Senior Warehouse Solution & Tender Manager in Manchester

Who we are

At Bleckmann, we’ve been delivering on promises since 1862. As a market leader in supply chain management for fashion and lifestyle brands, we keep the show running behind the scenes — from moving boxes to moving data, from pack & ship to IT and HR. But we’re not just logistics experts. We’re The Backstage Crew — a tight-knit team of 6,500+ people who make fashion and lifestyle brands shine by doing the work that matters most, out of the spotlight but never out of impact.

Whether you're on the warehouse floor or behind a screen, you’ll find:

• Strong connections with colleagues who support and celebrate you.
• Fast growth in a company that’s expanding across Europe, the US, and Asia.
• High energy in a dynamic environment where no two days are the same.
• Guided freedom to take initiative, solve problems your way, and grow your career.

We believe in entrepreneurship, expertise, excellence, and engagement — and we live these values every day. From repairing returned goods to reducing waste, we help brands extend product lifecycles with sustainability in mind. So if you’re ready to roll out the red carpet for our clients — and for each other — we’ve got a spot for you. Behind the scenes is where the real excitement begins. Ready to join us?

Tasks and responsibilities

Purpose of the job

At Bleckmann, engineering excellence and innovation are at the core of our ability to deliver world-class & cost-optimized logistics solutions. As a Senior Warehouse Solutions & Tender manager, you are the design authority for complex, multi-site, and automation-heavy warehouse solutions. You will independently lead the end-to-end solutioning lifecycle - from data discovery and flow design to financial modelling, risk management, and executive-level defence of the solution in competitive tenders. You will represent Bleckmann in orals and deep-dives with sophisticated customer stakeholders (including consultants and industry experts), bringing the credibility, clarity, and composure needed to win. You will set standards, mentor peers, and partner closely with Commercial, Implementation, Automation, IT / WMS, and Operations to ensure what we sell is operationally sound, cost-optimised, scalable, and implementable. Your expertise in warehouse design and process improvement will directly contribute to increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring scalability in our logistics operations. Through these responsibilities, the role ensures that Bleckmann continues to lead in logistics automation, delivering cost-effective and innovative engineering solutions that drive operational excellence.

Main accountabilities

End-to-End Solution Design & Architecture (65%)

• Lead autonomous design for complex warehouses (brownfield & greenfield), including layout, storage strategies, slotting, picking / packing concepts, value-added services, and outbound sortation.
• Develop material flow concepts and capacity sizing across inbound, put-away, replenishment, picking (GTP / PTS / zone), packing, returns, and dispatch.
• Evaluate and integrate automation (AMRs / AGVs, shuttle / ASRS, pouch / sorters, conveyors, put-walls, goods-to-person) with WMS / WES / WCS orchestration.
• Produce design documents (process maps, functional specs, 3D / 2D layouts, heatmaps), data books, and design-to-assumptions registers.

Scope of Authority

• Acts as Design Authority for assigned pursuits / projects, owning feasibility, risks, and solution integrity prior to commercial commitment.
• Recommends technology / vendor options and phase-in roadmaps; triggers due-diligence requirements to close data gaps.
• Signs off the design pack (including key assumptions) for internal approvals and customer submission.

Performance Indicators

• Design accuracy: variance of modeled vs. actual volumes, labor, and throughput within agreed tolerances post go-live.
• Solution robustness: SLA adherence in ramp and peak; % of mitigated single-points-of-failure.
• Quality of design pack: completeness at handover; reduction in design-originated change requests during implementation.

Tender Leadership & Client Defence (35%)

• Act as solution owner on large RFPs / RFIs (> €10–€30m capex / > 30k m²), orchestrating the response with Bid Management and Commercial.
• Build compelling storylines and defend design choices in orals with consultants / experts.
• Drive due diligence: clarify data gaps, stress-test demand scenarios, define service envelopes, and translate SLAs into capacity & labour profiles.
• Maintain assumption / risk / dependency register and mitigation plans.

Scope of Authority

• Authority to represent Bleckmann as design authority in client-facing sessions.
• Decision-making power on solution positioning and technical-commercial trade-offs.
• Influence pricing guardrails and risk mitigation strategies.

Performance Indicators

• Win rate for complex tenders.
• Consultant evaluation scores and client feedback during orals.
• Reduction of red flags in technical reviews.

Profile

1. Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of warehouse operations & layout design, process engineering, MTM / time study, and productivity modelling. Data analysis skills to support design decisions and process improvements. Solid grasp of SLAs & operational KPIs (OTIF, dock-to-stock, pick rates, order cycle), workforce planning, and safety & compliance in a 3PL environment. Hands-on with AutoCAD (or equivalent), simulation / digital twin tools (e.g., AnyLogic / FlexSim / …), and advanced Excel / BI (scenario & sensitivity modelling). Proven experience across WMS / WES / WCS and automation (AMR / ASRS / shuttle / pouch / sorter / conveyor).
2. Experience & Education: 8–12+ years in warehouse solution design / supply chain engineering, with lead ownership of large, automation-heavy tenders and designs (> €10m capex or equivalent complexity). Solid track record in competitive RFPs with consultant-led evaluations; confident presenting to C-suite and challenging expert audiences. Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field.
3. Commercial & Financial Acumen: End-to-end TCO thinking: capex / opex trade-offs, payback / NPV, cash-flow and ramp curves, and risk-priced options. Familiarity with contract structures (SLA penalties / bonuses), pricing guardrails, and phaseable solutioning.
4. Personal Qualities & Soft Skills: Leadership & Influence: Executive presence and clear, persuasive communication, able to “walk the room” in orals and design defences. Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Capable of developing data-driven warehouse strategies and optimizing logistics flows. Problem-Solving Mindset: Practical and hands-on approach to overcoming warehouse design and implementation challenges. Communication & Stakeholder Management: Strong ability to present warehouse concepts, layouts, and optimizations effectively to internal teams and customers. Global Mindset: Ability to work across international warehouse sites, ensuring cultural awareness and operational alignment.
5. Communication Skills: Fluent in English (written & verbal); Dutch is a plus.
6. Additional Requirements: A high interest in staying abreast of the latest technologies and innovations in the field of warehousing. Willingness to travel occasionally for supplier engagements and site visits.

What do we offer?

Cultural Fit: The 4 E’s of Bleckmann

• Entrepreneurship: Brings a proactive, opportunity-driven mindset. Able to spot and act on AI opportunities that create value for Bleckmann and its clients.
• Expertise: Demonstrates deep knowledge and credibility in AI, data, and transformation. Shares insights and builds confidence across teams.
• Energy: Operates with drive, resilience, and a hands-on attitude. Motivates others and maintains momentum even in complex or ambiguous situations.
• Engagement: Builds strong relationships across the organisation. Listens, connects, and collaborates with authenticity and purpose.