Solutions Design Manager

Company Description Culina Group is a leading UK 3rd party food & drinks logistics provider offering dedicated and shared user warehousing and distribution solutions.

At Culina we have a winning culture, we believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive… A place where you're valued, challenged, and inspired!

Job Description We are looking for a commercially minded Solutions Design Manager to join our Business Development Excellence team. In this role, you will lead the design, modelling, and optimisation of integrated logistics solutions across warehouse and transport operations, helping shape high-performing, scalable solutions for new business, renewals, and continuous improvement programmes.

You will combine operational expertise, data-driven insight, and strong commercial awareness to create solutions that are practical, cost-effective, and service-led. Working closely with sales, operations, engineering, IT, finance, and customers, you will play a key role in ensuring every solution is operationally viable, financially robust, and aligned to wider supply chain strategy.

Key Responsibilities Solution Design & Modelling

• Design integrated warehouse and transport solutions, including:

• Warehouse layouts, storage strategies, picking methods, automation concepts, and labour models

• Transport network design (trunking, cross-dock, final mile, multi-drop, fleet strategies)

• Build detailed models covering capacity, throughput, routing, and cost using tools such as Excel, Power BI, WMS/TMS data, routing software (e.g. Paragon), and CAD

• Analyse customer data (volumes, SKUs, order profiles, delivery patterns, geography)

• Evaluate automation and technology solutions (e.g. AMRs, AS/RS, TMS, route optimisation) to assess ROI and operational impact

Project Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead solution design workstreams across tenders, RFQs, renewals, and optimisation projects
• Present proposals to senior stakeholders and customers with clarity and commercial focus
• Support mobilisation teams to ensure smooth transition from design to live operation, and working with cross-functional teams

Commercial & Strategic Contribution

• Develop cost models, pricing inputs, and business cases
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, efficiency gains, and service improvements
• Support wider strategic initiatives including network redesign, expansion, and automation roadmaps

Data & Continuous Improvement

• Use data insights to refine and challenge solutions
• Develop and maintain standardised tools, templates, and modelling frameworks
• Drive continuous improvement in solution quality and consistency

Qualifications

• Strong background in logistics, warehousing, transport operations, or supply chain design
• Advanced data and modelling capability (Excel, Power BI, SQL or similar)
• Experience designing warehouse layouts (CAD) and transport/network models
• Good understanding of automation, fleet operations, and transport technologies
• Ability to turn complex data into clear, actionable solutions
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience within 3PL, retail distribution, e-commerce, FMCG, or manufacturing environments

Additional Information As part of our drive to make Culina Group a great place to work. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation where we are committed to employee development and recognising success for hard working performers.

Our dedicated learning and development programmes are open to every employee to give you the opportunity to shape your own future within logistics and continue to work in an environment where team culture thrives.

Our People are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits which include:

• Annual Leave - Competitive holiday entitlement of 25 days plus 8 bank holidays
• Life Assurance - x4 your annual salary
• Wellness - Via our Employee Assistance Programme we offer immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service that operates 24 hours a days, 365 days a year
• Eye Care Vouchers - We can provide you with substantial savings with free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses
• Reward & Recognition - We recognise that employees have gone the extra mile via Employee of the month and year, special recognition and long service awards.
• Everyday discounts - Via our benefit platform you will have access to over 50 retailer discounts for everyday savings!

If you meet the requirements for the above role and are looking for your next career opportunity please apply now and become a part of our #WinningTeam!