Procurement Specialist - Widnes

Procurement Specialist jobs

The responsibilities of a Procurement Specialist will vary, depending on the company, the products or services it provides and its individual business model.

In most situations, this individual will be tasked with maintaining the right levels of stock and making sure that the goods and services are acquired at the right cost and to the appropriate quality standards.

Of course, making purchasing decisions is only one part of the role and a Procurement Specialist must also continuously monitor contracts and renegotiate them as necessary. Writing KPI reports is a common part of the job, as is finding ways to make improvements, both in terms of the company's profits and customer satisfaction.

The skills required

When applying for a Procurement Specialist vacancy, an awareness of the relevant legislation is essential, while a working knowledge of the various technologies and software packages is a must.

You should also be able to make quick - but carefully considered - decisions, negotiate effectively and build strong relationships with suppliers.

In many cases, a person in this role will also be responsible for a team. Therefore, a sense of leadership and the ability to provide training and motivation are good skills to have. Meanwhile, you'll need to be confident in dealing with any problems that may arise.

Procurement Specialist Jobs in Widnes

At the north-eastern edge of Cheshire lies Widnes, a town of around 60,000 population built on heavy industry, particularly chemicals, where ICI had a huge presence for decades before fragmenting in the 1990s. The chemical industry chose Widnes partly for the plentiful supply of water, just like Runcorn, to which it is joined by a railway and road bridge over the Mersey.

The centre of Liverpool is 11 miles (17 km) to the west, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport just 4 miles (7km) form the centre of Widnes. Although not actually in Widnes, the Jaguar Land rover car production plant is just outside the town in Halewood, and it has been a large employer of people from Widnes. For decades the plant was owned by Ford, and the locals still cal the main boulevard that passes it “The Ford Road”. Under the new management, the factory is doing extremely well, helped by a local enthusiastic workforce.

Widnes has two musical claims to fame, one certain, one apocryphal. First was the Stone Roses’ Spike Island gig, the pinnacle of the Madchester scene in 1990. The second claim is that Paul Simon wrote “Homeward Bound” at Widnes Station, although Simon isn’t 100% sure himself!

Widnes has retained many of its industrial plants, although they are no longer owned by the giant ICI, and have been taken over by a multitude of companies. The well-connected town is handy for Liverpool, Warrington, St Helens and Runcorn, and has the M62 at its northern point. All this makes it a good place to locate any logistics operations, and indeed, Procurement Specialist jobs or similar positions have been through our system in Widnes.

Popular locations

Discover Procurement Specialist opportunities with Cast UK

If you're looking for a position as a Procurement Specialist, the recruitment consultants at Cast UK are here to help.

The members of our team all have experience in the procurement and logistics industry and their personal knowledge of the roles and responsibilities gives them unique insight into what makes the best candidate for each role.

We take great pride in making the best matches for each vacancy and we tailor our approach according to the needs of our candidates and clients.

Cast UK works with clients and candidates in locations across the country to match the best talent to every vacancy. To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Procurement Specialist for your business or find you a job as a Procurement Specialist then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.

Contact us