Head of Materials - Dunbartonshire

Head of Materials jobs

In the manufacturing industry, keeping production on schedule is essential for business stability. This relies on having adequate stocks of components and raw materials.

Whether a company makes computers or children’s toys, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals or something else, the head of materials is responsible for ensuring that the stock levels are maintained and that products are sourced within budget and to the required quality standards.

Depending on the particulars of the role and the nature of the company, the head of materials will be charged with ordering supplies, tracking shipments, liaising with other departments to keep up with market trends and to continuously look for ways to drive efficiencies without compromising on customer satisfaction.

The role may also involve maintaining hygiene levels in storage areas - this is especially true of the food and beverage industry - as well as renegotiating contracts, researching new suppliers and reporting on key performance indicators.

The skills required

Those applying for a role as head of materials should be able to demonstrate good managerial skills and be confident in your ability to communicate with staff, stakeholders and customers.

Successful candidates should have good commercial awareness and always be on the lookout for ways to make improvements.

In addition, as head of materials you will need to have a degree of IT literacy and knowledge of the various computer programs and systems used in the industry. For instance, an ability to use spreadsheets and databases is a must, while familiarity with the Microsoft Office package can also be a useful skill.