Supply Chain Director job description.
A Supply Chain Director leads end-to-end supply chain strategy, overseeing procurement, logistics, inventory, and distribution to ensure efficient, cost-effective operations. They align supply chain performance with business goals, manage supplier relationships, and lead teams responsible for planning, sourcing, and fulfillment.
The Supply Chain Director job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Supply Chain Director Reports to: Chief Operating Officer or VP of Operations
A Supply Chain Director leads end-to-end supply chain strategy, overseeing procurement, logistics, inventory, and distribution to ensure efficient, cost-effective operations. They align supply chain performance with business goals, manage supplier relationships, and lead teams responsible for planning, sourcing, and fulfillment.
- Develop and execute supply chain strategy aligned with business objectives
- Oversee procurement, logistics, inventory, and distribution functions
- Negotiate and manage key supplier and vendor relationships
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Chief Operating Officer or VP of Operations
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Develop and execute supply chain strategy aligned with business objectives
- Oversee procurement, logistics, inventory, and distribution functions
- Negotiate and manage key supplier and vendor relationships
- Monitor supply chain KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives
- Lead risk management and contingency planning for supply disruptions
- Manage supply chain budgets and cost-reduction initiatives
- Build and develop supply chain planning and operations teams
- Report supply chain performance to executive leadership
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or related field
- 8+ years of progressive supply chain experience, including leadership
- Strong knowledge of procurement, logistics, and inventory systems
- Proven experience managing supplier negotiations and contracts
- Master's degree or APICS/CSCP certification
- Experience with ERP systems and supply chain analytics
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Supply Chain Director job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Supply Chain Director job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The executive band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Chief Operating Officer or VP of Operations) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What experience level is typical for this role?
- Employers generally look for candidates with a decade or more of supply chain experience, including several years leading teams.
- Is a specific certification required?
- No certification is universally mandatory, but APICS/CSCP or similar credentials are commonly preferred and strengthen a candidate's profile.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Supply Chain Manager
A supply chain manager oversees the end-to-end flow of goods, from procurement through production to distribution, optimizing cost, efficiency, and reliability.
Supply Chain Analyst
A Supply Chain Analyst examines procurement, inventory, and logistics data to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
Logistics Manager
A Logistics Manager oversees the movement of goods from suppliers through warehouses to customers, coordinating transportation, warehousing, and inventory to meet cost and service targets.
This Supply Chain Director job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.