Distribution Centre Lead

picnic.app; Geldermalsen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 vacation days per year

Car lease option

Healthy meals and snacks at Picnic

Doenpensioen pension plan

Picnic laptop and smartphone

Scale-up atmosphere with project drive

International team and events

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Picnic is seeking a DC Lead to build a high-performance, customer-first culture and drive site performance across safety, quality, and cost. You will coach leaders, develop teams, and own KPIs while aligning with Lean principles to ensure reliable results and optimized operations.

You will lead multi-shift teams in a fast-paced environment, collaborating with HR and external partners, and promoting continuous improvement across the Distribution Center network in the Netherlands.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant field is required.
• 6+ years operations experience, including large multi-shift teams.
• 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.
• Fluent in English and Dutch.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site performance on safety, quality, cost, and KPIs weekly, periodically, and annually.
• Develop a high-performing culture by coaching and enabling your team.
• Develop leaders by guiding Operations Managers and Supervisors.
• Drive metrics such as retention, perfect deliveries, delivery capacity, UPH, and cost.
• Manage critical incidents, escalations, and planning for continuity.
• Serve as the primary HR and external affairs contact for complex cases and external stakeholders.

Skills

6+ years ops experience

Leadership & coaching

Lean & CI

KPI delivery

Problem solving

English proficiency

Dutch proficiency

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant field

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

• 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

A bit about us

When you join Picnic, you’re joining the shopping revolution, delivering groceries to millions of people across Europe, and we’re growing fast. Think super fresh products and personal service but in a modern, sustainable way. The people in Supply Chain make it all work - from designing strategies and implementing improvements to ensuring smooth and safe daily operations. 18000 colleagues, hundreds of thousands of daily orders, and millions of loyal Picnic fans, ready to join the ride?

Recruitment Process

1. CV screening
2. Online test
3. Phone screening
4. Interviews
5. Assessment day
6. Closing interviewOffer

Commitment to equal opportunities

Picnic is an equal opportunity employer—this means that all decisions regarding applications will be based on qualifications and merit. Applicants will be regarded independently of age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, skin color, civil status, religious beliefs, physical or mental disability, or any other factors protected by law.
At Picnic, we celebrate and value our differences and are committed to building a safe and inclusive working environment where everyone can be themselves.

Our Mentality

At Picnic, we build from scratch with an owner’s mindset. We dive into the unknown, taking end-to-end responsibility for every outcome, going the extra mile to tackle complex challenges. We turn insights into action, working as a team to get things done. We move fast, never compromising on quality or long-term impact. With grit and commitment we build what has never been built before!