How to hire a supply chain manager

How to hire a supply chain manager, step by step

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

What does a supply chain manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the supply chain manager you need to hire. Certain supply chain manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, supply chain managers 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 presents supply chain manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Supply Chain Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Supply Chain Manager	A Supply Chain Manager manages and oversees overall supply chain operations. Their primary duties include purchasing and inventory of materials, as well as selection of vendors.	$34-66
   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
   Logistics Director	A logistics director spearheads and oversees a company's logistics operations. They are primarily responsible for setting goals and guidelines, managing the budgets and timelines, researching new opportunities, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of operations, and implementing solutions against problem areas... Show more	$33-80

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Supply Chain
   • Logistics
   • Project Management
   • Customer Service
   • Chain Management
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Supply Chain Planning
   • ERP
   • Process Improvement
   • Chain Operations
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Cost Reduction
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Inventory Management

   Check all skills

   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.

   More supply chain manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your supply chain manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A supply chain manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a supply chain manager in Louisiana may be lower than in Vermont, and an entry-level supply chain manager usually earns less than a senior-level supply chain manager. Additionally, a supply chain manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average supply chain manager salary

   $100,414yearly

   $48.28 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level supply chain manager salary

   $72,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 5, 2026

   Average supply chain manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$111,629	$54
   2	Virginia	$105,151	$51
   3	Washington	$104,642	$50
   4	New York	$103,521	$50
   5	Minnesota	$101,996	$49
   6	Pennsylvania	$100,995	$49
   7	District of Columbia	$100,689	$48
   8	Massachusetts	$100,284	$48
   9	Iowa	$99,337	$48
   10	Michigan	$98,548	$47
   11	Maryland	$97,529	$47
   12	Missouri	$96,195	$46
   13	Ohio	$96,179	$46
   14	Indiana	$96,002	$46
   15	North Carolina	$95,702	$46
   16	Georgia	$95,015	$46
   17	Wisconsin	$93,687	$45
   18	Oregon	$93,421	$45
   19	Kentucky	$93,324	$45
   20	Illinois	$93,137	$45

   Average supply chain manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	McKinsey & Company Inc	$152,699	$73.41
   2	Meta	$142,954	$68.73	40
   3	NVIDIA	$136,118	$65.44	5
   4	Acadia Pharmaceuticals	$135,909	$65.34	1
   5	Google	$133,987	$64.42	57
   6	Apple	$132,275	$63.59	17
   7	Cepheid	$131,830	$63.38
   8	Fitbit	$131,423	$63.18
   9	Accenture	$130,324	$62.66	739
   10	Sunrun	$129,977	$62.49
   11	Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners	$128,670	$61.86	6
   12	Intuitive Surgical	$128,521	$61.79	2
   13	Radial	$125,894	$60.53
   14	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$125,615	$60.39	1
   15	Amgen	$125,154	$60.17	16
   16	Juniper Networks	$125,133	$60.16
   17	Twitter	$124,834	$60.02
   18	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$123,741	$59.49	6
   19	Ernst & Young	$123,460	$59.36	405
   20	Joby Aviation	$123,379	$59.32

4. Writing a supply chain manager job description

   A job description for a supply chain manager 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 manager job description:

   Supply chain manager job description example

   • Manage the creation of software media, dongles, licensing and required documentation for global projects and end customers
   • Track 3rd party software licenses and royalty reporting
   • Ensure customer orders are fulfilled according to established lead times and urgent/emergency orders are filled immediately
   • Ensure that all Systems and Software business units meet their reporting and financial commitments according to commercial agreements, are in compliance with software licensing, distribution and other restrictions, and ensure software needs of the business are met
   • Act as the single point of contact and spokesperson for software licensing, royalties and process compliance for all software applications
   • Drive best-in-class practices and benchmarks across the software industry to ensure process excellence in the management and distribution of all software for Global SYSS products
   • Supports new software business acquisitions and integrations as necessary with regards to software license and distribution
   • Collaborate with software category managers and technology on new 3rd party software suppliers introduction and royalty reporting requirements.

   Who You Are:
   
   You adjust communication content and style to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders. You convey clear performance expectations and follow up consistently. You anticipate customer needs and provide services that are beyond customer expectations. You focus efforts on continuous improvement; and have a knack for identifying and seizing opportunities for synergy and integration. You analyze multiple and diverse sources of information to define problems accurately before moving to solutions.

   Required Education, Experience & Skills:

   • Bachelor's Degree
   • 10+ years of experience in: Business, Supply Chain or Strategic Procurement
   • Experience with contract management and administration, preferably within the software industry
   • Legal authorization to work in the United States - Sponsorship will not be provided for this position.

   Flexible Work Schedule - Remote Work Option

   This role has the flexibility of a remote work option up to three days a week. Our teams work together to ensure our chosen work schedules enable our creativity and productivity as we serve the needs of our customers.

   #LI-Hybrid

   #LI-SD1

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right supply chain manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with supply chain managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit supply chain managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your supply chain manager job on Zippia to find and recruit supply chain manager 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 manager 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 manager

   Once you've selected the best supply chain manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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