Senior Solutions Design Manager

EA First; Coventry; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Pension

Excellent career progression

Job summary

EA First in the United Kingdom partners with ambitious 3PLs to appoint a Senior Solutions Design Manager to lead end-to-end design from first engagement to implementation.

You will drive innovation across customer solutions, ensuring operational robustness and commercial competitiveness while influencing strategic growth.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading solutions design teams.
• Track record in designing warehousing and fulfilment solutions.
• Strong commercial and financial modelling skills.
• Experience presenting to executive stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Solutions Design professionals.
• Own the solutions design function across multiple sectors.
• Collaborate with Business Development to shape winning proposals.
• Design efficient warehousing, layouts, and automation.
• Develop financial models including costings and investment appraisals.
• Present credible solutions to customers and executives.
• Support mobilisation and transition into live operations.
• Drive continuous improvement of design methodology and tools.
• Evaluate new technologies to provide practical recommendations.
• Act as the technical authority during complex bids.

Skills

Team leadership

Solutions design

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Bid support

Financial modelling

Presentation skills

Warehouse automation awareness

Tools

AutoCAD

CLASS

SketchUp

Job description

We're partnering with an ambitious, fast-growing third-party logistics provider that's investing heavily in its commercial and operational capability. Following continued growth and a strong pipeline of new opportunities, we're looking to appoint an experienced Senior Solutions Design Manager to lead all solutions design activities for a rapidly growing 3PL Provider.

This is far more than a traditional solutions design role.

You'll be responsible for driving innovation across customer solutions, influencing commercial strategy and ensuring every solution is operationally robust, commercially competitive and deliverable.

Working closely with Business Development, Operations, Finance and senior leadership, you'll own the end-to-end design process from initial customer engagement through to solution sign-off and implementation.

If you enjoy solving complex operational challenges, developing people and influencing strategic growth, this is an opportunity to make a genuine impact.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of Solutions Design professionals across multiple customer sectors.
• Own the solutions design function, ensuring consistency, quality and innovation across all customer proposals.
• Work alongside Business Development teams to shape compelling logistics solutions that win new business.
• Design highly efficient warehousing and fulfilment operations covering labour models, operational processes, layouts, automation and value-added services.
• Develop detailed financial models including operational costings, resource plans, productivity assumptions and investment appraisals.
• Present solutions confidently to customers, demonstrating both operational and commercial credibility.
• Partner with operational teams to ensure successful mobilisation and transition into live operations.
• Drive continuous improvement across design methodology, tools, modelling capability and solution governance.
• Evaluate emerging technologies including warehouse automation, robotics, AI and digital solutions to ensure customers receive innovative yet practical recommendations.
• Act as the technical authority during complex bids, supporting executive stakeholders throughout the sales process.

About you:

• A strong background in warehouse solution design, operational modelling and tender management.
• Experience designing solutions across multiple sectors such as retail, e-commerce, healthcare, consumer goods, automotive or technology.
• Excellent commercial awareness with the ability to balance operational excellence and financial performance.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience presenting to customers and senior executives.
• Knowledge of warehouse automation, mechanisation and emerging logistics technologies.
• Experience using warehouse modelling and design tools such as AutoCAD, CLASS, SketchUp or similar software would be advantageous.

This is a business that continues to invest in both its people and its customers.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Be responsible for delivering the Solutions Design function across the UK
• Work alongside an experienced senior leadership team committed to growth.
• Play a visible role in winning high-profile new business opportunities.
• Develop and coach an experienced team while helping shape the future direction of the function.
• Join a business where your ideas genuinely influence how solutions are designed and delivered.

Package:

• Performance bonus
• Pension
• Excellent career progression

If you're an experienced Solutions Design leader looking for an opportunity to influence strategy, lead talented people and deliver innovative logistics solutions, we'd love to hear from you.