Commercial Director jobs
Logistics isn’t the kind of business where thousands of customers each spend a little money; a company will usually have a relatively small number of clients, and losing a single large client – or gaining one – are big news. That’s why it’s worthwhile investing a good deal of effort into seeking out new openings and keeping existing clients happy, and the commercial director will be in charge of this side of the business.
Depending on the size of the company, the commercial director will either be manning the phones and selling the company in person or will be overseeing a sales and marketing team with commercial managers in the middle. Reporting to the general management of the organization, he or she will be charged with delivering the sales figures within a set budget, achieved both from winning new contracts and accounts and developing existing ones.
Often, the commercial director will be completely familiar with the overall goals, requirements and capabilities of the company to the degree that promises of delivery will be able to be made without having to go to management. With this autonomy comes responsibility, of course, but that’s why the CD can be a lucrative and highly valued position.
The skills required
A commercial director needs to be able to deliver set targets, often on his or her own initiative. This can make it a high pressure job, particularly when potential customers are not biting, and applicants will need to demonstrate that they can handle it.
An open, honest and personable nature will be essential, paired with a willingness to know their own employer’s business intimately enough to answer any request thrown at them. Large companies will not be susceptible to the hard sell; they will be dealing with multi-million-pound orders and will think in terms of figures, so although sales experience would be of use, an ability to think on your feet and come up with viable deals will be valued.
Good communication both in person, with presentations and in writing will be essential, as will basic word processing and spreadsheeting.
Commercial Director Jobs in Salford
The city of Salford grew up around the same time as neighbouring Manchester until the two merged into one great metropolis, now called Greater Manchester, as the Industrial Revolution got into full swing. Both cities lie within the boundaries of the M60, the Greater Manchester ringroad, and are also joined by the inner ringroad, the Mancunian Way. Salford takes in several towns such as Eccles, Swinton, Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam, bringing the total population to around 240,000. Although Manchester and Salford have similar histories, Salford was always to be in Manchester’s shadow commercially, and there is no discernible city centre to speak of, whereas Manchester’s central business district is large.
A great engineering feat was the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal, which linked Salford and Manchester to the Irish Sea for practically any vessel – this was no barge canal. It ended the dominance of Liverpool as a sea port and brought trade and allowed export directly from the factories and mills. Its terminus was a huge port with massive berths, in what is now Salford Quays. Although ships do still use the canal, the quays are now a massive development of shopping, museums, galleries and residential units. MediCityUK is there, and it’s where many parts of the BBC, including 5 Live, Breakfast, Sport and Children’s are now based.
Salford is extremely well connected, sharing Manchester’s road, rail, tram, canal and international airport network. It’s also a thriving and vital part of Greater Manchester, with its own industry, university and a major hospital. With the huge industrial estate of Trafford Park on the doorstep and a conurbation of 2.5 million to serve, it’s no wonder that we regularly handle Commercial Director jobs in Salford.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
There are countless reasons people have for looking for a new job. You might be moving to a new area, you might be seeking more fulfilment or you could, of course, simply want more money! Whatever the reason, if you’re in the logistics, procurement or supply chain business, it’s worth knowing that Cast UK is the consultancy that many employers and candidates come to first.
We were founded by people who came from these backgrounds, and all our own staff are from the same fields, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for and expect to get. We always have jobs and representatives covering the whole of the UK, so it’s always worth having a look at what’s available.
Seen a position you like? Please get in touch and we can put the wheels in motion. We have long-standing relationships with both employers and employees, and it’s these connections that let us match jobs with people with a superb success rate.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Commercial Director for your business or find you a job as a Commercial Director then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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