Company: Kuehne+Nagel
Role: Supply Chain Development Manager
“My role is an exciting one, in which I get the opportunity to work alongside some of the largest retailers in the UK, and support them with ways to improve their International supply chains.”
Lee’s focus is on understanding those retailers’ needs, then looking into the data, working with internal and external stakeholders, and project managing, before presenting solutions and tracking the benefits. His role demands a variety of skills, including consultative selling, problem solving, data analysis and visualisation, as well as both account and project management.
Lee worked his way up to his current role from trainee planner, and he values analysis, problem solving, logical thinking and a drive to deliver as his strongest professional assets.
When the job came up internally, Lee was quick to jump on an opportunity to learn and develop within the Sea Logistics International Supply Chain team. His main attraction to the role was the support he could give customers with their goals and targets, helping to solve problems that are causing them to lose sleep at night.
“I left college with not great A-levels and went straight into manual labour. I ended up working on a land based drilling rig. Working in this environment taught me a level of resilience, and problem solving – even though it wasn’t through data – was still massively present. On the rig with limited resources it amazed me that if something broke down, certain members of the team could fix it to ensure the job continued – through their experience and knowledge.”
It wasn’t until working in the office on that rig that Lee learned what logistics was. The logistics lead took him under their wing to show him how things worked operationally, and the rest is history.
Growing up in a rural community, Lee was always searching for opportunities to discover and learn new things. He’s forever grateful for the doors logistics has opened for him, and the ones still up ahead.
“Every day is so different, and I get to work with amazing colleagues, and customers who provide challenges for us to solve collaboratively.”
Following a product’s life cycle, and its journey from an order being placed, to that product being produced on the other side of the world, shipped, and then transported to the warehouse, is something Lee is fascinated by: “How we can influence the end customer experience by changing something 5,992+ miles away is incredible.”
Lee was part of the Regional Talent Programme at Kuehne + Nagel, and was one of 100 colleagues across Europe identified for their high performance.
“This was something I never thought I would get to take part in as I have never seen myself as a high performer. I just love the world of logistics!”