Operations & Supply Chain
Supply Chain Manager
Owns the end-to-end flow of materials and products for a company, from supplier sourcing through to delivery, balancing cost, speed, and reliability.
Field BasedNon StemManagement
Operations & Supply Chain
Supply Chain Analyst
Analyzes data on inventory, demand, and supplier performance to help a company keep the right stock in the right place at the right cost.
Also known as: Demand Planning Analyst, Inventory Analyst
Compare with another careerWhat you do
Builds demand forecasts, tracks inventory levels across warehouses, and analyzes supplier lead times and costs to spot inefficiencies. Recommends changes to ordering quantities, safety stock levels, or supplier mix, and builds dashboards that operations and procurement teams rely on daily. Works closely with planning, procurement, and logistics teams to test whether recommendations actually improve performance.
Typical work environment
Primarily office- or desk-based work, often within a manufacturing, retail, or distribution company, with occasional visits to warehouses or supplier sites.
Typical entry point
Graduate analyst role in a supply chain, planning, or operations team
Relevant subjects
Core
Mathematics
Also relevant
Business StudiesEconomics
Relevant interests
Core
Logistics / Operations
Also relevant
AI / DataBusiness
Useful skills
Data analysis· AdvancedExcel· AdvancedAnalytical thinking· AdvancedProblem solving· IntermediateOrganization· Intermediate
These are useful, relevant skills to build over time — not a checklist you need to already have.
Common education routes
Bachelor's degree—Industrial EngineeringPrimary route
Bachelor's degree—Business Administration (BBA/MBA)Common route
Bachelor's degree—StatisticsAlternative route
These are common routes in, not the only path — and not a university or course recommendation.
Career characteristics
High job security
General tendencies for this career, not a guarantee — actual roles vary by employer and location.
Industries
LogisticsManufacturingSupply ChainRetail
Tags
Non-STEMAnalyticalOffice-based
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