The demand for consumer packaged goods is growing at a rapid pace. The market is valued at 2,290.58 billion USD in 2024 with projections showing as much as 2,786.83 billion USD by 2029. With so much growth, today’s supply chain companies face high expectations from consumers, such as speed of delivery, online/instant ordering, sustainable practices, safe handling, transparent tracking, and easy returns, to name a few. With this growing urgency from end users, businesses must employ top-notch leaders who can meet these demands while driving innovation. Yet, finding those leaders is a challenge in itself. This is where a supply chain headhunter can play a large role.
Why Partner with a Supply Chain Headhunter?
Supply chain executive recruiters are professionals who specialize in sourcing, recruiting, and placing top talent in the supply chain industry. Partnering with a supply chain headhunter offers many potential benefits, including access to a broader network of talented professionals, industry-specific expertise, and a streamlined recruitment process that saves time and resources.
If you’re thinking about turning to a recruiter for your supply chain executive search, you could very well see significant results that are hard to find through other avenues. But, it’s important you do your homework. Not all headhunters offer the same outcomes, processes, and talent quality. Here are three questions to ask find the right talent search partner:
#1 What is Your Experience in the Supply Chain Industry?
To be effective, supply chain executive recruiters must understand the challenges and complexities just as much as the executive themselves. That’s how they’ll be able to pinpoint when a candidate has the know-how to get the job done. Be ready to engage in conversation and look for specific examples that can inform you of the headhunter’s knowledge of the field.
The quality of responses will let you know whether they can help you find the right talent and if partnering with them will be worthwhile. For example, they should know which roles are currently most challenging to fill and have specific examples of strategies they use to access hard-to-find talent.
#2 How Do You Source and Vet Talent in Your Supply Chain Executive Search?
It is well known that a skills gap is a contributing factor to personnel shortages in the supply chain field. Executive roles are no different. As the economy fluctuates and sourcing demands increase, leaders must find a way to stay ahead of the curve to keep their organization operational. An effective headhunter will have a well-defined process for identifying and attracting top talent in the supply chain industry, including passive candidates who are not signaling their availability.
However it is that your supply chain headhunter sources talent, make sure they are connecting with candidates who are staying up to date on essential skills like data analytics, risk management, end-to-end operations, and advanced technology. Your recruiting partner should bring you ONLY the most qualified candidates for consideration. Deep dive their evaluation process and ask how they will incorporate your company’s specific requirements.
#3 Can You Provide References or Case Studies?
Verifying the credibility and success of a headhunter through references or case studies is key to making an informed decision. By speaking with past clients or exploring success metrics, you can gain valuable insights into the headhunter’s ability to deliver results. This approach enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the recruitment process.
For example, at Total Talent Resources, we helped our beverage manufacturer client based in Carrollton, Texas in recruiting a new leadership team for their new facility that opened in 2024. Additionally, we helped a food production client in Florida source a significant number of executives.
“We could not do it without the help of Total Talent Search, they have placed no less than 15 leaders in our organization in 2024 alone.” – General Manager, food production company
Our retention rate for executive supply chain talent is over 95%, reducing the risk of using us as your recruitment partner.
Reach Out to Total Talent about Your Supply Chain Headhunting Needs
Businesses operating in the supply chain industry stand to benefit greatly from partnering with reputable headhunters who specialize in the field. By prioritizing collaboration with experienced and knowledgeable professionals, you can gain a competitive edge in accessing top talent that drives growth and success.
Want to ask Total Talent Resources these same questions? We’ve got the answers ready for you. Contact us today!