Commodity Lead jobs
To get the most value out of a procurement operation, a commodity lead is often employed to deal directly with suppliers on behalf of the purchasing company. They will have a multitude of specific roles, but in essence they will be expected to keep costs as low as possible while maintaining the expected level of supply as per the business’s production requirements.
The commodity lead will need to keep a keen eye on the industry as a whole, checking out prices from a range of suppliers as a matter of routine. Identifying savings elsewhere will put the company in a stronger negotiating position with existing suppliers, creating a win-win situation as long as the competitor can meet delivery expectations. However a well negotiated long-term deal that saves future time and expense of seeking out new suppliers is far preferable.
Of course, it’s not all about saving money in simple terms; a good deal is about much more than that. Supplier might charge more for reasons that could prove highly advantageous to your own business, that save you more than they cost the supplier (perhaps because of their buying power in the sector, for example). So delving deep into bids from potential suppliers and modelling their propositions against your own company’s projections will form a key part of the job.
The skills required
The ideal commodity lead will have had some experience in procurement and will know their way around a negotiating table, representing their employer. They might well accompany superiors to such negotiations, where their in-depth knowledge of the particular deals in question will be used to strengthen the company’s position. Because negotiations are often fast-paced, a good grasp of maths, particularly mental arithmetic, will be vital for instinctively taking the temperature of a deal in progress.
Great communication skills and the ability to easily work in a team will be essential, as will competence at problem solving and forming firm, assertive decisions based on the best available data.
Commodity Lead Jobs in Aldershot
Aldershot is a town that has grown up around the British army. It was a small village surrounded by barely useable land until the Crimean War, when a military base was located there. Within a few years the population had exploded from less than a thousand to around 16,000, which is about half its current population. It is known as the home of the British Army, and several regiments are based there.
The Hampshire town is located about 30 miles (50 km) south west of the centre of London, 7 miles (12 km) west of Guildford and 16 miles (26 km) south east of Reading. It is at the centre of a large conurbation that takes in Farnborough, Farnham, Fleet and Camberley, and together the population is close to a quarter of a million. Immediately to the north of Aldershot is Farnborough, home of one of the UK’s most important air shows, which is both a trade fair for military and civilian aircraft and a public spectacle.
While Aldershot is dominated culturally and, to some extent, geographically by the barracks, there is a static population living in the town and its adjacent neighbours, and there is a diverse range of industry in the area. Logistics and Supply chain professionals looking for Commodity Lead work should therefore find rich pickings in Aldershot. It’s well connected to the transport network, with the M3 passing to its north and a comprehensive rails service. And failing that, you might be able to hitch-hike on a tank.
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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
Cast UK were founded by specialists in the logistics, supply chain and procurement trade, and our consultants are also drawn from these backgrounds, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for.
If you’re looking for a job in procurement, whether you’re relocating for personal reasons or are simply looking for more job fulfilment, there could well be an employer who’s looking for the skills you have, so please get in touch with Cast UK. At any given time, we have jobs all over the UK, so wherever you live, or plan to live, we are well placed to find work that suits your skills. Employers often approach us to find managerial and executive candidates, so if you’re in logistics, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Commodity Lead for your business or find you a job as a Commodity Lead then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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