead salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$132,441	$64
   2	Washington	$131,075	$63
   3	Maryland	$114,304	$55
   4	Pennsylvania	$110,660	$53
   5	Massachusetts	$108,447	$52
   6	Minnesota	$106,704	$51
   7	Missouri	$103,985	$50
   8	Ohio	$102,090	$49
   9	Illinois	$101,890	$49
   10	Texas	$101,028	$49
   11	Indiana	$99,865	$48
   12	New York	$98,421	$47
   13	District of Columbia	$98,037	$47
   14	Connecticut	$97,422	$47
   15	South Carolina	$97,125	$47
   16	Colorado	$96,117	$46
   17	Virginia	$95,760	$46
   18	North Carolina	$95,285	$46
   19	Wisconsin	$94,448	$45
   20	Georgia	$93,444	$45

   Average supply chain lead salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$176,827	$85.01
   2	Meta	$151,928	$73.04	91
   3	Google	$141,126	$67.85	63
   4	Apple	$140,811	$67.70	16
   5	Mayo Clinic	$134,776	$64.80	6
   6	Bunge	$132,578	$63.74
   7	Cargill	$125,716	$60.44	2
   8	Coty	$123,906	$59.57
   9	Joby Aviation	$123,647	$59.45
   10	Bloomberg	$122,554	$58.92	2
   11	Accenture	$121,846	$58.58	1,216
   12	Cordis	$121,064	$58.20
   13	BD	$120,263	$57.82	5
   14	RH	$119,665	$57.53	1
   15	PepsiCo	$119,544	$57.47	13
   16	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$118,791	$57.11	7
   17	P&G	$118,624	$57.03	3
   18	Ross Stores	$118,103	$56.78	13
   19	The Clorox Company	$118,005	$56.73	7
   20	Ernst & Young	$117,594	$56.54	337

4. Writing a supply chain lead job description

   A job description for a supply chain lead role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a supply chain lead job description:

   Supply chain lead job description example

   The Sonoco Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is designed to help you develop leadership skills, gain technical knowledge, establish strong business skills and understand Sonoco's culture and processes. The program is a blend of hands-on experiences and opportunities. Throughout the program you can expect to gain a better understanding of your leadership style and contribute to Sonoco through valuable project work.
   
   Sonoco is a very diversified company. We have 16 business units and most are looking to hire, including; Rigid Paper & Closures, Global Plastics, Flexibles, Paper, Recycling, Consumer Technology/R&D, Protective Solutions, Tubes & Cores, and more! Whichever business unit you join, you can expect a tailored experience!
   Your time spent in the ELP will cover specific core objectives as follows (but not limited to):
   Technical Skills Training - Safety, Quality, Scheduling, satisfaction Leadership Training - Supervisory skills, Performance Manage Customer ment, Mentorship Business Insights - Accountability, Execution, Risk Taking, Budgeting Culture Integration - including Communication, Collaboration and Innovation
   Our hope is that in time, you'll be a business leader! Whether that means you become a Plant Manager, Director of Finance, Supply Chain Leader, Regional Manufacturing Director, etc., the opportunities are endless.
   
   We want employees who can help us live our purpose each and every day. Our core belief is the People Build Businesses, by ‘Doing the Right Thing'. To become a member of the ELP you must have strong ethics, a passion for innovation, and be willing to go the extra mile.
   
   We look for students who:
   Have or will obtain a Bachelor or Master's degree in Engineering, Sciences, Technology or Business by December 2021 or May 2022 Previous internship experience (preferably in Manufacturing or functional area) Proven leadership experience Desire to work in a Manufacturing environment Technical aptitude
   Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills All ELP Associates must be open to relocation (immediately or in the future), and be willing to work rotating or late shifts. Although these positions are listed in specific locations, candidates will be matched based off their unique experiences and the specific location needs. We ask that our Emerging Leader and Interns remain flexible in their location preferences.
   
   #GDsponsored
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right supply chain lead 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 lead job on Zippia to find and recruit supply chain lead candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with supply chain lead candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 lead

   Once you've found the supply chain lead 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new supply chain lead. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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.)

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