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A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Supply Chain Manager (SCM) provides strategic and operational leadership across the full spectrum of Logistics operations at the University of Michigan. This includes procurement, inventory control, warehousing, expediting, moving & trucking, and supplier performance. The SCM aligns logistics strategy with university goals to drive efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer-centered material movement across campus.

Reporting directly to the General Manager of Logistics, Fleet & Capital Projects, the SCM leads a multifaceted team of 40+ employees including scheduler, logistics coordinator, buyers, expediters, stockkeepers, and moving staff in a unionized environment.

Responsibilities*

The following responsibilities are not all-inclusive but are representative of the duties consistent with the position. Depending on the day, time may be spent in one or all areas, and other tasks may evolve as the job does.

Strategic Leadership

• Manage all logistics functions: procurement, inventory control, supplier selection, distribution, and sourcing.
• Develop strategic supply chain initiatives to support institutional goals.
• Analyze spend data to identify cost-saving opportunities and support/partner with Procurement Services on Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Quotation (RFQ) initiatives.
• Implement Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices, including supplier segmentation, performance measurement (KPIs), regular business reviews, risk mitigation, compliance monitoring, continuous improvement, and strategic partnership development.
• Champion process improvement, compliance, and sustainability practices.
• Align Logistics support with Facilities & Operations objectives.

Team Management & Development

• Supervise 40+ direct and indirect staff across multiple roles.
• Recruit, mentor, evaluate, and develop team members in a collaborative environment.
• Ensure compliance with policies, contracts, and safety protocols.
• Lead staff engagement, retention, and recognition strategies.

Operational Oversight

• Oversee inventory flows of 15,000+ MRO items.
• Coordinate daily operations, including for warehouses, expediting, moving & trucking.
• Work with scheduler and dispatcher to align resources and workload.
• Develop supply chain policies and ensure regulatory compliance across all logistics functions.
• Ensure accuracy in inventory reconciliation, including unit conversions (e.g., length to weight for metals), and coordinate material expediting as needed.

Data, Reporting & Analytics

• Analyze procurement and inventory metrics to drive efficiency.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and KPIs.
• Report performance and identify cost-control or service-improvement opportunities.
• Manage budgetary planning and execution for supply chain operations.

Supplier & Customer Relations/ Other

• Build strong, accountable supplier relationships.
• Oversee elevated issues and ensure stakeholder communications.
• Act as liaison between internal customers and suppliers.
• Performs all other assigned job duties and responsibilities.
  

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of supply chain/logistics leadership in complex organizations.
• Experience supervising unionized staff.
• Advanced knowledge of procurement, inventory control, and logistics.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven analytical skills, including dashboards and metrics.
• Track record of strategic planning, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
• Experience with inventory reconciliation in supply environments.
• Working knowledge of lean methodologies for inventory management and process improvement.
  

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience in higher education or similarly complex environments.
• Familiarity with University of Michigan systems (e.g., M-Pathways, M-Marketsite, AiM/FMS).
• Experience integrating sustainability and F&O principles (respectful, collaborative, solutions-based, and proactive) into operations.
• Supply chain certification (e.g., APICS CSCP, ISM CPSM).

Work Schedule

As an exempt position, flexible hours are required to meet the needs of the team and campus partners, but typically are Monday through Friday 7:00 am-3:30 pm.

This position will require availability and potentially in-person support during off-hours and weekends when team leadership response is needed. This may include emergency response situations requiring operational leadership and logistical coordination during non-scheduled hours, as well as support for university events.

Work Locations

This is not a remote working position and entails working on-site.

Additional Information

Facilities & Operations is a positive organization dedicated to the principles of being respectful, collaborative, solutions-based, and proactive.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.