What Do Supply Chain Recruiters Do?

Supply chain recruiters serve as headhunters to help private companies, the military, or government agencies find employees to handle procurement duties. Also called logistics recruiters, supply chain recruiters typically contact people working in the field and inform them about job opportunities. They usually represent clients looking to fill openings in the supply chain or purchasing departments.

Duties of supply chain recruiters typically include conducting initial interviews with job candidates and coming up with a short list of topnotch applicants. Recruiters might also perform background investigations, especially when trying to fill management positions. Some supply chain recruiters attend workshops and conferences to maintain relationships with people in the field. They typically keep these contacts in mind when a client hopes to fill an opening.

Some recruiters work for specific industries, such as aerospace, education, or healthcare. They usually keep track of the economic health of clients’ firms so they can pass along information about future growth opportunities, the likelihood of advancement, and salary ranges. Their work might involve confidentiality clauses to protect trade secrets. Basic information about these companies might be used to lure potential candidates away from their current positions.

Supply chain recruiters commonly come from different backgrounds, but most headhunters hold degrees in human resources, personnel management, or a related field. Some recruiters also complete coursework in purchasing strategies, negotiation practices, and inventory control procedures. Certification might be obtained through human resource trade organizations after successfully passing an exam.

People working in a supply chain department typically take responsibility for finding sources of materials needed by the company. In manufacturing firms, for example, the job might include obtaining raw materials from local and international vendors. Duties commonly encompass timely deliver of supplies in a cost-effective manner. Supply chain employees might also negotiate contracts, solve disputes, and compile reports for supervisors.

Supply chain recruiters might seek candidates with degrees in business, finance, or administration. Some experience might also be sought, especially when recruiters hope to fill positions in a specialized industry. These recruiters might look for people who can analyze the cost versus benefit of shipping materials by air, land, or sea, and candidates familiar with import laws regulating the importation of foreign goods.