Director Solution Design

About our client

Our client is a leading global provider of contract logistics and supply chain management services. They operate in over 50 countries, managing more than 400 warehouses worldwide. This extensive network allows for efficient logistics and supply chain solutions on a global scale .

The company offers a broad range of services, including:

• Warehousing and Distribution: Management of warehousing operations and the distribution of goods to ensure efficient inventory handling and timely delivery.
• Transportation Management: Coordination of transport services to optimize the movement of goods through various transportation modes.
• Value-Added Services: Customized solutions such as kitting, packaging, and assembly to meet specific client needs.
• Supply Chain Consulting: Expertise in designing and implementing optimized supply chain strategies to improve efficiency and reduce costs 

Industry Focus: Our client provides specialized logistics solutions tailored to various industries, including automotive, consumer, retail, technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering and manufacturing, and energy. Each industry requires unique logistics approaches, and they offer bespoke services to meet these demands .

Technology and Innovation: The company leverages advanced technology to enhance supply chain operations, including warehouse automation, robotics, data analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. These innovations improve efficiency, accuracy, and visibility across the supply chain

Role Purpose

• Development of solutions that deliver exceptional customer value whilst delivering healthy returns.
• Support the development of the strategy and deploy strategic initiatives.
• Lead the SD team development and implement the people management strategy.
• Manage training solutions in the use of standard Solution Design tools & methodology
• Manage governance model & support framework for all design tools & methodology
• Lead the relationship management of internal and external solution design suppliers.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure the solution design function meets customer expectations
• Contribute to, review and approve business cases
• Deploy solution design standards, policies, training and development in order to achieve DSC's growth, contract retention and continuous improvement objectives. Drive innovation and automation solutions across new and existing business
• Direct leadership reporting of a cluster SD team > 15 FTEs

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the solution design team within area of responsibility- across warehousing, transport and VAS
• Coach and develop the solution design team as well as ensuring utilization and optimal allocation in alignment with the Resourcing and Development guides.
• Programme manage the Solution Design projects & resources
• Govern the quality assurance of solution proposals, ensuring they meet company standards.
• Set clear priorities aligned to solution design strategy within the areas of responsibility.
• In order to achieve DSC's growth, contract retention and continuous improvement objectives.
• Ensure all our proposed solutions can provide the highest levels of operational safety.
• Constantly monitors progress on pursuits and identify where resourcing level may need to change or resource withdrawn.
• Champion or lead a regional/ global SD practice/ sector team.

Key Responsibilities

Customer

• Works proactively with the customer to identify potential commercial / service improvement opportunities.
• Interacts with customer senior management to uncover needs & opportunities.
• Develops and delivers innovative solutions and services that create value for customers and that help meet DSC's growth targets.
• Actively collaborates with colleagues to develop new services / solutions that improve the customer experience.
• Anticipates potential risks and proactively implements contingency plans with the support of customers.
• Proactively reviews and improves internal processes that do not meet the customers needs.
• Actively collaborates with colleagues to gain agreement and resources to meet customer needs.
• Ensures our solutions are competitive by understanding the competitive environment in which DHL operates as well as our competitors solutions and approaches, allowing us to differentiate ourselves from their offering when required.
• Ensures successful implementation of the solution in collaboration with operations and operations excellence.

Stakeholders

• Develops collaborative relationships with leaders of other functions involved in new business opportunities, renewals and continuous improvement (e.g. BD, Operations, Project Management, Risk, IT, HR, Finance, Legal, Real Estate, etc.) to continuously improve the solution design process, production of deliverables (e.g. solutions, proposals, etc.) and to ensure required resources are available.
• Interacts with BU/Country Senior Management and project sponsors to ensure that the Solutions Design Team is meeting Business Unit expectations.
• Develops & uses wider / regional network with colleagues across the business.
  Successfully influences internal stakeholders to gain required support and resources to deliver against agreed customer commitments.
• Successfully influences key stakeholders, ensuring engagement & support form BD owners, to ensure Solution Design work stream deliverables are achieved & meet project objectives for wider / regional projects.

Process

Strategy: 

• Interprets regional business needs to develop solution design strategies.
  Clearly outlines Solution Design activities and initiatives needed to be successful in supporting the growth agenda.
• Designing solutions to deliver business growth, retain and improve existing business
• Support the development of the strategy and deploy strategic initiatives
• Develop forecast of future supply chain needs & ensure alignment with Solution Design strategy
• Govern & support project management of Solution Design work
• Govern & Support DMADV application
• Support community development and implement the people management strategy
• Drive continuous improvement to existing processes & tools
• Manage training solutions in the use of standard Solution Design tools & methodology
• Manage governance model & support framework for all design tools
• Lead the relationship management of internal and external solution design suppliers
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure the solution design function meets customer expectations
• Conduct health checks and quality management reviews of Solution Design work
• Govern and support consultative selling application on solution fit proposals
• Lead and mentor individuals within the team and function
• Lead & motivate the team to share knowledge and best practice by promoting community building across the region Contribute to, review and approve business cases
• Deploy solution design standards, policies, training and development
• Lead the drive on automated solutions with strong digitalisation content
• Solution Design strategy and targets in place within area of responsibility
• Data analysis documents delivered on time and to the required quality standards
• Solution proposal documents delivered on time and to the required quality standards

People - Management

• Conduction of performance reviews of the team and support in their personal development.
• Coach and support of the relevant solutions design team in the pursuit of new business, renewals and continuous improvement- under the particular area of expertise.
• Contribute to taking and sharing best-practices within area of responsibility focusing on innovation and thought leadership Recruit and retain a high quality sales force team

Skills, Experience and Requirements for the Job

• Extensive multi-sector experience
• Functional Experience
• Team Management Experience
• Solutions Design Experience
• Sales Experience
• Warehouse & Transport Solution Design Resource Modelling and Planning
• An advanced user of tools such as Microsoft Excel to perform complex data analysis Storage and Pick Strategies >> automation and mechanisation skills
• Geographical Experience
• Multi Country Project Co-Ordination Cultural diversity
• Education / Qualification / Certification Requirements
• Degree/ Masters in relevant discipline
• 10 years relevant experience in solution design and transport management Operational and supply chain experience > 5 years

Language Requirements

English
Local language desired

Possible next roles:

Head of Facility, Transport or VAS Design APAC

Further required information

25%+ travel requirement (national and regional)