| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Supply Chain |
| Level | Senior management |
| Reports to | Chief Executive Officer |
| Direct reports | Head of Supply Chain, General Manager Supply Chain |
| Experience | 18+ years in supply chain, with senior leadership across functions |
Vice President Supply Chain job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Vice President Supply Chain
Department: Supply Chain
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Vice President Supply Chain sets the supply chain direction for a whole company or group and owns it at the leadership table. They shape the network and sourcing strategy, the operating model and major investments, and lead supply chain across business units. The role reports to the CEO or COO and represents supply chain in board-level decisions. A good one builds a supply chain that is a competitive strength, makes the big calls on network, make-versus-buy and technology, keeps cost and cash under control, and develops the leaders who run the function.
Key responsibilities
- Set the long-term supply chain strategy and network vision for the company or group.
- Own supply chain performance at the leadership table across all business units.
- Decide network, sourcing and make-versus-buy strategy and major investments.
- Lead heads and general managers of supply chain across the organisation.
- Drive supply chain technology, automation and analytics transformation across the group.
- Set enterprise targets for service, cost, inventory and sustainability.
- Manage strategic supplier, logistics and outsourcing partnerships at the enterprise level.
- Lead supply chain risk, resilience and business continuity strategy.
- Align supply chain with the company's growth, financial and product strategy.
- Build supply chain leadership and succession for the future.
Requirements
- Engineering or commerce degree, with an MBA
- Extensive senior supply chain leadership experience
- Track record of leading supply chain across a business
- 18+ years in supply chain, with senior leadership across functions
KRAs and KPIs for a Vice President Supply Chain
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Supply chain cost | Total supply chain cost as a share of revenue reduced towards the strategic target |
| Service and growth | Service levels support revenue growth and customer retention targets |
| Working capital | Inventory and working capital optimised across the group towards targets |
| Network strategy | Network and sourcing strategy delivered against the multi-year plan |
| Transformation | Supply chain technology and transformation milestones met each year |
| Leadership | Strong supply chain leaders developed, with succession in place |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: ERP such as SAP, Advanced planning systems, Business intelligence tools, Network design software, MS Office.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Chief Operating Officer, Chief Supply Chain Officer
Interview questions for a Vice President Supply Chain
- How would you make the supply chain a competitive advantage for the company?
- How do you decide between building capacity and outsourcing it?
- How do you set a multi-year network and sourcing strategy?
- How do you lead a supply chain technology transformation across the group?
- How do you build supply chain resilience against major disruptions?
- How do you develop the next generation of supply chain leaders?
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What does a vice president of supply chain do?
A vice president of supply chain sets the supply chain direction for a whole company or group and owns it at the leadership table. They shape network and sourcing strategy, the operating model and major investments, lead supply chain across business units, and represent it in board-level decisions. They make the big strategic calls on network, sourcing and technology.
How do you become a vice president of supply chain?
Most reach the role after 18 or more years across planning, procurement, logistics and operations, rising through manager, general manager and head of supply chain roles. An engineering or commerce degree with an MBA is common. A record of delivering strategy, cost and service at scale, plus strong leadership, earns the position.
What is the difference between a head and VP of supply chain?
A head of supply chain leads the function for a company or business unit, focused on strategy and operations there. A vice president of supply chain usually spans a group or several business units, sits closer to the board, and focuses more on long-term network strategy, investments and transformation. The exact split depends on company size.