Solutions Design Manager

Kuehne+Nagel; Bicester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Bank holidays

Contributory pension scheme

Route 2 Rewards programme

Wellbeing centre

Job summary

Kuehne+Nagel invites you to join its Contract Logistics team as Solutions Manager, shaping large-scale projects from data gathering to commercial modelling and costings. You will collaborate with Sales, Operations, Finance and HR to design innovative, customer-focused logistics solutions, build trusted relationships with clients, and lead a team of Solutions Analysts while driving growth and profitability.

Join us to influence project outcomes, leverage analytics, and contribute to a world-class

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of logistics operations and supply chain solutions.
• Experience designing and delivering customer-focused logistics solutions.
• Advanced analytical skills including data modelling, scenario planning, financial analysis and cost development.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management across teams and customers.
• Collaborative approach working with colleagues, customers and project teams to achieve goals.
• Customer-focused mindset with a passion for creating innovative solutions that deliver value.
• Strong organisational and planning skills to meet milestones and deadlines.
• Proactive and creative problem-solving across complex logistics challenges.

Responsibilities

• Design innovative and commercially competitive logistics solutions for both new and existing customers.
• Lead complex projects from data collection and analysis through to solution modelling, resource planning and cost development.
• Build strong partnerships with customers, acting as a trusted advisor throughout the solution design and presentation process.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Sales, Operations, Finance, HR, Property and other business functions to develop effective solutions.
• Create and validate resource plans using network design, warehouse sizing, labour planning and operational modelling tools.
• Develop robust financial models and P&L costings to support customer proposals and commercial decision-making.
• Support the preparation of compelling customer presentations and proposal documents that showcase the value of our solutions.
• Stay ahead of logistics industry trends, emerging technologies and best practices, sharing knowledge across the wider business.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Solutions Analysts, supporting both performance and career growth.
• Play a key role in securing new business opportunities, delivering solutions that drive customer success, business growth and long-term profitability.

Skills

Logistics operations

Analytical skills

Data modelling

Cost development

Stakeholder management

Communication

Project management

Team coaching

Problem solving

Collaboration

Job description

It’s more than a job As part of the Contract Logistics team at Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in designing, managing, and optimizing solutions that keep goods moving efficiently. Whether you’re leading a team, engineering processes, or driving projects, your work ensures that our customers’ products are stored, handled, and delivered with precision. From everyday essentials to seasonal items, what we do in Contract Logistics impacts businesses and communities around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, your contribution goes far beyond the warehouse—it helps shape the flow of global trade.

It’s more than a job As part of the Contract Logistics team at Kuehne+Nagel, you will play a key role in designing, managing, and optimizing solutions that keep goods moving efficiently. Whether you’re leading a team, engineering processes, or driving projects, your work ensures that our customers’ products are stored, handled, and delivered with precision. From everyday essentials to seasonal items, what we do in Contract Logistics impacts businesses and communities around the world. At Kuehne+Nagel, your contribution goes far beyond the warehouse—it helps shape the flow of global trade.

Building strong relationships is at the heart of success in this role. As our Solutions Manager, you will work closely with colleagues across Sales, Operations and wider business functions to help retain, grow and develop customer partnerships through the delivery of effective and innovative logistics solutions. This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping large-scale and complex projects, taking ideas from initial data gathering and analysis through to solution design, commercial modelling and detailed costings. You will collaborate with a variety of stakeholders across the business, including Finance, HR, Property and Operations, ensuring solutions are practical, commercially sound and aligned with customer needs. You will also engage directly with customers throughout the solutions process, presenting recommendations and building trusted relationships along the way. Staying informed about industry developments and sharing best practice will be an important part of the role, as will supporting and developing a team of Solutions Analysts to help them achieve their full potential. If you enjoy solving complex challenges, working collaboratively and making a tangible impact on business success, we’d love to hear from you.

How you create impact

• Design innovative and commercially competitive logistics solutions for both new and existing customers.
• Lead complex projects from data collection and analysis through to solution modelling, resource planning and cost development.
• Build strong partnerships with customers, acting as a trusted advisor throughout the solution design and presentation process.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Sales, Operations, Finance, HR, Property and other business functions to develop effective solutions.
• Create and validate resource plans using network design, warehouse sizing, labour planning and operational modelling tools.
• Develop robust financial models and P&L costings to support customer proposals and commercial decision-making.
• Support the preparation of compelling customer presentations and proposal documents that showcase the value of our solutions.
• Stay ahead of logistics industry trends, emerging technologies and best practices, sharing knowledge across the wider business.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Solutions Analysts, supporting both performance and career growth.
• Play a key role in securing new business opportunities, delivering solutions that drive customer success, business growth and long-term profitability.

What we would like you to bring

• A strong understanding of logistics operations and supply chain solutions, with the ability to translate customer requirements into practical, commercially viable outcomes.
• Experience designing and delivering customer-focused logistics solutions that balance service excellence with operational efficiency.
• Advanced analytical skills, with confidence in data modelling, scenario planning, financial analysis and cost development.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously while maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, building effective relationships across teams and functions.
• A collaborative approach, working successfully with colleagues, customers and project teams to achieve shared goals.
• Customer-focused mindset with a passion for creating innovative solutions that deliver value and exceed expectations.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, ensuring key milestones and deadlines are consistently achieved.
• A proactive and creative approach to problem-solving, with the ability to identify opportunities and develop innovative logistics solutions.

What’s in it for you Join Kuehne+Nagel and build your future with us. We believe in recognising and rewarding the commitment, expertise and passion our people bring every day. In return, you’ll enjoy a competitive benefits package, including 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to earn additional leave through length of service. You’ll also have access to our contributory Kuehne+Nagel pension scheme and our Route 2 Rewards programme, offering employee discounts, recognition initiatives, wellbeing resources and a dedicated wellbeing centre to support you both professionally and personally. As a proud holder of the Gold Armed Forces Covenant Award, we are committed to being a forces friendly employer and actively welcome applications from service leavers, reservists and veterans. We recognise the valuable skills, experience and perspectives they bring to our business and are proud to support their transition into civilian careers.

Who we are Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world. As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life-saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.