Is supply chain management a strategic senior level position in organization or is it a part of an operations activity?

Supply Chain is a strategic senior level position, the person should have high expertise to forecast and meet the figures set based on many factors on hand and realistic facts, in order not to have any delay of short stocks or OOS. i believe it is a major and very important roll, without good vision and planning all related division (Sales-Marketing-launching plans-merchandising) will be affected. in other word Supply chain manager is the core heart of the whole cycle.