Head of Distribution jobs
Getting products out of the warehouse and into the possession of clients is a complex enough task with a small operation, but in a large firm it’s a task with ever more intertwined elements that make its management a highly skilled task. One of the people in charge of overseeing this side of business will be the head of distribution.
Distribution will in many cases mean not only sending goods out to customers or internal departments based remotely, but also ordering them from other locations. Keeping abreast of the state of play within the department will the head of distribution’s main day-to-day task, but controlling the budget will also be key. There is always a less expensive way of doing something, but it usually means sacrificing quality or speed. The head of distribution’s success or failure will be directly linked to his or her ability to not only stay within the budget set from the general management, but also to constantly seek out efficiencies in the distribution network.
This will also mean that forecasting skills will be valued, as distribution is something that is affected by seasons, certain times and days of the week and special events. The head of distribution who can find efficiencies 24/7 will be highly valued.
The skills required
Great negotiating and communication skills will set the head of distribution off on the best footing. Savings can be made by careful consideration of the facts surrounding any distribution activity, but if customers do not like the results, any financial savings will be short-term in nature.
People management skills are essential, too, as it is those working below the head of distribution who will have to put into action the new ways of doing things that should bring the efficiencies. In some companies, the distribution head will be given a considerable amount of freedom to operate and make changes as he or she sees fit, and they will be judged on their results, so a responsible personality will be even more essential.
Good experience in management of large budgets and an analytical approach to problem solving will be key to the head of distribution’s success.
Head of Distribution Jobs in Newcastle-under-Lyme
The Staffordshire town of Newcastle-under-Lyme (not to be confused with Newcastle-upon-Tyne) adjoins the city of Stoke-on-Trent along all of its eastern edge; without looking at a boundary map it would be difficult to discern where one ends and the other begins. The town did have a similar industrial history to Stoke, namely pottery and porcelain manufacture, until the mid-1700s when it all but stopped, giving way to brick making, clothing, cotton milling, coal mining and engineering. Engineering and clothing manufacturing still dominate the town’s industries; many military and police uniforms are made here.
In the early 1900s, the Stoke area was an amalgamation of a number of moderately sized towns, chief among them Stoke, Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Burslem, Fenton, Tunstall, Longton, Smallthorne, Kidsgrove, and Audley. A motion was put to parliament to amalgamate them all into one city in what was known as the Federation of Stoke-on-Trent. Newcastle-under-Lyme was the only one to reject the plan, partly because the others were heavily involved in the pottery industry and Newcastle no longer was. Newcastle’s opposition was recognised and so it came to be that the town now exists almost engulfed by Stoke-on-Trent.
With a population of about 75,000 and a huge regeneration effort recently being completed, Newcastle-under-Lyme has undergone something of a rebirth of late, after a few decades of gradual decline. We do see more Head of Distribution jobs appearing in the town, which is often indicative of renewed economic activity.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
With jobs in every county and every city of the UK, Cast UK are well placed to find you work in logistics, procurement or supply chain wherever you are in the country, now or in the future. If you’re moving house, check out the positions available in your new area; and if you’re simply looking for a career advancement, we’ve always got jobs and clients who are looking for your skills.
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We’d love to hear from you if you’re looking for a job in logistics. Once we have your details, we’ll be able to start matching you with positions as soon as they arise.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Head of Distribution for your business or find you a job as a Head of Distribution then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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