Dec. 4, 2024 Supply chain management, or the movement of goods and services, is something many of us used to take for granted. Then the pandemic hit, and our kaleidoscopes shifted dramatically.  We saw news reports of heavily-laden ships languishing in the Port of Los Angeles, which led to delays from legendary distributors like Amazon and Walmart. Automotive, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers all suffered from decreased production and longer lead times. The average price of lumber skyrocketed from $300 per thousand board feet all the way up to $1700, and the residential real estate market has yet to recover fully. Supply chain issues caused a global ripple effect, from national economies all the way down to the individual consumer. After that, conversations about supply chains stole center stage. It’s now a hot career opportunity that you can enter quickly if you start with a  supply chain operations management certificate from Grand Rapids Community College. “Movement is strategy, and strategy impacts profit,” said Felix Pereiro, head of the Business department at GRCC. “It’s part of the value chain of how you manufacture and then offer goods, whether from wholesale to retail or direct to consumer. If you can’t effectively source, make and ship your product, then nothing else really matters.” The career opportunities in this field are exploding. Just last month, there were 1,358 supply chain job openings in Michigan, with 165 of them in Grand Rapids alone. In response to the high demand, GRCC has partnered with leading area employers to craft a supply chain management curriculum that employers love.  “If you do well in these courses, our partner institutions, as well as many others, will want to hire you,” Pereiro said. “If you want to go further with your education, any four-year institution will want you. And if you graduate with a four-year degree, you will literally have four to five job offers by the time you graduate, based on current talent demand.” It’s a seller’s market, and people with relevant education are the sellers.  Career opportunities in supply chain management “The huge demand in this field means money,” Pereiro said. “We’re seeing signing bonuses all over the place. These November numbers confirmed that salaries are running commensurate with the demand. For example, someone who earns a supply chain management certificate increases their chances of being immediately employable as a procurement clerk, with a median salary of roughly $45,000. A quality control analyst could potentially make $50,000 plus. A purchasing agent comes in over $67,000. If you are talented and driven, your employer may very well pay for graduate studies. And the more education you complete, the higher the numbers go.” Money matters, but this career field offers a whole lot more.  “Supply chain expertise means endless mobility,” Pereiro said. “You could work in procurement, operations, logistics, marketing or distribution. You could work in import/export enterprises. We live in a global marketplace powered by the movement of goods. Your expertise could take you anywhere in the world."  This field is also a natural choice for those with the passion to impact the environment and sustainability. GRCC puts the subject front and center in every class.  “We have to take care of this planet,” Pereiro said. “So how do we properly source goods and materials in a sustainable and equitable way? If, for example, your company’s goal is net zero, that won’t happen by accident. You’ll need people who can go right on down the chain, ensuring that all suppliers are doing their part. What’s exciting is that consumers will pay a premium to companies that demonstrate responsible sourcing decisions. Our students learn about social justice, fair trade, sustainability and much more. Every professor incorporates these topics into each supply chain class.”  Pereiro noted that supply chain management is an evolving, ever-changing field. As retail space becomes more expensive, choices about how and where to distribute products continue to evolve as well. Each decision about sourcing, making, selling and shipping materials and goods must add value.  “These are strategy careers, not procurement jobs,” Pereiro said. Learn more about the supply chain operations management certificate at GRCC . This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.