Group Supply Chain Manager - Belfast

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 Belfast

As Northern Ireland's capital and largest city, Belfast offers a number of opportunities for those seeking Group Supply Chain Manager positions.

The region was first settled during the Bronze Age and had become a thriving community by the 17th century.

During the Industrial Revolution, Belfast was known for producing a broad range of goods, including linen, rope and tobacco.

Meanwhile, its proximity to two large bodies of water - Belfast Lough and the River Lagan - made the city an ideal location for shipbuilding.

Over a period of 150 years, Harland and Wolff - once one of the city's most famous shipbuilders and currently fabricating equipment for the marine, offshore and renewable energy sectors - constructed numerous vessels. These included luxury liners like the Titanic, Olympic and Britannic, as well as the HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy light cruiser that is now permanently moored on the River Thames in central London.

Following the First World War, Belfast's economy began to slowly decline and by the 1960s and 1970s, the city's situation gradually deteriorated as civil unrest of the period known as The Troubles created a fragile financial situation and a community riddled with violence.

However, since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Belfast has once again emerged as a city with a viable economy and there has been rapid redevelopment.

These days, Belfast is a centre for education and commerce and companies based here include Allstate NI, Moy Park, Bombardier Aerospace and Translink - Northern Ireland's main provider of public transport.

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.

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