Head of Procurement jobs
Whatever sector a company operates in - from manufacturing to IT, defence to education or medical to petrochemicals - having the right equipment, goods and services is essential for successful business dealings.
The position of Head of Procurement will vary from employer to employer, but in most situations, the role will entail planning and implementing procedures for ensuring every acquisition is the right one for the business in terms of price, quality and delivery schedule.
Depending on the type of work a company does, this could mean ordering items like raw materials, spare parts, packaging or components. It could also involve sourcing contractors to carry out specialist services.
The skills required
Those applying for a role as Head of Procurement will need a good working knowledge of the various software packages and technologies generally required and an ability to use other computer programs - like Word, Excel and Outlook.
Excellent organisation skills and an ability to think analytically and strategically are both vital for success as a Head of Procurement
In most situations, you will need to have previous management experience and you should be comfortable with training team members, providing motivation and dealing with any problems that may arise.
Head of Procurement Jobs in Widnes
At the north-eastern edge of Cheshire lies Widnes, a town of around 60,000 population built on heavy industry, particularly chemicals, where ICI had a huge presence for decades before fragmenting in the 1990s. The chemical industry chose Widnes partly for the plentiful supply of water, just like Runcorn, to which it is joined by a railway and road bridge over the Mersey.
The centre of Liverpool is 11 miles (17 km) to the west, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport just 4 miles (7km) form the centre of Widnes. Although not actually in Widnes, the Jaguar Land rover car production plant is just outside the town in Halewood, and it has been a large employer of people from Widnes. For decades the plant was owned by Ford, and the locals still cal the main boulevard that passes it “The Ford Road”. Under the new management, the factory is doing extremely well, helped by a local enthusiastic workforce.
Widnes has two musical claims to fame, one certain, one apocryphal. First was the Stone Roses’ Spike Island gig, the pinnacle of the Madchester scene in 1990. The second claim is that Paul Simon wrote “Homeward Bound” at Widnes Station, although Simon isn’t 100% sure himself!
Widnes has retained many of its industrial plants, although they are no longer owned by the giant ICI, and have been taken over by a multitude of companies. The well-connected town is handy for Liverpool, Warrington, St Helens and Runcorn, and has the M62 at its northern point. All this makes it a good place to locate any logistics operations, and indeed, Head of Procurement jobs or similar positions have been through our system in Widnes.
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Search for Head of Procurement vacancies with Cast UK
Here at Cast UK, our team of specialist recruitment consultants have been carefully chosen for their knowledge of the procurement industry.
Having spent time working in the industry themselves, they have a strong understanding of what makes the right candidate-vacancy match and we work closely with applicants and clients to ensure that every placement we make is the best one possible.
What’s more, our network extends far and wide and we recruit roles throughout the UK & Ireland as well as in Europe.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Head of Procurement for your business or find you a job as a Head of Procurement then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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