Procurement Director - Durham

Procurement Director jobs

Procurement is a key concern in every sector - from manufacturing, construction, retail, education and medical, through to government and defence.

This is especially true in a difficult economy, where savings need to be made across the board and the sourcing of products and services must be done with the greatest care to ensure the best outcome.

The role of a procurement director varies from company to company, but the job will generally comprise of responsibilities from managing projects and reporting to stakeholders, through to effectively leading a team and ensuring all procurement activities represent the best value for money.

Other tasks may include designing, updating or re-developing the company's supply chain procedures and taking steps to ensure that all processes run as smoothly as possible.

In all cases, procurement directors will need to demonstrate continual improvements in established routines and instigate regular updates in response to changes in legislation or sector developments.

The skills required

Those applying for procurement director jobs should have an extensive understanding of the entire supply chain process - from tendering and proposals through to assessing suppliers and completing projects.

They should also be well versed in best practice techniques, any applicable legal issues and the latest technologies used in the procurement process.

Since the role will generally involve overseeing a team, applicants will need to possess good planning and leadership skills, as well as an ability to communicate effectively and coach employees. In addition, excellent negotiation, planning, presentation and organisation skills are a must.

Procurement Director Jobs in County Durham

Located in the north-east of England, County Durham is bordered by Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, North Yorkshire. Settlements in the county include Darlington, Hartlepool, Shildon and Stockton-on-Tees and it offers a variety of options for those seeking Procurement Director positions.

In the early 19th century, most of County Durham comprised rural areas and market towns. With the down of the Industrial Revolution, mining and shipbuilding grew in importance for the area, while heavy engineering also grew rapidly - particularly the building of bridges and locomotives.

In fact, the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering company is still based in Darlington today and it has been responsible for construction projects like the Humber Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Over the last few years, many of the local towns have gone through significant regeneration. There are now a number of large retail centres and business parks in the region.

Companies with manufacturing facilities in County Durham include KP Snacks, CAV Aerospace, GlaxoSmithKline, Reckitt Benckiser, Cummins and Walkers Crisps.

Several businesses have large depots in the region, including Argos and Aldi and other companies with operations based in the area include Orange, AMEC, the Student Loans Company and Thomas Swan.

Popular locations

Discover new procurement opportunities with Cast UK

Whether you're seeking an opportunity as a procurement director in a stand-alone organisation, or in a shared services environment, Cast UK can help applicants find vacancies that match your skills and experience.

As a leading UK recruitment agency, our team of consultants have a strong understanding of these fields, enabling us to match applicants to the most appropriate roles - saving both time and excess costs for everyone involved.

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

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