DHL Supply Chain
Solutions Design Manager
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Grade: RCS Grade I
Contract Type: Permanent (Full-Time)
Location: Remote, with weekly attendance at Rugby, Valley Cross, plus travel to sites as required
Design operations that work in the real world. DHL Supply Chain is the world's leading logistics company, and our Solutions Design team is at the forefront of innovation, crafting tailored supply chain solutions that drive success on a global scale.
Some people arrive in Solution Design through warehouse design. Others build the same capability by running complex operations, improving processes, advising supply chains, planning resilient logistics or developing automation. We are interested in what you can do, not whether your current job title matches ours.
As a Solution Design Manager at DHL Supply Chain, you will turn customer challenges and operational data into practical, scalable and commercially viable solutions. You will lead design workstreams from the first assumptions and concepts through detailed design, costing, risk management and implementation support. We are looking for proven experience in either Aviation and Travel or Defence as the focus of this role will be on either of these areas.
What You'll Do
- Lead several solution design workstreams from concept and assumptions through detailed design, costing, risk and implementation support.
- Analyse customer data, operational flows, demand, capacity and constraints to define credible design options.
- Develop end-to-end warehouse and supply chain solutions for existing facilities and new builds, including manual, mechanised and automated operations.
- Create layouts, resource and productivity models, operational processes, costings and clear design documentation.
- Test designs through sensitivity analysis, stress testing and benchmarking so they remain robust as requirements change.
- Work with Business Development, Operations, IT, Procurement, Finance, property specialists, technology partners and customers to reach an aligned solution.
- Explain complex findings clearly, challenge constructively and secure operational and commercial buy-in.
- Support implementation teams and share knowledge through peer review, coaching and development of design standards.
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What You'll Bring
- You may already work in logistics Solution Design, or you may have developed transferable capability in warehouse automation, highly automated operations, airport logistics, defence logistics, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence or specialist supply chain consulting.
- Strong analytical problem-solving, with confidence interpreting complex operational data and turning it into clear options.
- An understanding of how warehouse or logistics operations work, including flow, capacity, labour, service, risk and cost.
- Experience improving, designing, operating, advising on or implementing complex logistics processes or technology.
- Commercial awareness and the ability to balance customer, operational and financial requirements.
- Clear communication and stakeholder influence, including the confidence to present recommendations and challenge assumptions.
- Ownership of multiple workstreams and the discipline to make assumptions, risks, decisions and dependencies visible.
- Curiosity about automation and emerging technologies, combined with a practical focus on delivering solutions that work.
You do not need to have held a Solution Design Manager title. We welcome evidence of relevant capability gained through adjacent roles and sectors.
What The Role Offers
- Variety across customers, sectors, project stages and solution types.
- Influence before key operational and technology decisions are fixed.
- Exposure to significant bids, new builds and automation programmes.
- The opportunity to see ideas progress from analysis and concept into operational delivery.
- A collaborative design community with peer review, knowledge sharing and opportunities to support developing designers.
- Visible career progression: 40% of the team have built DHL careers spanning more than 20 years, and more than 30% of designers have received a promotion within the last two years.
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Why Join Us?
- Use of a company car (or car allowance) including hybrid and electric vehicles
- Private Medical Insurance
- 26 days annual leave with the option to buy additional days
- Discretionary bonus based on performance
- We're happy to talk about flexible working – just ask about alternative patterns at interview
- Join our generous pension scheme and benefit from an 8% employer contribution, alongside a 4% employee contribution
- Free confidential 24/7 GP consultations
- Hundreds of retail and lifestyle discounts
- Affordable loans, savings schemes and free mortgage advice
Visit https://careers.dhl.com/global/en/working-at-dhl-supply-chain to learn more
Who We Are
We're the global leaders in supply chain management with 188,000 people in over 50 countries. Our expert teams work together to deliver for our customers across a range of industries including retail, automotive, healthcare and more.
Building an Inclusive Workplace
At DHL, we're all about creating a workplace where everyone's skills and experiences matter, and where you can be your true self every day.
As proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant, we value the skills and experience of ex-service personnel and are dedicated to helping our veterans find jobs.
Please be aware that interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place during the week commencing 5th October. Applications received after this date may not be considered but will be added to our talent pool for future opportunities, subject to your consent. Please also be aware that we review applications continuously and where we have a large number of applications the application period may close ahead of the provisional interview date. To ensure your application is considered we recommend submitting it as early as possible.
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