Part of the Culina Group, Great Bear is the flexible, agile ambient 3PL alternative. Great Bear is a key player in ambient 3PL with an extensive depot network and some brand new, state of the art facilities. 

Great Bear is a successful business with ambitious growth aspirations and an opportunity has arisen for a confident and enthusiastic Solutions Development Manager, specialising in transport design to join our entrepreneurial and successful team. 

An opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and enthusiastic Solutions Development Manager to join our highly skilled and successful team.  Working within the Business Development function, you will principally be responsible for leading the solution design of tender responses, designing and delivering commercially competitive solutions for either warehouse or transport opportunities. 

The successful candidate will have a commercial awareness of the UK third party logistics sector gained through an operations background.  You will possess excellent analytical and IT skills, essential to produce detailed operating cost models and need to be comfortable communicating at Board Level and presenting proposals to customers. An element of travel if required for this position.

We are recruiting for two positions:

• Warehouse Solutions Development Manager
• Transport Solutions Development Manager

Responsibilities:

• 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.

• 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 and transport rates and profit & loss.
• Confident communicating with Senior Management, Key Stakeholders and customers up to and including Board Level.
• 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.

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holidays plus 8 bank holidays 
• Private Health Care
• Bonus scheme 
• Car allowance
• Life assurance
• Retail discounts

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a personable and growing business with plenty of opportunities for development. 

If you meet the criteria above and enjoy working in a fast paced organisation then click apply now to join our team!