Supply Chain Resilience Jobs: A great segue into corporate security
A wide variety of roles chartered with the protection of organizational supply chains are in high demand. Companies often have these positions integrated in multiple departments depending on what part of supply chain resilience is being addressed. For someone interested in moving into a corporate security program, these related roles offer a way in.
What is a supply chain?
The term “supply chain” encompasses all aspects of creation and delivery of products to a company’s customers. The components of these networks vary depending on what type of tangible – or intangible – product the company sells.
External supply chain participants can include raw material sources, manufacturing facilities, warehousing, distribution, and transportation companies as well as retailers. Internal supply chain components include corporate functions that participate or interact with external sources. Departments like product development, operations, finance, and customer service often have jobs that are integral parts of an organization’s supply chain.
Risk management is a crucial focus of many supply chain jobs, regardless of where they sit in an organization.
The ability to assess risk and mitigate threats are not competencies relegated solely to security professionals. There are many departments within a company that have jobs with similar requirements for these skills.
Functions can include those that deal with regulatory and compliance issues, data analysis, integration of technology, supplier management, etc. Security leaders regularly collaborate across their organization to include these departmental partners as part of a strong supply chain posture.
As a result, it is not surprising to hear from supply chain security practitioners that they started their security career in a completely different department!
Skills and competencies easily transferrable from one department to security roles include:
- An analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data from multiple sources.
- Problem solving abilities that quickly address and resolve issues.
- Technologically curious with an inclination to embrace innovative solutions.
- An excellent and empathetic communicator who is effective with a wide variety of audiences.
- A commitment to ongoing education.
Regardless of where you begin your career, transferable supply chain skill sets are a solid pathway to jobs in corporate security.
Ready to join the corporate security profession? Great! Become an SJN member and find the security job that matches your skills and competencies!
Recommended Reading: Supply Chain Security: A Key Career Skill
Interested in reading more about the concept of transferable skills discussed in this article? Visit the SMR Group blog to learn our parent company’s thoughts on this and more career-minded issues.