Solutions Design Manager

Deutsche Post und DHL; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 106,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

DHL is seeking a Solutions Design Manager for its AFR Team to lead end-to-end Life Sciences & Healthcare logistics solution design, governance, and execution. You will guide pricing strategy, regulatory compliance, and innovation while aligning with global standards and customer needs.

Lead cross-functional teams, drive profitability, and partner with Commercial leadership to win strategic opportunities in pharma and healthcare logistics on a global scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related discipline; MBA preferred.
• 5+ years in Life Sciences & Healthcare logistics or solution design.
• Minimum 5 years leading teams in a matrix organization.
• Extensive experience designing complex global logistics solutions for pharma/healthcare.
• Strong knowledge of GDP, GxP, IATA, regulatory compliance, cold chain, and quality systems.
• Proven success leading strategic customer pursuits and executive relationships.
• Strong commercial acumen with pricing strategy, financial modeling, and P&L management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the regional Life Sciences & Healthcare Solution Design strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Establish governance and best practices for solution design across the organization.
• Provide executive oversight of end-to-end solution design for Air/Ocean Freight, Customs, Warehousing, and Integrated Logistics.
• Drive pricing governance, profitability, and investment analysis.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, and strategic investments for LSHC portfolio.
• Lead cross-functional teams and senior reviews during customer engagements and transformations.
• Ensure regulatory compliance (GxP, GDP, IATA) and quality standards in all designs.
• Mentor Solution Design Managers and Engineers; foster a high-performing org.
• Represent DHL at executive meetings and industry forums; influence investment priorities.

Skills

Executive leadership

Life Sciences & Healthcare SCM

Enterprise solution design

Financial modeling & ROI

Pricing governance

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory compliance

Change management

Contract negotiations

Risk management

Executive presentation

Analytical decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Life Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, or related discipline

Master's degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Solutions Design Manager for our AFR Team. This role is responsible for leading the strategic design, governance, and execution of end-to-end logistics solutions for DHL's global and regional Life Sciences & Healthcare customers. This role provides executive leadership for solution design, pricing strategy, operational excellence, and innovation while ensuring compliance with global regulatory standards, including GxP and GDP.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the regional Life Sciences & Healthcare Solution Design strategy aligned with DHL's overall business objectives and growth plans.
• Establish long-term solution design capabilities that differentiate DHL in the pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics market.
• Serve as the senior subject matter expert for Life Sciences & Healthcare solution design, cold chain logistics, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.
• Lead strategic initiatives that improve profitability, customer experience, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Drive innovation by identifying emerging technologies, digital capabilities, automation opportunities, and new service offerings within Life Sciences logistics.
• Partner with Commercial Leadership to develop growth strategies for strategic and multinational Life Sciences customers.
• Lead complex customer pursuits by developing innovative and differentiated logistics solutions that maximize customer value and financial performance.
• Provide executive leadership during customer presentations, solution workshops, and strategic business reviews.
• Support contract negotiations by balancing commercial competitiveness with operational feasibility and profitability.
• Drive pricing governance and ensure consistency in financial assumptions, investment decisions, and solution profitability.

Solution Design & Governance

• Provide executive oversight of end-to-end solution design activities across Air Freight, Ocean Freight, Customs, Warehousing, and Integrated Logistics services.
• Establish governance, methodologies, standards, and best practices for solution design across the organization.
• Ensure all solution designs incorporate operational excellence, quality requirements, regulatory compliance, systems integration, risk mitigation, and financial performance.
• Lead investment evaluations and business case development for new customer opportunities and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee development of operating models, implementation strategies, validation plans, and transition frameworks for complex customer implementations.

Financial & Business Management

• Own solution profitability by overseeing pricing strategy, cost modeling, financial analysis, and investment recommendations.
• Lead development of business cases, customer P&L models, capital investment requests, and return-on-investment analyses.
• Monitor solution performance against financial and operational KPIs while driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to optimize costs while maintaining service excellence and regulatory compliance.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, and strategic investment decisions for the LSHC portfolio.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Ensure all solutions meet applicable regulatory requirements including GxP, GDP, IATA, and customer-specific quality standards.
• Partner with Quality and Operations leadership to develop validation strategies, quality frameworks, and compliance governance.
• Sponsor continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and quality performance.
• Drive standardization of processes, documentation, implementation methodologies, and operational toolkits across the LSHC business.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Solution Design Managers and Solution Engineers while building a high-performing organization.
• Establish performance objectives, succession planning, and talent development strategies for the Solution Design function.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead cross-functional teams supporting strategic customer implementations and business transformation initiatives.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with regional and global business leaders, customers, strategic partners, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Represent DHL at executive customer meetings, industry conferences, and Life Sciences forums.
• Influence senior leadership regarding investment priorities, market opportunities, organizational capabilities, and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with Global Product Management to ensure regional alignment with global standards and product development.

Skills / Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Life Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Master's degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in Life Sciences & Healthcare logistics, supply chain management, or solution design.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing teams within a matrix organization.
• Extensive experience designing complex global logistics solutions for pharmaceutical and healthcare customers.
• Strong knowledge of GDP, GxP, IATA, regulatory compliance, cold chain logistics, and quality management systems.
• Demonstrated success leading strategic customer pursuits and complex solution implementations.
• Proven experience managing executive-level customer relationships.
• Strong commercial acumen with extensive experience in pricing strategy, financial modeling, investment analysis, and P&L management.

Knowledge & Skills

• Executive leadership and strategic planning
• Life Sciences & Healthcare supply chain expertise
• Enterprise solution architecture and design
• Financial planning, business case development, and investment analysis
• Pricing governance and profitability management
• Organizational leadership and talent development
• Cross-functional leadership within global matrix organizations
• Change management and business transformation
• Contract negotiations and commercial strategy
• Risk management and regulatory compliance
• Strong executive presentation and communication skills
• Advanced analytical and decision-making capabilities

Pay Range:

$105,682.50 - $140,910.00+ (Based on Experience)