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 Northampton
Situated in the East Midlands on the banks of the River Nene, Northampton is a market town with a history dating back to the 6th century. By the end of the 11th century, the community had grown significantly and the Domesday Book records it as having a population of around 1,500 inhabitants.
During the 19th century, the city experienced further expansion thanks to the construction of the Grand Union Canal, which connected London and Birmingham with each other, as well as cities like Leicester, Slough and Northampton. Railways also arrived at the city around this time, further simplifying trade with the rest of the country.
Northampton was best known for producing shoes and other leather goods during the 1800s and a few companies that were established during this period still provide specialist, high-end items today - including Edward Green Shoes, Trickers, Church's and Crockett & Jones.
Over the years, most of the other footwear factories have been converted to offices or residential buildings and, although the shoe industry has declined, a number of other sectors have taken its place, including distribution, finance and manufacturing. So those seeking Commercial Manager roles in the area will have an array of employers to consider.
Just some of the well-known companies that have offices, factories or headquarters in Northampton include Coca Cola, Schweppes, Carlsberg, Texas Instruments, Avon Products, Blacks Leisure Group and Panasonic.
Meanwhile, Nationwide Building Society, Barclay Card, the University of Northampton and St Andrew's Healthcare are all major employers.
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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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