Despatch Manager - Hemel Hempstead

Despatch Manager jobs

Controlling stock to find the balance between wasting precious space and running out of stock is the job the despatch manager. Despatch areas can be complex to manage, often containing a mix of raw materials, intermediate items and finished products, so precise management of the various levels as they are brought in and sent out is absolutely essential.

As well as keeping completely on top of the comings and goings of the despatch area, the despatch manager will often be responsible for accounts, health and safety, security and personnel management, possibly as the manager of various departments. The general management of the company will have strict targets and goals, and it will be up to the despatch manager to ensure their realisation.

The skills required

As with any managerial role, good communication and people skills will be required if the despatch area is to run like clockwork; it will help reduce errors and keep the business goals at the forefront.

A quick-thinking and independent mind will also stand candidates in good stead, especially when key decisions might have to be made at 2 a.m. on a Sunday when superiors are away from the desk. With all the goods coming in and out of a busy area, it would be easy to lose control of what is there and what has moved on. No doubt the busy despatch area will be computerised nowadays, but even with this help, an aptitude for juggling several streams of thought at once will be an advantage.

Experience of using SAP and any warehousing IT solutions will usually be required.

Despatch Manager 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 Despatch Manager 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 logistics opportunities

People approach Cast UK looking for work for many reasons, from seeking more job fulfilment to moving house to looking for a promotion. Our founder members and our consultants come from the logistics, procurement and supply chain sectors, so we understand the needs of employers and candidates alike. As we only deal with these fields, many employers in the sector come to us first to create a candidate shortlist, so it’s certainly a good idea to register with us if you’re in the logistics sector.

We always have positions from the whole of the UK, so please see what’s available in your region and please do get in touch if you’ve seen something you’re interested in – we might just have the perfect job for you!

To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Despatch Manager for your business or find you a job as a Despatch Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.

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