Head of Procurement - Northern Ireland

Head of Procurement jobs

Whatever sector a company operates in - from manufacturing to IT, defence to education or medical to petrochemicals - having the right equipment, goods and services is essential for successful business dealings.

The position of Head of Procurement will vary from employer to employer, but in most situations, the role will entail planning and implementing procedures for ensuring every acquisition is the right one for the business in terms of price, quality and delivery schedule.

Depending on the type of work a company does, this could mean ordering items like raw materials, spare parts, packaging or components. It could also involve sourcing contractors to carry out specialist services.

The skills required

Those applying for a role as Head of Procurement will need a good working knowledge of the various software packages and technologies generally required and an ability to use other computer programs - like Word, Excel and Outlook.

Excellent organisation skills and an ability to think analytically and strategically are both vital for success as a Head of Procurement

In most situations, you will need to have previous management experience and you should be comfortable with training team members, providing motivation and dealing with any problems that may arise.

Head of Procurement Jobs in Northern Ireland

The smallest country in the UK, Northern Ireland has traditionally been associated with industries like shipping, rope making and textile manufacture. In fact, during the American Civil War, the supply of cotton from the States was cut and Belfast gained the nickname Linenopolis, as Irish linen helped to alleviate problems caused by the shortage.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Belfast was home to many of the world's top shipbuilders, including Harland and Wolff, the firm that went on to build the RMS Titanic, her sisters the Britannic and Olympic and other vessels like the HMS Belfast during the early 20th century.

Northern Ireland has also seen its share of violence and civil unrest, during a period known as the Troubles, which lasted from the late 1960s until the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Since then, the country has grown more stable and a number of redevelopment projects have helped to turn Northern Ireland into a thriving place with an economy based mainly in the service sector - although many of the older business are still in operation. What's more, there are plenty of opportunities for those seeking Head of Procurement vacancies.

Just some of the companies with regional headquarters or other facilities in the region include DuPont and Caterpillar. In addition, Short Brothers, one of the first companies in the world to produce aircraft, moved to Northern Ireland in 1948 - today it owned by Bombardier Aerospace and produces flight control systems and other components.

Popular locations

Search for Head of Procurement vacancies with Cast UK

Here at Cast UK, our team of specialist recruitment consultants have been carefully chosen for their knowledge of the procurement industry.

Having spent time working in the industry themselves, they have a strong understanding of what makes the right candidate-vacancy match and we work closely with applicants and clients to ensure that every placement we make is the best one possible.

What’s more, our network extends far and wide and we recruit roles throughout the UK & Ireland as well as in Europe.

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

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