Supply Manager jobs
Demand can be an unpredictable beast, and taming it is the holy grail of any manufacturing operation. In most cases there will be a reliable background demand, relatively predictable seasonal demands, plannable increases following sales and marketing campaigns and finally the almost random element of events that take manufacturers by surprise. The reason this can all be a problem is that materials cannot be conjured up from nowhere to meet demand – they need to be sourced, and a shock to the manufacturer’s system will probably also be a shock to the supplier’s when the order comes in.
This is why supply needs to be given a good deal of attention and have a dedicated team ensuring its constant activity. The supply manager will oversee a team of purchasers and analysts who will be on a never-ending mission to reconcile current stock levels with forecasted demand. Under the manager’s instruction, they will be seeking out the best deals from suppliers and putting in orders in a timely manner to ensure delivery.
For the manager’s part, he or she will be in regular contact with the sales and marketing teams, the shop floor, senior management and the suppliers themselves to keep the factory supplied with the raw materials needed for their processes.
The skills required
The supply manager will first and foremost need people management and communication skills. They will be dealing with a diverse set of stakeholders from boardroom to factory floor, sales and marketing to suppliers. The information shared must be precise, accurate and timely if the manufacturing is to take place in an efficient and customer-friendly way.
Organisational skills are also vital in the supply manager. The tangle of demands from higher up the chain has to be reconciled with the capabilities of the suppliers, and much work will be done planning deliveries so that they arrive with the minimum of cost in terms of procurement and storage.
Supply Manager Jobs in Gosport
The natural harbour in the south of England, just north of the Isle of Wight, is home to one of the world's most famous ports, Portsmouth. Less well known but of equal importance is the town of Gosport, located just over the water to the east. The geography forms a pair of natural jaws that expand behind to Fareham Lake, much of which is navigable to large vessels, hence the superb maritime history of the area. Even in the Lake's shallower parts there is a thriving yachting and sailing scene, and the harbour always has hundreds if not thousands of small boats bobbing on its surface.
Much of Gosport's industry for hundreds of years has been reliant on and connected to seafaring, so the general decline in both military and civilian maritime life in the south of England has undoubtedly impacted on the area. It has had to diversify to survive, and although there are still many jobs in maritime-related positions, it does not have the dominance it once did. A large number of small businesses and a few districts where light industry dominates help keep the town going, and the population does grow slightly in summer to accommodate workers associated with recreational boating.
With Portsmouth directly to the east and the major port of Southampton 14 miles (23 km) to the north west, Gosport will always have important maritime links and this can be good news for anyone seeking Supply Manager positions. The town is also rather large, at 80,000 even out of the summer months, and large towns always have supply chain and logistics needs that are unconnected to industry. Although the port might not be what it once was, it still presents quite good opportunities.
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Cast UK’s supply chain 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 these jobs, 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 Supply Manager for your business or find you a job as a Supply Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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