Logistics Contract Manager jobs
The contracts that logistics companies have with their customers and suppliers are key to the efficient and profitable running of the business. Contracts can be thought of in two ways: the signed pieces of paper that the two parties have, the result of much thrashing at the negotiating table; and the relationship the two parties have as a business entity – i.e. an account.
The contract manager will be in charge of both aspects. He or she will be involved with tendering and will be present at the negotiations between the logistics firm and potential customers. Sometimes contracts are negotiated in one set of prevailing conditions but as time goes by and conditions change, their profitability might suffer for either party. The contract manager will need to be open to renegotiations, and must work to ensure that there is reasonable scope for such alterations in the initial negotiations.
Once contracts are agreed and up and running, the manager will monitor their day to day operation and ensure that all is running smoothly. Any issues with the customer will need to be dealt with by the contract manager. It is important to strike a balance between keeping good clients happy and maximising profitability.
The skills required
The contract manager will probably have a team under him or her, for example account managers and finance staff who will deal with the day to day contact with the customers. They will also have regular contact with the logistics team itself and head office who will be steering the company and instructing the contract manager on budgets etc. For these reasons, the contract manager will need to have excellent communication and people management skills.
A good understanding of the negotiating, contract drafting and contract realisation stages will stand the contract manager in good stead. Any previous experience of running a department or dealing with contracts will help. The job can also be a step up the career ladder for an experience account manager, too. The role comes with a good deal of responsibility and the ongoing profitability of the department and company will be in his or her hands.
Logistics Contract Manager Jobs in Southport
If you’re scouring maps of Devon, Dorset or Sussex searching for Southport, stop now. It’s most definitely in the northern half of England, about halfway between Liverpool and Blackpool. Like the famous towered resort, it’s a tourist town, with miles of beach and the usual seaside attractions like boating lakes, a pier, a promenade and a famous model village. However it has close links with the city to its south, not least because both are in Merseyside.
The town grew up during the Victorian period as a fashionable spa town, and much of the architecture remains on the front. As workers’ holidays got a foothold, the town, with its good rail links, became a popular destination for the workers of places such as Liverpool, Preston, Wigan and Bolton to spend a week or a weekend in summer. With little of a manufacturing base, the town’s existence was threatened in the 60s and 70s as tourists got the option of flying to Spain or Greece instead of staying in Britain, but it managed to survive where others failed by focusing on short breaks and holding events such as air shows, flower shows and festivals.
Southport is best known in the area as having a large population of affluent people. It’s a favourite home of Liverpool and Everton footballers, as well as other celebrities, particularly those from the North West. There’s a thriving night life, with a wealth of bars, restaurants and clubs. Although it is not a traditional industrial town, sometimes Logistics Contract Manager positions do come up in the Southport area. Tourist towns do require a good deal of movement of goods to service both the local population and the visitors. There are frequently building and civil engineering projects in the region, too.
Popular locations
Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
People approach Cast UK for a number of reasons, whether seeking more job fulfilment or simply relocating with the family, so it’s good to know that we always have the complete range of positions available nationwide. We are a growing force in logistics, procurement and supply chain recruitment, partly because these are the only sectors we deal with.
Our founder members and consultants all have backgrounds in logistics, procurement and supply chain, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for in their staff and careers respectively. Thanks to this focus, many employers come to us first to create a candidate shortlist because they know we’ll deliver the best people to them. Please see what’s available in your region and if you’ve seen something you’re interested in, do get in touch – whether it’s today or tomorrow, we might have the best position for you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Contract Manager for your business or find you a job as a Contract Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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