Group Supply Chain Manager - Bedford

Group Supply Chain Manager jobs

As companies grow, change, merge and separate, their needs and management structures change. When they become groups, the management requirements are diverse, as there will be the considerations of several individual businesses to deal with; the efficiency and profitability of each must be maximised from above, with a “big picture” approach.

The group supply chain manager will head up a team of managers, analysts, forecasters and planners who in turn will help to create strategies that will be delivered to the individual parts of the group to put into operation. While there might be the need for some micromanagement, this role will tend to be strategically focused, and will principally be a financial role. However it will also have human resources, legal and compliance duties to adhere to.

In some cases, however, especially when a group’s supply chains are heavily integrated with each other, the group supply chain manager will be in charge of an operation similar to that of a normal supply chain management operation. In these situations they could be more heavily involved with the suppliers and customers, and will treat the individual divisions as a whole, performing planning, warehousing, forecasting and logistics support. The nature of the job will largely depend on the size and nature of the business.

The skills required

Great communication and management skills will be vital elements in the group supply chain manager’s personality and training. They will be dealing with other managers and directors daily, receiving and transmitting targets, budget information and strategic plans, and will be expected to get them across clearly and unambiguously.

When the group supply chain manager has a more hands-on role within the supply chain, he or she must possess an analytical and methodical approach to work. Much of the calculations side of logistics planning will not be in the manager’s daily schedule, but a good knowledge of the IT solutions used will be useful, along with general IT skills such as the solutions found in the office environment. A good grasp of business acumen will be a key skill. The supply chain manager might have a good deal of autonomy and little contact with the board, so being able to treat the chain under his or her control as if it were a self-contained business will help with operations and budgeting.

Group Supply Chain Manager Jobs in Bedford

Bedford is a town of about 80,000 people situated in the heart of England, about halfway between London and Leicester. With its surrounding towns the population of the urban area tops 100,000, but it remains a relatively small town as county towns go. (In case you were wondering, it’s the county town of Bedfordshire.) The town has a largely rural past, but the growth in population has seen the usual diversity of small industries, retail and local government spring to life, and this is where the majority of the town’s employment comes from.

The world of TV, especially in the 1970s, would not have been the same without the Bedford influence. Sitcom stars Ronnie Barker and John le Mesurier were both born in the town, and much of Some Mothers do ’Ave ’Em was filmed in the town. Bedford also produced sometime Countdown maths genius and all-round numerically astute adder-upper Carol Vorderman.

As the largest town surrounded by several hundred square miles of countryside and within commuting distance from Milton Keynes, Northampton and Luton, Bedford has become something of a hub in the region. This does mean that sometimes Group Supply Chain Manager positions come up to fill the town’s natural need for procurement, logistics and supply chain managers and executives.

Popular locations

Cast UK’s supply chain opportunities

Cast UK have jobs all over the country, so are well placed to find you work in wherever you are located or plan to locate. If you’re moving house, please see if there are any positions available in the area you’re moving to; and if you’re simply looking for more fulfilment in your working life, there could be an employer looking for the skills you have.

We were founded by logistics, procurement and supply chain specialists, and our consultants are all from these backgrounds too, so we have in-depth knowledge of what employers and candidates are looking for. Employers come to us to find candidates because they’re confident that we’ll help them find the most appropriate managers and executives.

Once we have your details, we’ll be able to start matching you with positions as soon as they arise, so do get in touch if you’re looking for a job in warehousing or logistics.

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

Contact us