Whether it’s a VP of Supply Chain, Head of Procurement, or Plant Leader, the gap between “qualified on paper” and “can operate at scale” is where most hiring processes break down.

At the Director and VP level, the talent pool is small.

And once you factor in relocation, compensation, and industry fit, it gets even smaller.

This list highlights recruiting firms that operate in the supply chain space — but more importantly, it helps clarify when it actually makes sense to use one.

When companies actually hire a supply chain recruiter

Most companies don’t hire a recruiter when things are running smoothly.

It usually happens when:

Growth is outpacing operations
Inventory, service levels, or planning are becoming inconsistent
Leadership isn’t keeping up with scale
A key leader leaves and there’s no clear successor
New complexity is added (SKUs, suppliers, facilities) without structure

At that point, this isn’t about posting a job.

It’s about identifying a very small group of leaders who have already solved these problems — and getting them to engage.

For a deeper look at how and when these situations show up, see:

When to Hire a Supply Chain Leader (CPG)

Why I Only Run Retained Supply Chain Executive Searches

When a Retained Supply Chain Recruiter Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)

Top Supply Chain Recruiting Firms in the U.S.

Below is a list of recruiting firms that operate in the supply chain space, ranging from global executive search firms to specialized boutiques.

1. Supply Chain Talent Advisors

Supply Chain Talent Advisors is a boutique executive search firm built by a former supply chain and operations leader.

The focus is narrow by design:

Director through VP-level searches
Supply chain, procurement, and operations roles
Mid-market and scaling companies

Rather than sending volume, searches are built around a small, targeted pool — typically 30–50 potential candidates, with 2–4 real fits once alignment is established.

Recent searches include COO, VP Supply Chain, Director of Procurement, and Plant Leadership roles across CPG, manufacturing, and industrial companies.

Notable for: Practitioner-led search, technical vetting, and a 365-day performance guarantee—one of the longest in the industry—which aligns the search with the leader’s first full year of results.

Firm founder Anthony Allen, CSCP, actively shapes the talent conversation as a featured speaker and thought leader for The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), recently presenting specialized member masterclasses on the Supply Chain Salary and Job Market Reports.

Hiring a senior supply chain, procurement, S&OP, operations, or manufacturing leader?

Before you go to market, pressure-test the role, compensation, candidate pool, and search strategy.

Supply Chain Talent Advisors runs practitioner-led retained searches for senior supply chain and operations leaders, backed by a 365-day performance guarantee.

Request a Confidential Search Consultation

2. Korn Ferry

A global firm with deep resources and a large team, Korn Ferry often supports Fortune 500 clients with VP and C-suite supply chain hires. They offer broad reach and leadership advisory capabilities.

Best for: Global Fortune 500 enterprises with massive search budgets needing overarching C-suite succession planning.
Better suited for: Organizations that prioritize broad leadership advisory services over highly specialized, agile, practitioner-led CPG searches.

3. Lucas Group (A Korn Ferry Company)

Now under Korn Ferry’s umbrella, Lucas Group still operates with a more mid-market feel and recruits for roles ranging from supply chain managers to regional operations leaders.

Best for: High-volume searches for mid-level managers and individual contributors across a wide variety of industries.
Better suited for: Broad, cross-industry placements rather than retained, hyper-specialized VP-level operations roles where technical nuance is critical.

4. DSJ Global

DSJ Global is part of Phaidon International and operates globally with a focus on end-to-end supply chain recruitment. They have strong presence in the pharma, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors.

Best for: Pharma, life sciences, and enterprise companies heavily reliant on international and cross-border talent pipelines.
Better suited for: Global talent mapping rather than localized, inside-the-four-walls US food and beverage manufacturing expertise.

5. Optimum Supply Chain Recruiters

This firm places professionals across logistics, transportation, and warehousing functions. Their recruiters understand 3PLs, freight brokerage, and private fleet operations inside and out.

Best for: Asset-based logistics companies, 3PLs, and freight brokerages needing transportation specialists.
Better suited for: Outside-the-four-walls logistics and transportation, rather than end-to-end consumer packaged goods supply chain design or plant leadership.

6. Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick handles senior-level supply chain and manufacturing roles for Fortune 1000 companies. Their assignments often include VP Global Supply Chain, COO, and Chief Procurement Officer roles.

Best for: Fortune 100 board-level placements and global Chief Supply Chain Officer roles at publicly traded conglomerates.
Better suited for: Corporate boardroom placements rather than lean, growth-stage brands needing hands-on operators who are still willing to roll up their sleeves.

7. The Everest Group

A boutique search firm with roots in manufacturing and industrials, Everest has a strong reputation in the Midwest. They handle plant leadership, continuous improvement, and supply chain roles.

Best for: Heavy industrial and traditional midwest manufacturing plant roles.
Better suited for: General industrial manufacturing rather than fast-moving Food & Beverage operations requiring complex food safety compliance and high-velocity seasonality.

8. Spencer Stuart

For publicly traded companies and global supply chain transformations, Spencer Stuart remains a top player. They have placed operations and procurement leaders into some of the world’s best-known brands.

Best for: Megabrands looking for prestige global leadership appointments.
Better suited for: Established corporate structures rather than founder-led or PE-backed mid-market companies needing scrappy, growth-oriented change agents.

9. SCM Talent Group

SCM Talent Group exclusively focuses on end-to-end supply chain recruiting.

Best for: General supply chain talent mapping across a broad spectrum of industries and functional levels.
Better suited for: High-volume, cross-industry recruiting rather than exclusive executive searches led by a former S&OP and plant practitioner.

10. Proco Group

With offices in New York, Houston, and globally, Proco Group focuses on supply chain, procurement, and operations across the industrial, CPG, and life sciences sectors.

Best for: Global conglomerates requiring broad talent acquisition across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.
Better suited for: International placements rather than hyper-focused US domestic recruitment backed by a 365-day placement guarantee.

11. LHH Recruitment Solutions

Part of the Adecco Group, LHH has a strong professional recruiting division that includes operations, procurement, and logistics roles. Especially strong for companies seeking contract-to-hire or interim leadership.

Best for: Stop-gap interim leadership and high-volume contractor placements.
Better suited for: Temporary or contract-to-hire needs rather than culture-defining, permanent executive appointments requiring rigorous operational vetting.

Meet the Founder: Anthony Allen

“I didn’t start in recruiting. I started in the plant, on the warehouse floor, and in the S&OP war room.”

For over 20 years, I sat on your side of the desk as a supply chain and manufacturing operations executive. I founded Supply Chain Talent Advisors because I was tired of receiving resumes from “keyword recruiters” who didn’t understand how a warehouse actually functions or how a VP of Supply Chain impacts the P&L.

When you partner with me, you aren’t getting a junior associate. You are getting:

Technical Vetting: Every candidate is interviewed through the lens of a former practitioner. If they can’t “talk shop” on a deep level, they don’t make it to your desk.
Retained Exclusivity: I don’t “post and pray.” I run focused searches to find the leaders who are not actively looking but are the right fit for your operating enviroment.
The 365-Day Guarantee: In CPG and Food & Beverage, 90 days isn’t enough. We stand by our placements for a full year to ensure they deliver results across all four quarters of seasonality.

Hiring a supply chain leader?

Most searches stall before they even start because the role isn’t clearly defined. If you’re hiring a Director, VP, or Head of Supply Chain, the first step is aligning on what success looks like in the first 6–12 months.

If you want a quick gut check on the role before going to market, reach out.

Anthony Allen

talent@scmhire.com

www.scmhire.com

Follow on LinkedIn

Top Supply Chain Recruiting Firms in the U.S. (2026)