You may not know it, but supply chain and logistics professionals are in demand.

“Supply chains are everywhere,” says Catherine Viglas, president of the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT). “It crosses every sector, including the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, banks, retail, and food. It’s the ability to make sure everything is working, manufactured, and packaged right down to the end user.

More colleges and universities are offering post-graduate options in supply chain and logistics (SCL). “Ten years ago, I believe it was just Humber and Seneca offering programs in the supply chain field,” says John Bottomley, coordinator of the global logistics and supply chain management program at Seneca College in Toronto. “As more companies adopt global logistics and supply chain management systems, the need for graduates expands.”

School’s across the country offer college graduate certificates, MBA and MSc specialization programs, diplomas, and continuing education programs in SCL.

Bottomley says no specific degree is needed to enter the program. “We look for people who can communicate, think logically, take facts and figures, and make decisions. If you have a business or arts degree and you’ve learned these skills, great! How you learn that skillset is not as important as having it.”

According to Bottomley, graduates can earn from $37,000 to $65,000 a year. “All areas of supply chain have a high need,” says Tom Pauls, a senior recruitment consultant in supply chain and logistics with Stoakley-Dudley Consultants Ltd. in Mississauga, Ontario. “There’s inventory, event planning, transportation management, manufacturing; it depends on what the person’s interests are.”

Andrea Butler, campus program specialist for Canadian Tire, says she seeks candidates with a variety of skills. “We’re looking for students who have a great understanding of forecasting and replenishment (of products) to forecast future demand for regular sales and promotions. They [should have] well-developed analytical skills and proactive problem solving skills, and the ability to negotiate and implement change.”

She adds that augmenting your education with a post-graduate SCL program is a great idea. “We hire 150 to 200 co-op students a year, so it’s great to get someone with that background.”

Jennifer Li, a 2010 Seneca graduate, now works as a supply analyst with Imperial Oil in Calgary. “They provided me with skills in inventory management, project management, accounting and international law,” she says. “I found the skills I learned very useful.”

While the field is growing, challenges remain. “In the global world, some countries do well and some countries do poorly,” Bottomley says. “Costs of transportation can go up. If the price of oil goes up, the supply chain management in China becomes expensive.”

In terms of benefits, the field can suit anyone, Viglas says. “If you just want to sit on a computer, not talk to anyone and analyze data, there’s a place for you. If you like talking to people and you’re interpersonal, there’s a place for you. If you’re the kind of person who likes to figure out analytical problems, there’s a place for you.”

“Supply chains are everywhere,” says Catherine Viglas, president of the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT). “It crosses every sector, including the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, banks, retail, and food. It’s the ability to make sure everything is working, manufactured, and packaged right down to the end user.

More colleges and universities are offering post-graduate options in supply chain and logistics (SCL). “Ten years ago, I believe it was just Humber and Seneca offering programs in the supply chain field,” says John Bottomley, coordinator of the global logistics and supply chain management program at Seneca College in Toronto. “As more companies adopt global logistics and supply chain management systems, the need for graduates expands.”

School’s across the country offer college graduate certificates, MBA and MSc specialization programs, diplomas, and continuing education programs in SCL.

Bottomley says no specific degree is needed to enter the program. “We look for people who can communicate, think logically, take facts and figures, and make decisions. If you have a business or arts degree and you’ve learned these skills, great! How you learn that skillset is not as important as having it.”

According to Bottomley, graduates can earn from $37,000 to $65,000 a year. “All areas of supply chain have a high need,” says Tom Pauls, a senior recruitment consultant in supply chain and logistics with Stoakley-Dudley Consultants Ltd. in Mississauga, Ontario. “There’s inventory, event planning, transportation management, manufacturing; it depends on what the person’s interests are.”

Andrea Butler, campus program specialist for Canadian Tire, says she seeks candidates with a variety of skills. “We’re looking for students who have a great understanding of forecasting and replenishment (of products) to forecast future demand for regular sales and promotions. They [should have] well-developed analytical skills and proactive problem solving skills, and the ability to negotiate and implement change.”

She adds that augmenting your education with a post-graduate SCL program is a great idea. “We hire 150 to 200 co-op students a year, so it’s great to get someone with that background.”

Jennifer Li, a 2010 Seneca graduate, now works as a supply analyst with Imperial Oil in Calgary. “They provided me with skills in inventory management, project management, accounting and international law,” she says. “I found the skills I learned very useful.”

While the field is growing, challenges remain. “In the global world, some countries do well and some countries do poorly,” Bottomley says. “Costs of transportation can go up. If the price of oil goes up, the supply chain management in China becomes expensive.”

In terms of benefits, the field can suit anyone, Viglas says. “If you just want to sit on a computer, not talk to anyone and analyze data, there’s a place for you. If you like talking to people and you’re interpersonal, there’s a place for you. If you’re the kind of person who likes to figure out analytical problems, there’s a place for you.”