Solutions Development Manager

Culina; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Bonus

Private Medical Cover

Company car or car Allowance

Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme

Wellbeing Support

Eye Care Vouchers

Reward & Recognition

Everyday Discounts

Job summary

Culina, the UK’s leading independent specialist supply chain partner, is seeking a Solutions Development Manager for its Contract Logistics division. Based at Great Bear depots in the Midlands or North, the role involves leading tender design and delivering commercially competitive solutions for warehouse opportunities.

Reporting to the Senior Solutions Development Manager, you will plan bids, model resources and liaise with operations, IT and finance to align proposals with strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Track record in logistics solutions design with commercial accountability.
• Ability to lead tender processes with cross-department support.
• Proficient in advanced Microsoft Excel (macros, pivots, lookups).
• Strong understanding of warehouse rates and P&L.
• Confident presenting to Senior Management and Board level.
• Experience with automation technologies in the market.
• Experience with modelling tools such as CAD/CLASS/CAST/Paragon is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Communicate with customers during all tender stages.
• Analyze requirements and assess opportunities; provide executive summaries.
• Plan and coordinate tender responses; liaise with Directors and ops teams.
• Design warehouse and transport solutions incorporating best practices.
• Develop models to determine resources feeding financial models.
• Manage quotes for subcontracting non-core services.
• Prepare P&L budgets with finance teams.
• Provide financial and operational comparisons highlighting risk.
• Prepare tender documentation and presentations.
• Assist with marketing materials development.
• Maintain knowledge of industry developments via professional bodies.
• Support development of other BD team members.
• Support implementation of new contracts.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Analytical skills

IT skills

Board level comms

Leadership

Excel macros

Automation opportunities

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Tender management

Tools

Excel

CAD

Paragon

Job description

Culina is the UK’s leading independent specialist supply chain partner, trusted by some of the nation’s best recognised food, fast-moving consumer goods (FMGC) and retail brands. We're proud to employ over 22,000 colleagues across 100+ locations nationwide, supported by a fleet of more than 5,500 trucks and trailers delivering every day.

We currently have an exciting opportunity in our Contract Logistics division – through flexible warehousing, transport and fulfilment solutions, we simplify complexity, drive continuous improvement and create exceptional experiences for customers. Delivering certainty. Creating value. Enabling growth.

Life in this role

As part of our, Contract Logisticsdivision, we have an exciting opportunity to join the team as a Solutions Development Manager.

Reporting to the Senior Solutions Development Manager, you will workwithin the Business Development function, responsible for leading the solution design of tender responses, designing and delivering commercially competitive solutions for warehouse opportunities.

This role can be based at any of our Great Bear depots within the Midlands or North area however some travel will be a requirement as part of the role.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hour week.

Key Duties of a Solutions Development Manager:

• Communicate directly with customers during all stages of the tender process.
• Analyse customer requirements including tender documents and data. Assess business development opportunities in the context of Great Bear’s existing operations and provide executive summaries. Make recommendations regarding the suitability of potential new business.
• Plan and coordinate project and tender responses. Make recommendations regarding bid scope. Liaise with Regional Operations Directors, operations teams and specialist functions within the business throughout all phases of the tender process.
• Design warehouse and transport solutions taking into account industry best practice, including: Warehouse processes; layouts; equipment; vehicle routing and shift planning, IT systems; management and admin structures.
• Develop and execute appropriate models to determine resources (people, equipment, property, IT, transport etc.) to feed into financial models.
• Manage quotes for sub-contracting any non-core services which form part of tender scope.
• Prepare profit and loss budgets in conjunction with finance teams.
• Provide detailed financial and operational comparisons for alternative solutions highlighting risk.
• Prepare tender response documentation and presentations.
• Assist with the development of company marketing materials.
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of developments in the industry through membership of a professional body (e.g. CILT), attending industry events and training courses.
• Support the development of other members of the business development team.
• Support the implementation of new contracts.

Qualifications

What you’ll need...

The successful candidate will have a commercial awareness of the UK third party logistics sector gained through an operations or solution design background. You will possess excellent analytical and IT skills essential to produce detailed operating cost models. You will be comfortable communicating at Board Level and presenting proposals to customers. You will be forward thinking in reviewing any suitable automation opportunities for the projects you work on.

• Successful track record working in a logistics solutions design role with commercial accountability. Operational experience advantageous.
• Ability to lead a team through the tender process and produce high quality results. Leverage support from other departments e.g. IT, operations, HR, facilities management, to ensure appropriate engagement in solutions design and the tender process.
• Technically proficient using advanced Microsoft Office Excel functionality (macros; pivot tables; data links; lookups; etc.) with the ability to deal with complex data management.
• Current and in depth understanding of commercial warehouse rates and profit & loss.
• Confident communicating with Senior Management, Key Stakeholders and customers up to and including Board Level.
• Capable of working under pressure to meet critical deadlines and complete objectives.
• Experience of automation technologies currently in the market.
• Ability to use industry-recognised simulation and modelling tools is not essential but may be advantageous e.g. CAD, CLASS, CAST, Paragon etc.

Additional Information

What is in it for you?

If you're looking for a role where you can make an impact, develop your career, and be part of a team that works as one to achieve great results, we'd love to hear from you.

• Company Bonus - we achieve more when we work together, that’s why we celebrate our shared success through our bonus scheme.
• Private Medical Cover - enjoy peace of mind with access to Bupa's healthcare services.
• Company car or car Allowance- providing additional support and flexibility to help you stay mobile and connected.
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme - our salary sacrifice scheme offers a cost-effective way to drive an electric vehicle, with payments taken directly from your salary. Eligibility and salary thresholds apply.
• Wellbeing Support – your wellbeing matters to us. Through our Employee Assistance Programme, you'll have 24/7 access to confidential counselling and legal support, whenever you need it.
• Eye Care Vouchers – free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses.
• Reward & Recognition – we love celebrating great work, we recognise those who go above and beyond.
• Everyday Discounts – our benefits platform gives you access to discounts from over 50 leading retailers, helping your money go further every day.

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