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 Hove
Hove is a south coast town that adjoins Brighton completely along its east side, and the two are collectively part of the city of Brighton and Hove. Although Hove proper has a population of 90,000, the local authority of Brighton and Hove is home to over a quarter of a million people, making it a sizeable concentration of people. Brighton is well known as being a holiday resort, whereas Hove, despite its coastline which is almost identical to its neighbour, is considered more of a residential area. Indeed, people from Hove (often light-heartedly) point out that they are from this more upmarket part of the area rather than Brighton, even if they are actually from Brighton! In recent years, with Brighton gaining a much more fashionable and bohemian image, perhaps the pendulum will swing the other way, particularly when people are selling their homes …
The town is a reasonably affluent and attractive place to live, and has an economically active populace attracted by pleasant surroundings and good shopping and entertainment areas. The UK’s largest distributor of snack foods, Palmer and Harvey (P&H) has its headquarters in Hove, as does the Mace convenience store chain.
The large population of economically active people in Hove and its surrounding area means that Business Unit Director jobs turn up from time to time here. The town and its mother city are busy all the year round; thanks to its vibrant entertainment and residential scene, Hove and Brighton do not become ghost towns out of season like some other resorts.
Popular locations
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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