Head of Buying jobs
As a departmental lead, Head of Buying is a role involving supporting, designing and implementing market-leading strategies.
With strong commercial acumen, this person will manage relationships with suppliers and oversee revenue and cost budgeting. Effective negotiation will ensure ROI and Head of Buyers will constantly be reviewing new sourcing opportunities as well as being involved in new product development. As a profit centre in its own right, the buying department is central to an organisation’s commercial gain.
A Head of Buying will have a multi-disciplinary role, looking after short, mid and long-term projects, chairing monthly divisional operational meetings and advising the business on key developments. The individual will typically work with other areas of the business to ensure individual brand objectives, as well as group objectives, are met.
The skills required
As an experienced manager, you will require at least 5 years’ proven track record of overseeing a team. Strong negotiation skills are mandatory, with experience of strategic purchasing.
An ability to lead, influence and coach others is vital for this role as well as the capability to work in a fast-moving, demanding environment that requires strong organisational skills. Highly numerate, IT literate and analytical, you will be someone who remains calm under pressure and be an adept communicator.
Flexibility is key as well as being self-driven, honest and capable of driving team member development. It’s important you are confident to challenge accepted ways of buying, and continually strive to innovate.
You will be an experienced project manager with excellent presentation skills and able to effectively report to all parts of the business, including company directors.
Head of Buying Jobs in Burnley
Whereas most northern towns with milling and industrial heritage are closely linked to a major city such as Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle or Glasgow, Burnley is something of an oddity thanks to its relative isolation. It’s a good 22 miles (34 km) to the centre of Manchester to its direct south, about the same distance west or Bradford and the next major settlement to its north is Carlisle, 80 miles (130 km) away. Its nearest neighbour is Blackburn, 10 miles to the west and roughly Burnley’s twin in terms of population (and its footballing rival).
Burnley started out as a market town, trading chiefly in wool and other farm products, until the Industrial Revolution, and particularly the canals, reached the town. When coal was discovered close by, the picture was complete. Before long the town was thriving, with wool mills and eventually cotton mills powered by steam engines making the town thunder with productivity. Inevitably, the mills were to gradually close down and Burnley went through a period of isolation and stagnation, particularly after the Second World War.
The town is, however, looking forward, and has attracted investment and jobs over recent years. Industrial estates have sprung up around the town, and perhaps because of the distance to large cities, Burnley has become almost self-sufficient when it comes to retail, with a bustling town centre and a host of chains setting up shop there. This all adds up to a positive story for those looking for Head of Buying positions in the Burnley area.
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Search for Head of Buying opportunities with Cast UK
As market leading recruitment specialists for professional level buying roles across the sectors, Cast UK is committed to building long-term relationships with our clients, enabling us to understand their business models and the roles they are recruiting.
We get to know the personalities and objectives of each candidate; understanding what motivates them, and the appropriate cultural fit for them. This attention to detail means that we are able to make excellent matches between applicants and employers, making placements that are lasting and mutually rewarding.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Head of Buying role for your business or find you a job as Head of Buying, contact one of our consultant team on 0161 825 0825
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