CAREERS IN SUPPLY CHAINS
Supply chains are all around us and fundamental to how we live. The food we eat, clothes we wear, buildings we inhabit, transport and equipment we use each and every day are all examples of how we use and benefit from multiple supply chains. New technologies, automation, big data and sophisticated analytics are rapidly changing how supply chains operate and quickly evolving the job roles and skills needed by individual workers.
Supply chain roles and responsibilities now encompass a wide range of occupations such as demand planning, design analyst, inventory control, customer service and fulfilment, logistics and freight, production planning, sourcing and purchasing, supplier management, IT and finance to name but a few.
Supply chain career paths are changing with plenty of new and exciting opportunities available! The development of digital systems and applications throughout the domestic and international supply chain ecosystem will see many more diverse and different supply chain careers becoming available.
In an increasingly interconnected world, the benefits of a diverse supply chain workforce that’s well trained and technologically adept will be critical to the success of Australia’s businesses.
There are many different types of supply chain jobs available at every level. If an exciting career with plenty of opportunities is what you want, then a career in the supply chain industry is for you!
The scope of supply chain management and operations is very broad; as a career choice the industry offers a wide variety of jobs at every level.
Manufacturing
Supply chains begin with the process of manufacturing and end with consumers purchasing products. The production environment is an important part of the supply chain so it is possible to enter the supply chain profession by way of a manufacturing job.
One of the most popular roles within manufacturing is that of production manager. Among other duties, production managers are responsible for coordinating production schedules, determining how long the manufacturing process for a product will take and keeping track of finished product inventory.
Supply chain roles in manufacturing can include:
- Engineer
- Maintenance operative, supervisor and manager
- Materials analyst
- Materials scheduler
- Production operative, supervisor and manager
- Production planner
- Production warehouse manager
- Purchasing manager
- Quality manager
Supply chain planning
Planning is required at every stage of the supply chain. Planners typically monitor and manage inventories, forecast sales and production levels, undertake capacity planning, map out material requirements and track delivery performance.
Planning roles available in supply chains include:
- Capacity planner
- Demand planner
- Load planner
- Logistics resource planner
- Production planner
- Supply chain planner
Data analysis
With the increase in digital systems and applications in supply chains the analysis of all the data that is collected is going to be critical to meeting domestic and international business requirements. All of the processes involved in meeting consumer requirements will be data driven.
Data analysis roles in supply chains include:
- Data acquisition engineer
- Data administrator
- Data analyst
- Data manager
- Statistician
Procurement
Procurement, including sourcing and purchasing, can provide a fantastic grounding in how sales, services, inventory management and logistics interconnect throughout supply chains.
Individuals working in procurement identify and purchase raw materials needed to create products, engage in commercial negotiations over product price and supplier service, make contractual agreements with suppliers and ensure that inbound transportation of all purchased goods is achieved within required time frames.
There are a variety of opportunities in supply chain procurement including:
- Buyer
- Category manager
- Commodities manager
- Procurement analyst
- Procurement officer, manager or specialist
- Purchasing and inventory officer or manager
- Strategic sourcing manager
Transportation and Logistics
Logistics is primarily concerned with the movement of materials, goods and information. Getting products to where they are meant to go is the main goal of a supply chain and this would not be possible without transportation.
The advantage of working in logistics is that an individual can start on the warehouse floor and from there progress into other roles. It is not uncommon to find that Chief Supply Chain Officers have typically spent time managing warehouses and/or transport operations.
There are a wide range of supply chain career opportunities in logistics and transportation including:
- Driver
- Inventory controller
- Logistics administrator
- Logistics analyst
- Logistics director
- Logistics manager
- Reverse logistics manager
- Transport administrator
- Transport analyst
- Transport manager
- Warehouse administrator
- Warehouse manager
- Warehouse operative
Customer service
There are customer service career opportunities in supply chains ranging from entry level through to managerial roles. Customer service roles typically have responsibility for overseeing customer and/or client levels of satisfaction and the resolution of all complaints.
Customer service roles in supply chains include:
- Account specialist
- Customer service manager
- Resolutions manager
Other supply chain roles
Other roles in supply chains that can provide exciting and satisfying careers include:
- Supply Chain Solution Design Analyst: This role is responsible for analysing supply chains and designing solutions to improve their performance.
- Supply Chain Finance Management: Larger businesses may require expertise in the financial management of supply chain expenses.
- Supply Chain IT: Larger businesses often have IT departments that provide and manage the technology for supply chain functions.
- Sales roles: Ocean, air and overland transportation carriers, 3PL and 4PL specialists sell their services in support of supply chain operations. A sales role requires a good understanding of every aspect of the supply chains operation.
- Project Management: Larger businesses can have a variety of supply chain projects requiring oversight to ensure KPIs are met.
- Supply Chain Consulting: Consulting firms that specialise in supply chains offer a diverse variety of projects for consultants to work on. Consultants are generally expected to have experience in supply chain management before they take on a consulting role.
You can choose to either generalise or specialise your supply chain career. Your supply chain vocational education and training qualifications can open doors to exciting opportunities in Australia or oversees.
Executive | |
Supply Chain Director/General Manager | Postgraduate |
Supply Chain/Logistics General Manager | Postgraduate |
Supply Chain/Logistics Solution Design Manager | Postgraduate |
Supply Chain Management | |
Supply Chain/Logistics Chief Analyst | Degree |
Supply Chain Operations Manager | Degree |
Supply Chain Chief Officer | Degree |
Planning and Scheduling | |
Demand Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Demand/Inventory Planner | Diploma/Degree |
Supply Planner/Scheduler | Diploma/Degree |
Supply Chain Planner | Diploma/Degree |
Procurement and Purchasing | |
Procurement/Strategic Sourcing Director/General Manager | Postgraduate |
Procurement /Strategic Sourcing Manager | Postgraduate |
Contracts Manager | Degree |
Category/Commodity Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Purchasing/Procurement Buyer/Agent/Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Procurement Analyst | Diploma/Degree |
Buyer | Diploma/Degree |
Purchasing/Inventory Officer | Certificate IV/Diploma |
Sales | |
Sales Director/Manager | Degree |
National/State Sales Manager | Degree |
Marketing Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Contract Account Manager/Executive | Diploma/Degree |
E-Commerce Executive/Manager | Degree |
Business Development Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Sales/Marketing Analyst | Diploma/Degree |
Sales Representative | Diploma |
Category Executive/Analyst | Degree |
Retail | |
Retail Manager | Degree/Postgraduate |
State/Regional Manager | Degree |
Replenishment Planning Manager | Degree |
Space Planning Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Store Manager | Certificate IV/Diploma |
Customer Service | |
Call Centre Director | Diploma/Degree |
Call Centre Manager | Diploma |
Client Relationship Manager | Diploma |
Customer Service Operator | Certificate III/IV |
Freight Forwarding | |
Freight Forwarding Manager | Diploma |
Freight Scheduler | Certificate IV |
Freight Allocator | Certificate IV |
Customs Brokers | |
Customs Manager | Diploma/Licence |
Account Manager | Diploma/Licence |
Customs Broker | Diploma/Licence |
Stevedoring | |
Operations Superintendent | Adv. Diploma/Degree/Postgraduate |
Container Terminal Manager | Certificate IV/Diploma |
Automation Equipment Coordinator | Certificate IV/Diploma |
Shift Supervisor | Certificate III/IV |
Vessel Planner | Certificate III/IV/Diploma |
Yard Planner | Certificate III/IV |
Stevedore | Certificate II/III |
Stevedore Manager | Diploma |
Ship to Shore Automation Coordinator | Certificate II/III/Licence |
Maritime | |
Ship Master/Captain | Adv. Diploma/Degree/Licence |
Marine Pilot | Adv. Diploma/Degree/Licence |
Marine Engineer | Adv. Diploma/Licence |
Deck Officer | Certificate IV/Diploma/Degree |
Ship Planner | Diploma |
Integrated Rating/Deck Hand | Certificate III |
Air | |
Operations Manager | Diploma/Degree/Licence |
Duty Supervisor | Diploma/Degree/Licence |
Load Supervisor | Certificate IV/Licence |
Load Assembly Officer | Certificate III/Licence |
Documentation Officer | Certificate II/Licence |
Leading Hand/Store person | Certificate III/IV |
Rail | |
Network Operations Manager | Certificate IV/Diploma |
Network Controller | Certificate IV |
Terminal Operator/Manager | Diploma |
Network Operations Performance Officer | Degree |
Train Controller/Scheduler | Diploma |
Train Planner | Certificate IV |
Freight Train Driver | Certificate IV |
Project Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Road | |
Line Haul Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Site/Depot Manager | Certificate IV/Diploma |
B Double/Semi Driver | Certificate III/IV/Licence |
Scheduler | Certificate III/IV |
Allocator | Certificate III/IV |
Delivery Driver | Certificate II |
Refrigerated Vehicle Driver | Certificate III/IV/Licence |
Warehousing and Distribution | |
Network Design/Optimisation Manager | Postgraduate |
State/National Distribution Manager | Postgraduate |
Distribution Centre/Warehouse Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Robotics/Software Engineer | Degree/Postgraduate |
Logistician | Diploma/Degree |
Logistics Resource Planner | Certificate IV/Diploma |
Inventory Analyst/Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Transportation Data Analyst | Degree/Postgraduate |
Warehouse Supervisor/Leading Hand | Certificate III/IV |
Freight Handler | Certificate II |
Load Planner | Certificate II/III |
Warehouse Assistant/Operative | Certificate II/III |
Forklift Driver | Licence |
Transport Planner | Diploma |
Customer Service Officer | Diploma |
Stock/Inventory Controller | Diploma |
Import/Export Officer | Diploma |
Storage and Distribution Manager | Degree |
Manufacturing and Engineering | |
Operations Director/Manager | Degree/Postgraduate |
Maintenance Operative/Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Production Manager | Degree |
Quality Manager | Degree/Postgraduate |
Production/Planning Operative | Diploma/Degree |
Reliability Engineer | Degree |
Lean Specialist | Degree |
Process Engineer | Degree |
Project Engineer | Degree |
Shift Supervisor | Certificate III/IV |
Graduate Engineer | Degree |
Materials Planner/Manager | Diploma/Degree |
Finance | |
Financial Controller | Postgraduate |
Accounts Administrator/Coordinator | Diploma/Degree |
Commercial/Financial Analyst | Degree |
Management Accountant | Degree |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources/Industrial Relations Advisor/Manager | Degree |
Learning and Development Manager | Degree/Postgraduate |
Learning and Development Coordinator | Diploma/Degree |
Workplace Health and Safety Manager | Diploma/ Adv Diploma/Degree |
Work, Health and Safety Consultant | Certificate IV/Diploma |
Information Technology | |
Information Technology Manager | Degree/Postgraduate |
Systems/Solutions Architect | Degree/Postgraduate |
Business Systems/Data Analyst | Degree |
Systems Engineer | Degree |
IT Support/Database Administrator | Diploma |
Digitally enabled supply chains are the way of the future; many new and interesting career opportunities will open up for those interested in developing their knowledge and skills.
Whilst many of the basic functions undertaken in supply chains will continue, the way in which they are performed will change due to the impact of technology. The application of digital technology will impact nearly every aspect of supply chain operations.
We are already seeing change, for example:
- Purchase orders will increasingly be managed through technology
- Businesses will track their goods electronically to review where and how quickly or slowly they are moving
- Advanced robotics, particularly those within manufacturing facilities and distribution centres, mean that movements will be monitored, managed and adjusted from a central control
- Analytics and big data will enable businesses to manage and review the information provided by applications used in the supply chain
- Control towers will enable oversight of all operations due to end-to-end digital integration of supply chains.
The impact of digital technology will continue to open up many new and interesting roles in the supply chain industry…so watch this space!
Career opportunities in digital supply chains will include, but are not limited to:
- Business Creator
- Demand Planner
- Digital Supply Chain Architect/Engineer
- Digital Supply Chain Blockchain Administrator/Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Compliance Coordinator/Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Consultant
- Digital Supply Chain Contracts Coordinator/Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Customer Satisfaction Coordinator/Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Finance Analyst
- Digital Supply Chain Information Systems Consultant/Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Operations Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Process Improvement Coordinator/Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Project Officer/Manager
- Digital Supply Chain Risk Coordinator/Manager Digital
- Digital Supply Chain Traceability and Ethics Coordinator
- Distribution Centre Operative/Manager
- Global Sourcing Coordinator/Manager/Analyst Inventory Control Coordinator/Manager
- Inventory Specialist
- 3PL/4PL Manager (Third/Fourth Party Logistics)
- Process Manager Procurement/Sales/Data Analyst
- Procurement/Sourcing Operative/Manager
- Production Planner/Customisation Manager Project Coordinator/Manager
- Quality Assurance Assistant/Coordinator/Manager
- Resource/Sustainability Manager
- Robotics Operative/Coordinator
- Specialist Autonomous Delivery Coordinator/Manager
- Supplier Relationship/Stakeholder Coordinator/Manager
- Supply Chain Network Planner
- Supply Chain Operations Support
- Supply Chain Solutions Analyst
- Supply Chain Tower Manager (Controller)
- Transportation Coordinator/Analyst/Manager
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) Operator
- Jobs and Career Paths in Supply Chain and Logistics by Rob O’Byrne in Logistics Bureau Apr 19, 2019
- Future Of Work: Four Supply Chain Careers For 2025 by Kevin O’Marah in Forbes Dec 15, 2016,
- Where Can My Supply Chain Career Take Me? by Gary Marion in The Balance November 19, 2018
- Supply Chain Careers for Women
- Careers in Supply Chain and Operations (Beginners) – Short Course by Daniel Stanton
- A Guide to Your Career in Logistics and Supply Chain Management August 31, 2017 by Matt Sabell (RTO)
- Supply Chain Career Paths – A Myriad of Choices SCM Talent , 2019
- Why is Supply Chain Such a Great Career Path? In Supply Chain Game Changer September 5, 2019
- 6 Key Supply Chain Leaders’ Skills and Why You Need Them in Logistics Bureau by Rob O’Byrne Dec 1, 2016
- Supply Chain Manager Competency Model by APICS, 2009
- Why It’s Great To Work In The Supply Chain Industry As A Millennial on Thomas by Christina O’Handley March 29, 2017
- Breaking into a Supply Chain Management Career SCMtalent.com
- The future of work: Occupational and education trends in supply chain and logistics in Australia by Deloitte Access Economics, January 2018
- Career Profiles – Women Working in the Transport & Logistics Industry
- Women in supply chain and logistics Coca-Cola Amatil June 01, 2019
- Supply Chain Career Pathways by Logistics Training Council
- The supply chain leadership ladder 2.0 by Tara Norton, Jeremy Prepscius and Cliodhnagh Conlon, in BSR, May 15, 2019
- Career advice for supply chain professionals by Dr Madhav Durbha in Blog Kinaxis August 9, 2016
- Supply Chain Management Hierarchy, 2018
- Careers information on supply chain occupations in Australia
- The future of work: Occupational and education trends in supply chain and logistics in Australia, Deloitte Access Economics, January 2018
Digital supply chains
- Quantum Leap to the Top 10 Supply Chain Skills of the Future! Supply Chain Game Changer, September 24, 2019
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