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 Cardiff
As the capital of Wales, Cardiff has long been at the centre of Welsh commerce, culture, media and government. It is the most populous city in Wales and offers an array of possibilities for those seeking Commodity Lead vacancies.
Cardiff is situated in the historic county of Glamorgan and until the 19th century, it was a fairly small town. As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the rest of the UK, the Port of Cardiff, also known as Tiger Bay, became increasingly important - in fact, one of the busiest in the world.
The Taff Vale Railway and the Glamorganshire connected the city's docks to the coal-producing areas in other parts of Wales, and this useful resource was sent on as fuel for factories across the country.
In the late 1800s, rival docks at Barry began to take over in the shipment of coal, but the Coal Exchange remained in Cardiff and the city became increasingly industrialised, with the addition of an ironworks and a steelworks.
Cardiff officially became the capital in 1955 and over the years it has remained an important cargo port. Much of its industrial past has been replaced by the financial and business sector - although there are still metal works to be found in the region.
Today, a number of well-known companies operate headquarters in the city - including Admiral Insurance, Principality Building Society and 118118. In addition, the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff is the UK's largest hospital outside of London.
Popular locations
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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