My Dashboard / Career Heroes / Heather Montgomery

Career Heroes - Heather Montgomery

Job title

Assistant Manager

Employer

Ryobi

Tell us more about you

I’m from Carrickfergus and have lived here all my life (apart from four years I spent at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, which was the most fantastic adventure).

I’m an auntie to my two gorgeous nephews, who have me wrapped around their little fingers. I was a keen hockey player for many years but some injuries have put an end to that for now.

I love nothing more than getting pampered, be it getting my nails done or having a lovely spa day. I’m a kind and caring person with a large circle of friends. I enjoy travelling and exploring new places as much as possible with my partner and friends.

What kind of work do you do?

I currently manage two teams with four people in each. A purchasing team and a stores (goods in) team. These teams work closely with all departments in the company and play an integral role in the effective operation of the factory.

My purchasing team looks after the sourcing, negotiating, and ordering of all of our spares and stock items (there are thousands). They also look after service contracts, commercial negotiations (pricing, drafting, and negotiating legal contracts), supplier relationships, and admin duties. There is a full time member of our team who looks after everything to do with customs since Brexit; this had a major impact on how we import and export goods from Great Britain, the EU, and the rest of the world.

My stores team controls all the goods delivered to site, recording exactly what was delivered to keep records accurate. Our store holds thousands of different items and our stock is a high priority. We need to ensure we have the parts available so any machine that breaks down can be fixed as quickly as possible. This ensures we don’t have production downtime. Stock accuracy is paramount to ensure orders are placed on time so we avoid running out of anything. There is a full time member of our team who is a “cycle counter”; they count all the stock on a continual basis.

I have goals and actions for myself and each member of my teams, which are monitored on a monthly basis. I create and maintain reports for senior management and engage with external bodies such as the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. I control the ordering of aluminium, which is our single biggest spend as a company, upwards of £25m a year. I also control our energy contract, which has been very challenging this year with the rising costs.

Top 5 Skills & Attributes Needed for your job

Accountable

Communicator

Empathetic

Ethical

Leader

How did you become a Assistant Manager?

I studied GCSEs and A Levels at Belfast High School before going to Heriot Watt University to study Planning and Property Development. My school was very university focused and we chose the courses we’d like to apply for at 17. I felt this was a little too young to understand what you want to do with the rest of your life. I picked my degree because I liked the TV show ‘Homes Under the Hammer’!

I graduated in 2012 and soon discovered there were not many jobs available in my chosen field, so to start earning some much needed money, I took a job in Chain Reaction Cycles.

I worked there for a year and gained some life skills and knowledge on stock processes along the way. I then moved to Bombardier, working in their Stores department for a year. I worked on the Helpdesk expediting urgent spares to the production line. This was a job I had through a recruitment agency (temporary), so when a permanent Materials Administrator job was advertised in Ryobi, I applied for it.

I got the job and after six months in the role, I applied for the Team Leader position. I did that for a year. This was extremely beneficial because I learned all about the different parts and processes in the factory, and got to meet people from all areas of the company, building relationships that I still value today. I realised my degree career path was not going to be the one for me, so I started to consider how I could develop myself in a career in supply chains, and in particular procurement.

I looked into courses and found a CIPS qualification (Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply). When the role of Purchasing Assistant Manager was advertised for my department, I decided to apply. My manager is extremely supportive and always looks to progress people who work hard to reach their potential. I got the job and asked if I could do the CIPS course for my professional development.

I studied for three years at Belfast Met, achieving a Level 6 (degree equivalent) MCIPS qualification, which is highly thought of in the procurement world. The company supported me through this and paid 75% of my fees. I will always be extremely grateful for this opportunity. I’ve been in my current role for five years.

What you do enjoy most about your job?

The people I work with make coming into work every day a good experience. I can honestly say I do not get the ‘Sunday dread’.

I enjoy working on contracts and big projects but my favourite part is buying the aluminium - working with the suppliers and internal departments to get the best quality and prices.

Our factory would grind to a halt without aluminium and I find this a satisfactory area of my job. I also find the manufacturing process of die casting and working in the automotive industry very interesting (there’s an engine block in my car that was made in the Ryobi factory!).

If you could do-over, What would you do differently?

I’d maybe have picked a different degree. However, I met a lot of my lifelong friends by doing it, so my experience wouldn’t have been the same. Everything happens for a reason!

I don’t regret starting at the bottom and working my way up. It taught me not only about manufacturing and processes but also lots of life skills and how to work with different people who may have different skills, backgrounds, and life priorities. I think this is also what has taught me how to be a good manager.

What advice would you give someone starting out on their career jouney today?

Don’t rush. If you’re not certain, take some time out and decide what you really enjoy and whether there’s a realistic and viable career path in it.

Do your research and find out what pathway best suits you. Everyone is different and this is your life.

It’s never too late; take opportunities that come your way, no matter what stage of your career you find yourself in. If it doesn’t work out, look for something positive that came from the experience.

Life skills are as important as education. Be open to diversity and learning from others.

Find out what pathway best suits you