Head - IT Solution Design

Solution Design

Job Location: Chennai

About the Role – Job Purpose

Solution Design is accountable for defining, designing and operationalizing agreed solutions for business requirements across GSC IT Products (End-to-End).

The role translates business requirements into highly automated, standardized and scalable solutions by leveraging existing IT applications and ensuring alignment with operational, technical, legal and fiscal requirements.

The position plays a critical role in delivering flexible, cost-effective and globally standardized cross-product solutions while maintaining enterprise architecture standards, governance frameworks, security policies and strategic product roadmaps.

The role acts as a key bridge between Business Stakeholders, Product Managers, Architects, Development Teams and Operations Teams to ensure solutions are scalable, sustainable and cost-effective.

Key Differentiators

• Align and document changes required to existing IT solutions in collaboration with different Solution Design teams.

• Manage and guide a small, geographically distributed team of Business Analysts.

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of GSC business processes and operational requirements.

• Understand business-critical requirements and their impact on process execution.

• Balance IT system capabilities and constraints with business priorities and end-user requirements.

• Possess knowledge of global core applications.

• Demonstrate deep expertise in EDI integration.

• Review enhancement proposals and assess their business and technical impact.

• Work effectively with multicultural and geographically dispersed teams.

• Apply project management, analytical and communication skills.

• Drive change management initiatives and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Anticipate trends and develop innovative solutions.

• Design, manage and monitor complex projects.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global Solution Design & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end solution design for business initiatives and transformation programmes.

• Manage key DGF Operations-related solution design and processes across products.

• Analyse business requirements and translate them into solution architectures and technical designs.

• Define application, integration, data and process flow designs.

• Ensure solution scalability, maintainability, performance and reliability.

• Prepare High-Level Designs (HLDs) and Solution Design Documents (SDDs).

• Review and approve solution designs proposed by vendors and development teams.

2. Business Requirements & Solution Design

• Collaborate with Product Managers and Business Process Owners to understand business objectives.

• Challenge business requirements and identify optimal technology solutions.

• Ensure solutions support strategic business outcomes and operational efficiency.

• Participate in product roadmap planning and prioritization activities.

• Ensure compliance with:

  • Enterprise Architecture standards.

  • Security and Cybersecurity policies.

  • Data Privacy requirements.

  • Regulatory and Compliance obligations.

  • IT Service Management standards.

• Present solution designs to Architecture Review Boards (ARB), Change Advisory Boards (CABs) and governance forums.

• Manage technical risks and design exceptions.

3. Stakeholder Management

• Act as a trusted advisor to business and IT stakeholders.

• Influence stakeholders regarding policies, practices and procedures.

• Coordinate with third-party service providers and external vendors.

• Facilitate workshops to gather requirements and define future-state solutions.

• Align cross-functional teams around agreed solution directions.

• Support executive discussions by clearly articulating architecture decisions and trade-offs.

4. Management Responsibility

• Provide functional leadership and guidance to team members.

• Develop comprehensive training and development plans for direct reports.

• Build commitment, motivation and enthusiasm across the team.

• Coach, mentor and develop talent.

• Oversee team assignments and ensure effective delivery of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Skills Required

• Deep or expert knowledge of Freight Forwarding business and GSC business processes.

• Extensive experience in large-scale programme delivery and project portfolio management.

• Proven ability to translate complex business requirements into deployable solutions and processes.

• Experience in solution design and delivery of agile, configurable IT solutions.

• Strong IT technical skills and knowledge of IT project portfolio systems.

• Strong IT product innovation and product portfolio management experience.

• Experience in financial tracking and portfolio management.

• Strong management consultancy and analytical skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to influence, negotiate and manage internal and external stakeholders.

• Strong customer and business orientation with logistics market understanding.

• Strong decision-making, problem-solving and execution capabilities.

• Ability to work in global, multicultural and cross-functional environments.

• Adaptability and ability to manage ambiguity and organizational change.

• Knowledge of Agile delivery and project management methodologies such as DePICT, PRINCE2 or equivalent.

• Fluent in English, both verbal and written.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Logistics / Freight Forwarding, Business Administration or Information Technology.

Experience Required

• Minimum 10+ years of detailed Freight Forwarding business process knowledge and experience.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in complex project management or large-scale programme delivery.

What We Offer

An opportunity to work in a global environment, collaborate with international business and technology stakeholders, lead solution design initiatives and contribute to the digital transformation of DHL Global Forwarding's business operations.