Supply Management Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of supply management specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for supply management specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of supply management specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for supply management specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Supply Management Specialists?
Do supply management specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do supply management specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for supply management specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Supply Management Specialists
Jobs Postings for Supply Management Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 62,131 (53%)
- No Education Listed: 21,404 (18%)
- High School or GED: 18,968 (16%)
- Master's degree: 12,515 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,279 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of supply management specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 53% of positions. In 18% of job listings no education level was listed and in 16% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Supply Management Specialists
Jobs Postings for Supply Management Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 12,017 (18%)
- 2-3 Years: 29,147 (43%)
- 4-6 Years: 18,640 (28%)
- 7-9 Years: 4,115 (6%)
- 10+ Years: 3,806 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for supply management specialists. In 43% of job postings for Supply Management Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 18% of job postings for supply management specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Supply Management Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for supply management specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 6 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective supply management specialists, and in 2021 a total of 24,186 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective supply management specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Supply Management Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Supply Management Specialists (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. | 10,924 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 7,115 |
| Project Management. | 4,155 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. | 1,058 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management. | 753 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. | 10,924 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 7,115 |
| Project Management. | 4,155 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. | 1,058 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management. | 753 |
| Parts, Warehousing, and Inventory Management Operations. | 181 |
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Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Supply Management Specialists
Build on your associate's degree and improve efficiency by designing and developing effective supply chains.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Improve product workflow, streamline operational efficiency, and “green” your business in today’s global business environment.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Supply Management Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by supply management specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for supply management specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Supply Management Specialists
Based on 99,397 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Supply Management Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 52,901 | 53% |
| Purchasing | 24,788 | 25% |
| Logistics | 21,771 | 22% |
| SAP Applications | 20,496 | 21% |
| Procurement | 19,821 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Supply Management Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 46,198 | 46% |
| Operations | 39,279 | 40% |
| Management | 38,424 | 39% |
| Planning | 37,150 | 37% |
| Microsoft Excel | 33,491 | 34% |
Based on 99,397 job postings related to supply management specialists, supply chain was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 53% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for purchasing, logistics, sap applications, procurement and supply chain management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for supply management specialists, followed by operations, management, planning, microsoft excel and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 52,901 | 53% |
| Purchasing | 24,788 | 25% |
| Logistics | 21,771 | 22% |
| SAP Applications | 20,496 | 21% |
| Procurement | 19,821 | 20% |
| Supply Chain Management | 17,489 | 18% |
| Inventory Management | 17,380 | 17% |
| Warehousing | 16,553 | 17% |
| Supply Chain Planning | 14,466 | 15% |
| Project Management | 14,416 | 15% |
| Finance | 13,998 | 14% |
| Material Requirements Planning | 12,720 | 13% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 12,297 | 12% |
| Data Analysis | 11,750 | 12% |
| Process Improvement | 11,717 | 12% |
| Demand Planning | 11,584 | 12% |
| Production Planning | 11,000 | 11% |
| Enterprise Resource Planning | 10,162 | 10% |
| Auditing | 9,435 | 9% |
| Supply Chain Analysis | 9,130 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 46,198 | 46% |
| Operations | 39,279 | 40% |
| Management | 38,424 | 39% |
| Planning | 37,150 | 37% |
| Microsoft Excel | 33,491 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 27,478 | 28% |
| Problem Solving | 25,857 | 26% |
| Sales | 23,271 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 22,768 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 20,803 | 21% |
| Leadership | 19,742 | 20% |
| Forecasting | 18,603 | 19% |
| Scheduling | 16,007 | 16% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 15,156 | 15% |
| Writing | 14,335 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 13,249 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 11,180 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,027 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 10,881 | 11% |
| Multitasking | 10,758 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about supply management specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for supply management specialists.
What do supply management specialists do?
How much do supply management specialists make?
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