Regional Material Flow Expert (all genders)

Beiersdorf; Hamburg; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Beiersdorf in Hamburg seeks an experienced logistics professional to analyze and redesign internal material flows across receiving, storage, line supply, and dispatch. You will drive value stream mapping, identify bottlenecks, and lead Kaizen activities to implement optimized solutions across European sites.

Responsibilities include designing future-state layouts, defining Kanban and JIT/JIS concepts, sizing automation, and building robust business cases with operators and local teams.

Qualifications

• University degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain/Logistics or equivalent field.
• Several years of relevant professional experience, ideally in plant logistics and material flow in automotive/manufacturing environments.
• Strong expertise in material flow, logistics process design, capacity and inventory planning, Lean principles and factory flow optimization.
• Experience in leading cross-functional initiatives and driving improvements from analysis through implementation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a hands-on, pragmatic working style.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to influence across functions and levels.
• Fluent English; German is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel regularly across European manufacturing sites and work on-site for extended periods when required.

Responsibilities

• Analyze end-to-end internal material flows from receiving and storage through line supply to FG staging and dispatch, with strong shopfloor presence.
• Build fact-based current-state analyses using Value Stream Mapping, spaghetti diagrams, time-and-motion studies, route/distance analysis, throughput, capacity, inventory, space and handling data.
• Identify bottlenecks, non-value-added movements, excess handling, waiting, inventory, space constraints, ergonomic issues and safety risks; prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Design future-state logistics processes and layouts, including receiving, storage, supermarkets, replenishment, line feeding, internal transport, and FG flows.
• Define and optimize replenishment concepts and material-flow parameters such as Kanban, milk-run routes, line-side presentation, buffers and JIT/JIS principles where applicable.
• Assess and size material-handling and automation solutions (e.g., forklifts, tuggers, conveyors, AGV) based on demand, capacity, safety, flexibility and cost.
• Lead cross-functional shopfloor workshops, Kaizen activities, pilots and implementation work; test, stabilize and standardize solutions with operators and local teams.
• Quantify benefits and trade-offs through productivity, inventory, space, CAPEX, payback analyses; support robust business cases and implementation decisions.
• Define relevant KPIs, track realized improvements, document standards and prepare concise management presentations explaining findings, recommendations, risks and progress.
• Identify transferable solutions and synergies across factories; share standards and lessons learned within the network and with Global Factory Logistics.
• Compliance with health, safety, fire-protection and site procedures, ensuring safe material handling and traffic management.
• Protection of environment and natural resources through efficient use of materials, utilities, handling equipment and space, and waste reduction/segregation.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Leadership

Travel willingness

Fluent English

German knowledge

Education

University degree in Industrial Engineering or comparable field

Job description

• Analyze end-to-end internal material flows from receiving and storage through line supply to FG staging and dispatch, with strong shopfloor presence.
• Build fact-based current-state analyses using Value Stream Mapping, spaghetti diagrams, time-and-motion studies, route/distance analysis, throughput, capacity, inventory, space and handling data.
• Identify bottlenecks, non-value-added movements, excess handling, waiting, inventory, space constraints, ergonomic issues and safety risks; prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Design future-state logistics processes and layouts, including receiving, storage, supermarkets, replenishment, line feeding, internal transport, and FG flows.
• Define and optimize replenishment concepts and material-flow parameters such as Kanban, milk-run routes, line-side presentation, buffers and JIT/JIS principles where applicable.
• Assess and size material-handling and automation solutions (e.g., forklifts, tuggers, conveyors, AGV) based on demand, capacity, safety, flexibility and cost.
• Lead cross-functional shopfloor workshops, Kaizen activities, pilots and implementation work; test, stabilize and standardize solutions together with operators and local teams.
• Quantify benefits and trade-offs through productivity, inventory, space, CAPEX, payback analyses; support robust business cases and implementation decisions.
• Define relevant KPIs, track realized improvements, document standards and prepare concise management presentations explaining findings, recommendations, risks and progress.
• Identify transferable solutions and synergies across factories; share standards and lessons learned within the network and with Global Factory Logistics.
• Compliance with health, safety, fire-protection and site procedures, and for ensuring that logistics concepts are designed with safe material handling and traffic management in mind.
• Protection of the environment and natural resources through efficient use of materials, utilities, handling equipment and space, and through waste reduction and proper segregation.

Your Tasks

• Analyze end-to-end internal material flows from receiving and storage through line supply to FG staging and dispatch, with strong shopfloor presence.
• Build fact-based current-state analyses using Value Stream Mapping, spaghetti diagrams, time-and-motion studies, route/distance analysis, throughput, capacity, inventory, space and handling data.
• Identify bottlenecks, non-value-added movements, excess handling, waiting, inventory, space constraints, ergonomic issues and safety risks; prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Design future-state logistics processes and layouts, including receiving, storage, supermarkets, replenishment, line feeding, internal transport, and FG flows.
• Define and optimize replenishment concepts and material‑flow parameters such as Kanban, milk‑run routes, line‑side presentation, buffers and JIT/JIS principles where applicable.
• Assess and size material‑handling and automation solutions (e.g., forklifts, tuggers, conveyors, AGV) based on demand, capacity, safety, flexibility and cost.
• Lead cross‑functional shopfloor workshops, Kaizen activities, pilots and implementation work; test, stabilize and standardize solutions together with operators and local teams.
• Quantify benefits and trade‑offs through productivity, inventory, space, CAPEX, payback analyses; support robust business cases and implementation decisions.
• Define relevant KPIs, track realized improvements, document standards and prepare concise management presentations explaining findings, recommendations, risks and progress.
• Identify transferable solutions and synergies across factories; share standards and lessons learned within the network and with Global Factory Logistics.
• Compliance with health, safety, fire‑protection and site procedures, and for ensuring that logistics concepts are designed with safe material handling and traffic management in mind.
• Protection of the environment and natural resources through efficient use of materials, utilities, handling equipment and space, and through waste reduction and proper segregation.

Your Profile

• University degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain/LogisticsProduction/Manufacturing Engineering or a comparable field.
• Several years of relevant professional experience, ideally including hands‑on experience in plant logistics and material flow within an automotive or manufacturing environment.
• Strong expertise in material flow, logistics process design, capacity and inventory planning, Lean principles and factory flow optimization.
• Experience in leading cross‑functional initiatives and driving improvements from analysis through implementation.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills combined with a hands‑on, pragmatic working style.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence across functions and organizational levels.
• Fluent English; German is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel regularly across European manufacturing sites and work on‑site for extended periods when required.

At Beiersdorf, we want to help people feel good about their skin – and our commitment goes far beyond caring for skin. For 140 years, we have developed innovative skin and body care products for well‑known brands such as NIVEA, Eucerin, La Prairie, Hansaplast, and Labello. We act according to our purpose, WE CARE BEYOND SKIN, and take responsibility for our consumers, our employees, the environment and society.

Behind every brand, every product and every accomplishment are our more than 20,000 employees. It is for them that we live an inclusive culture of respect and trust that is strongly aligned with our values – CARE, COURAGE, SIMPLICITY and TRUST. We also embrace diversity by valuing the uniqueness of each individual and being committed to equal opportunities for all.

Drive hands‑on analysis, design and implementation of optimized material flows and intralogistics processes across European manufacturing sites. The role identifies and realizes improvements in throughput, inventory, space utilization, logistics productivity, cost, safety and operational robustness, working directly with shopfloor teams and PC functions. It also connects site execution with the European Manufacturing network and Global Factory Logistics, translating detailed operational work into clear recommendations, business cases and management presentations.