Distribution Centre Lead

Picnic Technologies; Geldermalsen; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation days

Car lease

Laptop & smartphone

Doenpensioen

Career development

International environment

Company events

Soft skills trainings

Job summary

Picnic Technologies is seeking a DC Lead to build a high-performance, customer-first culture across its Dutch sites. You will own site performance and lead Lean initiatives, coaching Operations Managers and Supervisors to raise safety, quality, and cost metrics.

You will foster a collaborative, accountable work environment, drive leadership development, and coordinate with HR and external stakeholders to handle complex cases while ensuring seamless, reliable operations across multiple

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in relevant field.
• 6+ years operations experience, including large multi-shift teams.
• Experience in fast-paced environments.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and build high-performing teams.
• Experience driving Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proven ability to deliver results through KPIs and operational standards.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, managing critical incidents.
• Fluent in English and Dutch.
• Location flexible across multiple sites in the Netherlands.

Responsibilities

• Lead site performance on a weekly, period, and annual basis, meeting safety, quality, and operational KPIs.
• Build a high-performance people culture where teams are supported, motivated, and accountable.
• Develop leaders by guiding and coaching Operations Managers and Supervisors.
• Drive key metrics such as retention, delivery capacity, UPH, cost, and standards.
• Manage critical incidents, escalations, and planning for continuity.
• Lead HR and external affairs as the primary contact for complex HR cases and external stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Team coaching

Operations mgmt

Lean & CI

KPI management

Bilingual EN/NL

Education

Bachelor/Master degree

Job description

As DC Lead, your mission is to build a high-performance, customer-first culture by enabling your team and creating a great place to work. You own site performance across safety, quality, and cost, with an driving excellence through 6S standards and Lean programs. By prioritizing leadership coaching and internal team development you deliver sustainable, reliable results that consistently exceed customer expectations.

Tricks of the trade

• Lead the site: Take responsibility for site performance on a weekly, period, and annual basis, meeting safety, quality, and operational KPIs.
• Build people culture: Create a high-performance environment where teams are supported, motivated, and accountable.
• Develop leaders: Guide and coach Operations Managers and Supervisors to strengthen leadership quality across the site.
• Drive key metrics: Deliver results on retention, perfect deliveries, delivery capacity, UPH, cost, and operational standards.
• Manage incidents and planning: Handle critical incidents, manage escalations, and ensure smooth operational planning and continuity.
• Lead HR and external affairs: Primary contact for the DC People Partner with direct accountability for complex HR cases; work with external stakeholders and authorities as required.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in relevant field
• 6+ years operations experience, including large multi-shift teams
• Familiar with fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and build high-performing teams
• Experience driving Lean and continuous improvement initiatives
• Proven ability to deliver results through KPIs and operational standards
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, managing critical incidents
• Fluent in English and Dutch
• Location Flexible: We have sites throughout the Netherlands in the following locations; Utrecht, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Heerenveen, Zwolle, Nijmegen, and Geldermalsen. During your application we will consider together which site makes most sense for you to begin your journey at Picnic. We are a fast-paced, growing company and due to this we require location flexibility from our Operations team.

Picnic perks

You'll receive a competitive compensation package, including:

• 25 vacation days per year to recharge your batteries
• The option to lease a car
• You'll get freshly prepared, healthy breakfast, lunches (and dinner at the FC) as well as delicious snacks and drinks available at all Picnic locations
• A flexible company pension plan called "Doenpensioen" at a.s.r.
• Picnic laptop and smartphone
• An awesome scale-up atmosphere with the freedom to drive your own projects and the opportunity to have an impact!
• The chance to work in an international environment with motivated team members & legendary company events
• Many internal learning and development possibilities as well as professional soft skill & leadership trainings at a specialized external party