What is a supply chain consultant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Angela Grotto Ph.D.
introduction image

A supply chain consultant advises companies to improve their supply chain management processes. They identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. Supply chain consultants may also assist with implementing new technology, developing relationships with suppliers, and improving logistics. They work across various industries and provide expertise in areas such as procurement, inventory management, and distribution. A supply chain consultant aims to help companies operate more effectively while maximizing profits.

What general advice would you give to a Supply Chain Consultant?

A

Angela Grotto Ph.D.Angela Grotto Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor of Management, Manhattan College


  1. When job searching, be active and persistent - Network by setting up Zoom informational calls with professionals (alumni, people with whom your family work) to learn about jobs that you are interested in or to learn about organizations where you would like to work and then follow up with them; have someone you trust who is a professional review your resume and social media profile pages; carve out time every day to apply to jobs; use Handshake and LinkedIn as a resource; keep sending out applications; while job searching, volunteer or start your business project that showcases your skillset and then discuss it during your interviews.
  2. When interviewing, be creative - Use experiences from your academic career to demonstrate your capabilities. There are many skills you learn in class that are transferrable to the professional world. For example, as a student, you likely had to pivot to full remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, discuss how the new learning format has prepared you to work remotely as an employee, how small group projects have primed you to collaborate on a virtual team, and how small classes have equipped you to use technology such as Zoom.
  3. When deciding on a job offer, be open-minded - Your first job may not be the one you had imagined or hoped for upon graduation. Still, it may be a stepping stone to your ideal career or a way to build your network of professional connections. You create meaningful and valuable relationships with others who may one day help you get the job you want.
  4. When you land the job, be flexible - Show your employer or your boss that you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and do tasks that you were not necessarily trained for or are unrelated to your degree. Also, when circumstances at work change, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, show that you are willing to step up and do a different job, do someone else's job, or work on another project or team. This flexibility will demonstrate your versatility and how you can adapt to new and unpredictable situations. Lastly, embrace the "gig" economy - be willing to start as a temporary or contract worker with a company to get your foot in the door and build more professional connections.
ScoreSupply Chain ConsultantUS Average
Salary
6.9

Avg. Salary $88,400

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.9

Growth Rate 28%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.96%

Black or African American 7.61%

Hispanic or Latino 12.75%

Unknown 4.70%

White 65.32%

Gender

female 22.20%

male 77.80%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress Level
7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.5

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Supply Chain Consultant?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Variety of projects and challenges

  • Flexibility in work arrangements

  • Collaborative work environment

  • Potential for growth and advancement in the field

Cons

  • Long hours and high workload

  • Tight deadlines and fast-paced work environment

  • Difficulty in maintaining work consistency due to project-based nature of work

  • High competition with other consultants and firms

  • Challenging communication with clients and stakeholders

Supply Chain Consultant career paths

Key steps to become a supply chain consultant

  1. Explore supply chain consultant education requirements

    Most common supply chain consultant degrees

    Bachelor's

    70.8 %

    Master's

    22.2 %

    Associate

    4.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific supply chain consultant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Supply Chain21.60%
    Logistics7.33%
    Supply Chain Planning7.10%
    Project Management6.37%
    Order Management6.03%
  3. Complete relevant supply chain consultant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New supply chain consultants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a supply chain consultant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real supply chain consultant resumes.
  4. Research supply chain consultant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage any procurement activities including RFP s
    • Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.
    • Consult clients on efficient use of their ERP and SCM methods to effectively plan all the resources in the business enterprise.
    • Assist transition from existing legacy ERP applications to PeopleSoft by investigating and troubleshooting errors.
  5. Prepare your supply chain consultant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your supply chain consultant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a supply chain consultant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Supply Chain Consultant Resume templates

    Build a professional Supply Chain Consultant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Supply Chain Consultant resume.
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  6. Apply for supply chain consultant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a supply chain consultant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Supply Chain Consultant Job

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Are you a Supply Chain Consultant?

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Average supply chain consultant salary

The average Supply Chain Consultant salary in the United States is $88,400 per year or $43 per hour. Supply chain consultant salaries range between $69,000 and $112,000 per year.

Average Supply Chain Consultant Salary
$88,400 Yearly
$42.50 hourly

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How do supply chain consultants rate their job?

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Supply Chain Consultant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

I am continuously working to develop my the communication and computer skills necessary listed in the job description job description. My formal education which is bachelors degree in philosophy and a minor in economics. I am currently furthering my education in the area of computer science.

Cons

I am working to improve my area of concern which is having limitations when managing employees.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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