Procurement Director jobs
Procurement is a key concern in every sector - from manufacturing, construction, retail, education and medical, through to government and defence.
This is especially true in a difficult economy, where savings need to be made across the board and the sourcing of products and services must be done with the greatest care to ensure the best outcome.
The role of a procurement director varies from company to company, but the job will generally comprise of responsibilities from managing projects and reporting to stakeholders, through to effectively leading a team and ensuring all procurement activities represent the best value for money.
Other tasks may include designing, updating or re-developing the company's supply chain procedures and taking steps to ensure that all processes run as smoothly as possible.
In all cases, procurement directors will need to demonstrate continual improvements in established routines and instigate regular updates in response to changes in legislation or sector developments.
The skills required
Those applying for procurement director jobs should have an extensive understanding of the entire supply chain process - from tendering and proposals through to assessing suppliers and completing projects.
They should also be well versed in best practice techniques, any applicable legal issues and the latest technologies used in the procurement process.
Since the role will generally involve overseeing a team, applicants will need to possess good planning and leadership skills, as well as an ability to communicate effectively and coach employees. In addition, excellent negotiation, planning, presentation and organisation skills are a must.
Procurement Director Jobs in Derry
Derry is often called Londonderry after being granted a royal charter by James I (and is called Derry-Londonderry on its UK City of Culture 2013 website). The county, city and district variously share the name, but they all refer to the same place. Derry was the last city in Europe to be walled, in the early 17th century, and most if not all of the wall remains today. It was an important seaport, and played a huge part in World War II owing to its position as the westernmost port in the UK, indeed Allied Europe, as Iceland was neutral.
In peacetime, the city had a reputation as a shirt maker, with several factories springing up to make men’s shirts for export and domestic use. As with the Northern mill towns of England, however, this industry was all but gone by the 1980s, with most of this kind of work moving to Asia.
An important employer in the city has been Du Pont, who made Neoprene there for years, and more recently switched production to Kevlar and Lycra. There is also a burgeoning hi-tech manufacturing sector in the city. Seagate Technology, one of the world’s top hard disk drive manufacturers, makes more than half of its read/write heads in the Derry factory. The city is also home to Northern Ireland’s largest private company, Desmonds, plus a healthy smattering of multinationals.
With a population of around 100,000, a thriving shopping centre and a good deal of industry popping up in this regenerating city, Derry would appear to be a prime location to look for Procurement Director positions.
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Discover new procurement opportunities with Cast UK
Whether you're seeking an opportunity as a procurement director in a stand-alone organisation, or in a shared services environment, Cast UK can help applicants find vacancies that match your skills and experience.
As a leading UK recruitment agency, our team of consultants have a strong understanding of these fields, enabling us to match applicants to the most appropriate roles - saving both time and excess costs for everyone involved.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Procurement Director for your business or find you a job as a Procurement Director then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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