Head of Procurement - South West

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 the South West

A region that encompasses Bristol, Gloucester, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, as well as the Isles of Scilly, the South West is a diverse area that offers a broad range of opportunities for those seeking Head of Procurement positions.

As demonstrated by the ancient monuments like Stonehenge and the Roman ruins in Bath, the South West has been settled for thousands of years. In fact, the oldest complete human skeleton ever found in the UK was discovered in Cheddar Gorge and dates back to around 7150 BC.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, much of the South West relied on fishing and shipping, particularly in Bristol, a city which harboured vessels that traded with Ireland, Iceland and the Americas. Later, it became known for coal mining, as well as heavy industry.

Today, aeronautics is an important part of the South West economy, and a number of companies have facilities in the region - such as Airbus UK, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce. There's also Defence Equipment and Support - the MoD's procurement and logistics agency.

Cheese, clotted cream and other dairy products are made in the region, with companies including Dairy Crest, which makes Cathedral City and Davidstow. Other food and beverage manufacturers include Ginsters, Ryvita, Kraft Foods UK and Beverage Brands, makers of WKD vodka. Meanwhile GSK manufactures Lucozade and Ribena in Coleford.

In addition, Princess Yachts, Siemens Traffic Controls, Merlin Entertainments, Endsleigh Insurance, Westland Helicopters and Wincanton plc are all based in the region.

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.

Contact us