Commodity Lead jobs
To get the most value out of a procurement operation, a commodity lead is often employed to deal directly with suppliers on behalf of the purchasing company. They will have a multitude of specific roles, but in essence they will be expected to keep costs as low as possible while maintaining the expected level of supply as per the business’s production requirements.
The commodity lead will need to keep a keen eye on the industry as a whole, checking out prices from a range of suppliers as a matter of routine. Identifying savings elsewhere will put the company in a stronger negotiating position with existing suppliers, creating a win-win situation as long as the competitor can meet delivery expectations. However a well negotiated long-term deal that saves future time and expense of seeking out new suppliers is far preferable.
Of course, it’s not all about saving money in simple terms; a good deal is about much more than that. Supplier might charge more for reasons that could prove highly advantageous to your own business, that save you more than they cost the supplier (perhaps because of their buying power in the sector, for example). So delving deep into bids from potential suppliers and modelling their propositions against your own company’s projections will form a key part of the job.
The skills required
The ideal commodity lead will have had some experience in procurement and will know their way around a negotiating table, representing their employer. They might well accompany superiors to such negotiations, where their in-depth knowledge of the particular deals in question will be used to strengthen the company’s position. Because negotiations are often fast-paced, a good grasp of maths, particularly mental arithmetic, will be vital for instinctively taking the temperature of a deal in progress.
Great communication skills and the ability to easily work in a team will be essential, as will competence at problem solving and forming firm, assertive decisions based on the best available data.
Commodity Lead Jobs in Hull
Located in Yorkshire, on the Humber Estuary, Kingston upon Hull - or simply Hull - has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. After King Edward I granted it a royal charter in 1299, it became a thriving market town, as well as a military supply port and a centre for fishing and whaling.
From the Medieval period through to the Industrial Revolution, the easily navigable waters of the River Hull helped the town prosper as a trading hub with Scotland, as well as northern Europe and Scandinavia, while some products came from as far away as Australia and South America.
The large amount of wealth that came into the region during 1800s led to a number of fine Victorian buildings, such as the Dock Offices, which house the Hull Maritime Museum today. Unfortunately, many of these beautiful buildings were lost during World War II, as around 95 per cent of the homes in the city were destroyed during the Hull Blitz.
Since then, Hull has been rebuilt and the city has remained an important port for industry, while a number of ferries provide transport to Europe for around a million travellers every year.
Those seeking Commodity Lead jobs in Hull will find that the region offers a variety of opportunities, with big-name companies like BP, Reckitt Benckiser and Seven Seas all having a large presence. In addition, an Enterprise Zone has been established in a bid to attract OEMs in the renewable energy industry to the area.
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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
Cast UK were founded by specialists in the logistics, supply chain and procurement trade, and our consultants are also drawn from these backgrounds, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for.
If you’re looking for a job in procurement, whether you’re relocating for personal reasons or are simply looking for more job fulfilment, there could well be an employer who’s looking for the skills you have, so please get in touch with Cast UK. At any given time, we have jobs all over the UK, so wherever you live, or plan to live, we are well placed to find work that suits your skills. Employers often approach us to find managerial and executive candidates, so if you’re in logistics, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Commodity Lead for your business or find you a job as a Commodity Lead then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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