Thanks to the growing influence of e-commerce companies and the desire for customers to get hold of the items they buy as quickly as possible, the masters in logistics degree has become highly-sought after. The increased demand enjoyed by e-retail companies has created a host of new opportunities for those who understand how to make the most of a supply chain.
Upon graduation, you should be able to find a career in a variety of fast-moving areas. There are both strategic and tactical roles available for graduates, and there’s a good chance that you’ll want to explore the market a little before you choose to specialize your degree a little further. Remember, you’ll need more than just an intensive knowledge of logistics and supply chains if you really want to thrive.
Most of the employers looking for logistics graduates are searching for employees that have a vast range of interpersonal skills and technological knowledge. You’ll need to demonstrate both attention to detail and enthusiasm in your craft. Here, we’ll look at five of the best things you can do with a masters in logistics degree.
#1 Operations Research Analyst
When it comes to a career in logistics, the analyst is one of the most common entry-level positions. Operations research analysts are responsible for analyzing and gathering data in a business to help look for any potential problems in the way that a company runs, and decide how changes can be made to improve on the functionality of that company. An analyst might decide how strategies can be put into place to improve the performance of a business.
Analysts will need to supplement their education in logistics with good computer and math skills if they want to thrive in their position. Additionally, a lot of employers will require them to do well in a team setting, although there’s always a chance that you could rise to a team leader position and need to suggest solutions to others and your supervisors. Although the analyst is often considered as an entry level position, it can involve a lot of varied and complicated tasks.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, operations research analysts had a median salary of $79,200 per year as of May 2016. The growth rate for this job is predicted to be 30% for 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than average.
#2 Logistics Engineer
A career as a logistics engineer could be the perfect fit for a person with a master in logistics degree. Usually, you’ll start your job as a research analyst, then step up to the position of a logistics engineer. These professionals are expected to evaluate both the logistics systems and the supply chain for a business, and figure out any problems along the route using advanced mathematics and computer systems. They are responsible for implementing any solutions that need to be adapted into a business.
As a logistics engineer, you’ll not only have to implement the new systems that will improve logistics and supply chains, and you should also be able to monitor them to see how well they work. You’ll be expected to write technical proposals for your plans, and logistics management often becomes a significant part of many careers as a logistic engineer. Some people refer to this career title as “logistician”.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a logistician had a median salary of $74,170 per year as of May 2016.
#3 Logistics Consultant
Another obvious career choice for those with a master’s degree in logistics is that of a logistics or management consultant. As a consultant, you will be responsible for looking at all the management aspects associated with logistics and supply chains, and coming up with scenarios that might help to improve an organization’s efficiency and productivity. A lot of logistics consultants will work as a freelancer, choosing their own clients, although there is an opportunity to work on the behalf of bigger companies and agencies too.
Project management is an important part of a career as a consultant. Although managing projects can be a challenging experience, particularly in logistics, it can also be very rewarding when you find that your solutions for fixing problems are successful. You will need to be able to manage data to help you find solutions, oversee the implementation of those solutions, and make sure that your clients understand the supply chain changes they need to make to move forward.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the management consultant or analyst had a median salary of $81,330 per year as of May 2016.
#4 General and Operations Manager
Although you might need to get a little more training in business and management if you’re going to be a truly effective general and operations manager, this is another route that people with logistics expertise can take. Because you already have in-depth knowledge about how the behind-the-scenes aspects of running a company works, you should be efficient at making sure that the rest of the business runs smoothly too. As a general and operations manager, you will be responsible for directing, coordinating, and planning operations for the organization, whether public or private.
The duties of a general and operations manager will depend on the extent of the job and who you choose to work for. For instance, you might decide to join the management team of companies and enterprises, or local government. Most of the daily tasks you’ll conduct will include managing daily operations, functional area management for administration purposes, purchasing new products and supplies, and dealing with administration.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, general and operations managers had a median salary of $122,090 a year as of May 2016.
#5 Supply Chain Manager
Since logistics focuses on the management of transportation and distribution systems, a position as a supply chain manager will allow you to make the most out of your expertise in the realm of everything that has to do with supplies. Supply chain managers oversee the whole supply chain, including which products and materials should be purchased, where equipment and items should be stored, and how new products should be managed.
Supply chain managers can work in almost any industry that requires the management of different production systems in a business. They are required to fully understand the world of logistics planning in order to make sure that they can forecast their long-term financial needs. The ability to collaborate, communicate, and manage teams is essential for these professionals.
Otherwise known as purchasing managers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that supply chain managers had a median salary of $111,590 per year as of May 2016.
Additional Resources
- Things To Do with a Masters in Supply Chain Management
- Why Earn a Masters in Supply Chain Management?
- Why Earn Masters in Operations Management Degree?
- MBA Logistics Degree
- Why Get Masters in Project Management Degree
References
- Operations Research Analysts. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm
- Logisticians. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm
- Management Analysts. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm
- General and Operations Managers. (2017, Mar. 31). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes111021.htm
- Purchasing Managers. (2015, Dec. 17). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/purchasing-managers.htm
