Continuous Improvement and Value Stream Operations Manager (Automated Site)

Picnic; Ridderkerk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car lease

25 vacation days

Laptop & smartphone

Healthy meals at site

Doenpensioen pension

Job summary

Picnic is seeking a Continuous Improvement and Value Stream Operations Manager for its Netherlands sites, including Dordrecht and Ridderkerk. You will own the long-term performance of your value stream, driving safety, quality, productivity and continuous improvement across shifts.

You will lead teams through daily operations, coaching supervisors, and collaborating with maintenance, engineering, planning, analysts and last-mile teams to ensure seamless end-to-end execution in a high-volume,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years leadership experience in warehouse or automated operations.
• Hands-on experience in automated or semi-automated fulfilment environments.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Ownership: define strategy and KPI roadmap for your value stream.
• Hands-on leadership: coach supervisors and lead captain teams.
• Data-Driven Process Optimization: analyze workflows and remove bottlenecks.
• Continuous Improvement: lead Kaizen and improvement initiatives.
• Operational Standards and Execution: maintain 5S and standardized practices.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: work with maintenance, engineering, planning, analysts and last-mile teams.

Skills

Leadership

Lean & CI

Data analysis

Team coaching

English & Dutch

Education

University degree in Supply Chain/Engineering

Tools

Tableau

Excel

Job description

At Picnic, we run some of Europe's most advanced automated grocery fulfilment centres, combining robotics, smart software, and a people-first culture. As a Continuous Improvement and Value Stream Operations Manager, you own a key part of the operation, leading multiple teams across shifts to deliver on safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement. You work closely with the Site Manager and other Operations managers to turn site goals into daily action, develop strong operational leaders, and help build a high-performing, scalable operation.

Our site in Dordrecht operates at high volume with a team of around 500 colleagues, giving you the opportunity to lead in a complex, automated fulfilment environment.

What you'll do

End-to-End Ownership: Take full responsibility for the long-term performance and KPI roadmap of your value stream, defining strategy and driving structural improvements in safety, quality, and efficiency.

Hands-on Leadership: Lead the value stream day to day, coaching supervisors to effectively lead their captain teams, strengthening indirect leadership while ensuring performance targets are met.

Data-Driven Process Optimization: Analyze workflows, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements that increase efficiency, flow, and reliability.

Continuous Improvement: Lead daily Kaizen and improvement initiatives, embedding a culture of operational excellence and accountability.

Operational Standards and Execution: Maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment, applying 5S principles and reinforcing consistent standards across your teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with maintenance, engineering, planning, analysts, and last-mile teams to ensure seamless end-to-end operations.

What you bring

• University degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years leadership experience, preferably in warehouse or automated operations
• Hands-on experience in automated or semi-automated fulfilment environments
• Lean and continuous improvement experience in complex operations
• Comfortable managing high-volume, high-SKU workflows
• Proven ability to lead teams of leaders and drive results
• Strong analytical skills, with a high level of competence in data analysis tools such as Tableau and Excel
• Willingness to occasionally step into operational shifts to stay close to the operation and support the team
• Fluency in English and Dutch
• Location flexibility across Picnic's automated sites in the Netherlands, including Utrecht, Dordrecht and Ridderkerk

Picnic perks

• Competitive compensation package, including 25 vacation days per year
• Option to lease a car
• Freshly prepared, healthy breakfast, lunches (and dinner at the FC), as well as snacks and drinks available at all Picnic locations
• Flexible company pension plan called "Doenpensioen" at a.s.r.
• Picnic laptop and smartphone
• Scale-up atmosphere with the freedom to drive your own projects and the opportunity to have an impact
• Chance to work in an international environment with motivated team members and company events
• Internal learning and development possibilities, as well as professional soft skill and leadership trainings