Business Unit Director jobs
As logistics operations grow larger or diversify into other sectors, the normal management tree can start to show signs of strain as the need for excessive micromanagement leads to inefficiencies. It’s sometimes best to ring-fence a particular aspect of the business, which can either be geographical, sector-based or hierarchical, and treat is as a self-contained business with its own internal hierarchy and chain of command. The business unit will, of course, still be a part of the main company, but it will be granted a high degree of autonomy as long as it meets the board’s mission statement and income requirements.
The business unit director in logistics might have a busy depot or warehouse under his or her control, and to all intents and purposes it will be a company in its own right, with budgets, staffing and operations management to deal with. If the business unit is brand new, the director will need to fill it with a new structure of managers and staff. If it is a partitioned section of the existing business, much of the staffing will already be present, but the director will need to adjust the structure to take account of the new mode of operation.
On an ongoing basis, the role will involve setting strategic targets for operations and running the business from day to day, with the assistance of management layer. It will also involve recruitment, training, health and safety, personnel and dealing with grievances. While the unit will have contact with the rest of the business, it could be minimal, especially if everything is going as planned and targets are being met or exceeded.
The skills required
The job of business unit director would suit a self-starter who relishes the chance to run a de facto business with little interference from above. Although the amount of management from head office will vary from company to company, in some cases this could be minimal, and the business unit director will need to be able to cope with that responsibility. The role is often awarded to people who have already run the unit in all but name before its creation, but anyone with management experience, particularly in the sector in question, will be at an advantage.
Excellent people management and communication skills are a given, as without these the unit will not succeed. Directorships do not always involve day to day contact with management and staff, but under the unique conditions of the business unit, the director will have more in common with a general manager and must pitch his or her leadership in that context.
Business Unit Director Jobs in Bath
The Somerset city of Bath is a place with at least two remarkable historical periods that resonate today: the Roman and the Georgian. It was a popular Roman spa town, called Aquae Sulis, and its Roman baths not only survive to this day, they are still used, both by locals and by the many tourists who visit the city, usually as part of spa treatment. The second great era was the Georgian period, when the city regained its reputation as a spa city, and much of its iconic architecture was built, including the impressive Royal Crescent. A notable inhabitant of Bath was Jane Austen; there’s a museum dedicated to her in the city, although she notably never liked the place!
Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Bath did have quite an important manufacturing sector, its closeness to the major port of Bristol being an important factor. As the twentieth century drew on, however, the city became rather gentrified and started to focus more on tourism, and the manufacturing sector suffered. Today many of those who work in the city have to commute from outside because of property prices.
Some industries are successful in the city, however. Publishing in particular is doing well, with Future plc, owner of over 150 magazines, being based there, as well as some book publishers such as Parragon and the mail-order company House of Bath (now owned by JD Williams). Tourism remains its greatest single employer, with restaurants, guest houses, hotels, museums and the like enjoying almost year-round visits. Although the city proper has a population of around 90,000, the area as a whole is home to close to 170,000, making it a thriving place. It is not unusual for Business Unit Director positions to appear in Bath, partly due to this large population and tourist requirements.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
Our founder members and consultants all have backgrounds in logistics, procurement and supply chain, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively. Thanks to this focus, many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’ll deliver the best people to them. Please see what’s available in your region and if you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – whether it’s today or tomorrow, we might have the best position for you.
People approach Cast UK for a number of reasons, whether seeking more job fulfilment or simply relocating with the family, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide. We are a growing force in logistics, procurement and supply chain recruitment, partly because these are the only sectors we deal with.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Business Unit Director for your business or find you a job as a Business Unit Director then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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