Commercial Manager jobs
Winning clients and keeping hold of them all goes towards the commercial success of a logistics business. This can’t be left to chance as clients might be constantly looking for better deals elsewhere, and if your company is not offering the best deal while maximising your own profits, management and shareholders will start to get nervous.
The commercial manager is in charge of exactly this area of logistics – seeking out new leads, following them up and gathering important data on companies even if you’re not successful – this time. While there are elements of sales in the role of the commercial manager, there are also aspects of account management and customer relations, as it is the personal relationships and trust-building that will keep clients happy and alert you to threats or rumblings of dissatisfaction.
The commercial manager of a larger company will probably oversee or partner account management or sales departments, and might report to a commercial director who in turn will have the ear of general management, so with the job comes a good deal of responsibility – you might well be in charge of a tightly monitored budget to spend on chasing up leads, with strict targets to meet. Rewards can be great, however, for good commercial managers, as they have a real hand in the company’s profitability.
The skills required
Without doubt the key skill of the commercial manager is communication. As well as selling your employer’s services to clients, you’ll also be communicating commercial details to the echelons above and below you, in an environment that could well be high pressure due to targets.
Successful applicants will be able to thrive on such pressure and continue seeking out new leads and developing existing ones calmly, even when luck does not seem to be on your side. In the digital age, communication will be over all modern channels, as will seeking out leads, so great online and offline networking skills and familiarity with standard office software solutions will be advantageous.
Commercial Manager Jobs in Harlow
During the post-war period as Britain was faced with rebuilding millions of shattered homes and re-housing their inhabitants, a radical solution was to build a series of new towns. Most cities of the UK have some form of new town within them or in their orbital range. Harlow in Essex was one such town. Situated 20 miles (33 km) north east of the centre of London, it was a grand project, with thousands of homes as well as industrial, shopping, entertainment and communications infrastructure being built around what was a village dating back at least to the Domesday Book.
Expansion was steady, taking place between the late 1950s and the 1970s, as jobs were created and the town became a reasonably attractive place to live. Although manufacturing was once a major industry in Harlow, it has since declined, and now the economy is largely service-based. The large factories have recently been demolished and smaller units for start-ups have been built with the hope of kickstarting a new tech sector. However the town is still home to some major employers, most notably GlaxoSmithKline and American defence firm Raytheon.
The town is well placed to serve London, situated as it is on the M11 that runs from the capital to Cambridge, and there are also good rail links to both cities. Stansted Airport is just 20 minutes up the motorway, too. With much regeneration going on in the town, it’s likely that the demand for Commercial Manager jobs will grow over the coming years. Keep checking back or get in touch if you’d like us to search the area for such positions.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
Cast UK was founded by people who came from the logistics, procurement and supply chain backgrounds, and all our own staff are from the same fields, so we know what employers and candidates are seeking. Our ongoing success depends on our filling management and executive positions with the very best people, so we have a vested interest in making sure we know both our candidates and the employers well.
People look for a new job for many reasons: moving house, seeking more fulfilment or looking for a promotion. Cast UK is the consultancy that many employers and candidates come to first, so if you’re looking for a career change in, or to, logistics, we’re sure to have the perfect job for you now or in the near future.
We have jobs and representatives covering the whole of the UK, so please check out what’s available. If you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – it could be the start of an exciting phase in your career!
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Commercial Manager for your business or find you a job as a Commercial Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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