Solutions Design Manager

Job Title: Solutions Design Manager

Job Location: Hebron, Kentucky

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.

Commercial Leadership

• 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
• Executive stakeholder engagement
• 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
• Project portfolio governance
• Strong executive presentation and communication skills
• Advanced analytical and decision-making capabilities

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