Leading supply chain operations across an organization — execution-side ownership of warehousing, transportation, fulfillment, and customer service. The role mixes operational excellence work with the strategic decisions about network footprint and carrier mix.
As Supply Chain Operations Director, you lead the operational execution of supply chain activities. You manage daily operations across warehousing, transportation, and distribution, ensure on-time delivery, and solve operational problems. This role emphasizes execution and operational excellence.
Your days are operationally intensive. You might review daily operations dashboards, address supply chain issues, coordinate across warehouses and carriers, manage operations teams, and ensure service level performance. You keep the supply chain running daily.
The hardest part is maintaining reliable operations while handling the constant variability and disruptions in supply chain execution. Supply Chain Operations Directors who thrive are strong operational managers, make quick decisions, and build teams that execute reliably.
An honest look at who tends to thrive in this role — and who might find it challenging.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Operations roles →Leading supply chain operations across an organization — execution-side ownership of warehousing, transportation, fulfillment, and customer service. The role mixes operational excellence work with the strategic decisions about network footprint and carrier mix.
Median pay for a Supply Chain Operations Director is about $102K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $61K to $181K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Speaking, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 6.1% through 2034, with roughly 213,000 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Operations Vice President (Operations VP), Inventory Control Supervisor, and Parts Manager.
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