Head of Solutions Design – Logistics and Warehousing

Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Unipart Logistics
Location: Cowley or Nuneaton with a blended working approach of office / site and home Contract type: Full time, Permanent Salary: To £100,000 plus car / car allowance, 33 days holiday, pension, bonus, life assurance, employee assistance programme, wellbeing support, and flexible benefits scheme About the Job As the Head of Solution Design at Unipart Logistics, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing a team of Solution Design Managers, ensuring the development of optimised and cost-effective supply chain solutions for our clients in the 3PL industry. In addition to leading the strategic direction of our solution design efforts, you will also manage the solution design element in bid management for new customers and provide continuous improvement solutions for existing customers, thereby contributing to our growth and long-term customer relationships. As part of your key responsibilities you ll: Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of Solution Design Managers, providing guidance, support, and professional development opportunities Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the Solution Design team Lead the development of innovative, scalable, and cost-effective logistics solutions that meet client requirements and align with the company s strategic goals in the 3PL industry Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Sales, Operations, and IT, to ensure solutions are feasible and seamlessly implemented Oversee bid management activities for new customers in the 3PL industry, working closely with the Sales team to develop competitive and compelling proposals Ensure that bid responses align with the company s capabilities and strategic objectives Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in existing logistics solutions for 3PL customers, focusing on efficiency, cost savings, and service enhancements Collaborate with customers to understand their evolving needs and proactively propose enhancements Engage with 3PL clients to understand their specific logistics needs, challenges, and objectives Work closely with the Sales team to present and explain proposed solutions to 3PL clients, addressing their concerns and questions effectively Allocate resources efficiently, balancing workload and priorities among Solution Design Managers to meet client demands and deadlines Monitor and analyse the performance of designed solutions in the 3PL industry, identifying opportunities for improvement and optimisation Continuously evaluate industry trends and emerging technologies to enhance solution design processes Develop and manage the department budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and adherence to financial targets Prepare regular reports and updates for the Solutions Design Director, highlighting team performance, project status, and key performance indicators About You We d love you to have the following skills and experience, but please apply if you think you d be able to perform well in this role! Educated to graduate level or equivalent High degree of PC literacy, numeracy, and literacy Good understanding of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and their impact on operational processes and proposed solutions Experience in specifying, sourcing, and managing the implementation of relevant equipment and services Demonstrable experience in warehouse and operational layout design Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact at a senior level, demonstrating gravitas, impact, and credibility Strong relationship-building skills across all levels and functions, including experience working with customers and stakeholders at a strategic level Ability to influence and inspire others to improve customer experience Experience in a stakeholder and customer-driven environment Familiarity with performance management methodologies such as SLAs and KPIs Deep understanding of financials and commercial contracts in the logistics industry Ability to design cost-effective models based on specific types of agreements Proficiency in industry standard Solution Design systems Our recruitment and selection process has been developed to ensure that it is consistent, fair and provides equality of opportunity – all selection decisions are based solely on technical and behavioural competencies. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, or nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, religion or belief, age or any other current or future protected characteristic as defined in the current Equality Act of England and Wales. As an organisation we also promote an environment which encourages diversity of characteristics and thought, where you feel included, safe and confident to be the best version of yourself and do your best work every day. You may have experience in the following: Solutions Design (Logistics and Warehousing), Logistics and Warehousing, Solutions Design Director, Director of Logistics Solutions, Warehousing Design Leader, Head of Supply Chain Solutions, etc. REF-(phone number removed)