Supply chain manager
Job facts
- Salaries range from £18,000 to £60,000 a year
- Employers include major retailers and logistics contractors
- Large employers take on graduate trainees
Supply chain managers plan and organise the transfer of goods and materials from manufacturers and suppliers through to customers. They may be responsible for distribution operations in a variety of organisations, for example a major retailer or a logistics contractor that specialises in shipping goods on behalf of other companies. Responsibilities would include planning delivery timetables, monitoring stock levels using computer databases and tracking the movement of goods through depots.
Working hours are usually between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday – with occasional evenings and weekends on a rota basis. Some companies run 24-hour operations involving shiftwork. The work is usually office-based in a distribution warehouse or depot. Starting salaries for graduates can be from £18,000 to £22,000 a year. Experienced managers can earn between £25,000 and £60,000 a year.
Supply chain managers need:
- good planning and organisational skills
- the ability to motivate and lead a team
- good spoken and written communication skills
- good geographical knowledge.
The most common route into supply chain management is to take a foundation degree, BTEC HNC/HND or a degree in logistics, international transport, supply chain management, transport management or geography. A Diploma in Retail Business may be useful. With a degree, you may be able to start training with a larger employer on a graduate training scheme.
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