Lead Buyer jobs
The lead buyer in a manufacturing company is a role that comes with huge responsibility. He or she will need to ensure the steady flow of raw materials, components or other critical materials reaches the factory floor to create a seamless, endless supply, ensuring there is never any downtime through lack of availability. This will mean keeping an eye on several strands at once, such as warehouse levels (making sure they are not too high as well as too low), availability on the market of the materials in question and the expected capacity and productivity of the factory (especially where seasonal effects are present).
They will also be in charge of keeping the costs as low as possible, so the job will involve a good deal of making contact with suppliers and potential suppliers in order to strike deals with them. The lead buyer will usually have a set budget and keeping within it will sometimes require a good deal of creativity, thinking on one’s feet and negotiation.
Many lead buyers will head up a department of junior buyers or buyers of certain categories of supplies, so management skills will be required, rounding off a set of abilities that combine to make the lead buyer one of the key employees of a manufacturing enterprise. The sway the lead buyer holds of the company’s profits cannot be overestimated, and for this reason lead buyers will be drawn from candidates with excellent experience of buying, preferably at a managerial level.
The skills required
Successful lead buyers will be people who can absorb themselves entirely into the operation of a manufacturing company. They will need to be able to know exactly what supplies need to come in through the factory gates at any time and how much they cost – and they will have a hand in determining these facts too. They will be expected to hit the ground running and make a positive change to the company from day one, sourcing materials and goods, driving down costs and arranging timely delivery.
Needless to say, this is a role that will suit not only people who can handle pressure, but also those who thrive on it. When overseeing a team of buyers, it’s important to deal with them in a courteous and positive manner even when things aren’t running to plan.
Superb communication and management skills will round up the competencies required of the lead buyer. It’s a role not everyone will be able to rise to, even those with extensive procurement experience. There will definitely need to be the instinct to make things happen and to act on it.
Lead Buyer Jobs in Hemel Hempstead
After World War 2, the government set about a programme of building New Towns around the UK to re-house those made homeless by the Blitz. One of the towns built for Londoners was Hemel Hempstead, although a village of the same name had existed there since before medieval times. The town is situated 20 miles (33 km) north west of the centre of London and 10 miles (17 km) south of Luton, with St Albans just to the east.
The town has a shopping centre in the middle, and to the north east there is a large industrial complex called the Hemel Hempstead Industrial Estate. The estate came to worldwide prominence in December 2005 when there was a massive explosion at the Buncefield oil storage terminal. The explosion was supposed to be so loud that it was heard on mainland Europe; the sky glowed and a pall of black smoke covered drifted over London; thousands of properties were damaged. As well as being a depot for forecourt tankers, the depot had pipelines going directly to Heathrow Airport, which had to ration fuel and caused some travel disruption.
The depot was such an important part of the nation’s fuel infrastructure that it was ordered to be rebuilt, and it continues to grow as new parts are brought on stream. The rest of the industrial park continues to rebuild, and the town remains an important element in the UK’s supply system. With such good connections to London by road and rail, and with Luton Airport just up the M1, the town is well placed to continue growing. It’s not unusual for Lead Buyer jobs to come up in Hemel Hempstead, so it’s worth checking with us if you are looking.
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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so we are well placed to find you work in logistics, procurement or supply chain wherever you are located or plan to locate. If you’re moving house, please see if there are any positions available in the area you’re moving to; and if you’re simply looking for more fulfilment in your working life, there could be an employer looking for the skills you have.
We were founded by specialists in the fields, and our consultants are all from these backgrounds too, so we have in-depth knowledge of what employers and candidates are looking for. Employers come to us to find candidates because they’re confident that we’ll help them find the most appropriate managers and executives.
When we have your details, we’ll be able to start matching you with positions as soon as they arise, so do get in touch if you’re looking for a job in procurement.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Lead Buyer for your business or find you a job as a Lead Buyer then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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