Head of Materials jobs
In the manufacturing industry, keeping production on schedule is essential for business stability. This relies on having adequate stocks of components and raw materials.
Whether a company makes computers or children’s toys, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals or something else, the head of materials is responsible for ensuring that the stock levels are maintained and that products are sourced within budget and to the required quality standards.
Depending on the particulars of the role and the nature of the company, the head of materials will be charged with ordering supplies, tracking shipments, liaising with other departments to keep up with market trends and to continuously look for ways to drive efficiencies without compromising on customer satisfaction.
The role may also involve maintaining hygiene levels in storage areas - this is especially true of the food and beverage industry - as well as renegotiating contracts, researching new suppliers and reporting on key performance indicators.
The skills required
Those applying for a role as head of materials should be able to demonstrate good managerial skills and be confident in your ability to communicate with staff, stakeholders and customers.
Successful candidates should have good commercial awareness and always be on the lookout for ways to make improvements.
In addition, as head of materials you will need to have a degree of IT literacy and knowledge of the various computer programs and systems used in the industry. For instance, an ability to use spreadsheets and databases is a must, while familiarity with the Microsoft Office package can also be a useful skill.
Head of Materials Jobs in Ellesmere Port
Until the end of the seventeenth century, what we now call Ellesmere Port was a collection of tiny fishing villages. However the canal system needed outlets into the sea, and this location, at the eastern tip of the Wirral Peninsula, was chosen, and a town and port grew up around it. In the nineteenth century the Manchester Ship Canal was built, and Ellesmere Port marked the starting point of it, and again the port area, and hence the population, shot up.
Although Ellesmere Port is more or less on the Wirral, it is part of Cheshire. Birkenhead is 9 miles (15 km) to the north west and Chester is 6 miles (10 km) to the south. The M56 passes by the town’s south side, and the M53 goes through the town as it joins Chester to Birkenhead and Liverpool via the tunnel. The Warrington to Birkenhead railway also bisects the town.
There is a steady flow of Head of Materials jobs in Ellesmere Port thanks to two major industrial plants on its doorstep. The Stanlow oil refinery is the second largest in the UK and can process up to 12 million tonnes of oil a year, using the excellent transport links and nationwide pipelines to distribute its products. The other major employer is the Vauxhall plant, home of the Astra and the company’s only car plant in the UK. After troubled times in the 80s and 90s, things are looking up. With other industry in the town, a population of 65,000 and Chester and Liverpool just down the road, it’s a busy town at a major UK junction.
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Find Head of Materials opportunities with Cast UK
As an expert in the logistics, procurement and supply chain sector, Cast UK is the perfect choice for anyone seeking a new role as a head of materials.
Our team of consultants have extensive experience in recruiting for these sectors, having worked in similar roles themselves.
What’s more, we work with clients and candidates in locations across the country to match the best talent to every role. To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Head of Materials for your business or find you a job as a Head of Materials then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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