Head of Cluster - Supply Chain Operations

TT Exchange Rates; Breda; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SVZ is seeking an accomplished Head of Cluster – Supply Chain Operations to oversee three production sites in Spain, Poland and Belgium, with ~250 staff and peak season expansion. The role sits in Breda within the Döhler-SVZ matrix and reports to senior leadership, driving manufacturing, quality, maintenance and logistics excellence.

You will lead cross-functional teams, optimize capacity and costs, champion digitalization initiatives, and partner with planning & procurement to sustain service

Qualifications

• Senior operations or multi-site leadership experience in an international setting.
• Strong understanding of operational supply chain dynamics in process industries.
• Experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP.

Responsibilities

• Own full operational responsibility for three production sites (Spain, Poland, Belgium).
• Lead Heads of Plant and management teams to drive performance and improvement.
• Drive manufacturing, quality, maintenance, safety and logistics excellence.
• Align planning and procurement to ensure service and inventory transparency.
• Lead harmonization, digitalization, and automation across the cluster.
• Steer capital investments aligned with growth ambitions.
• Partner with SVZ and Döhler Group matrix organization on strategy.

Skills

Operations leadership

Multi-site leadership

Cross-cultural leadership

Strategic thinking

Execution

Education

Master's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management or related field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Head of Cluster - Supply Chain Operations

Job Title: Head of Cluster - Supply Chain Operations

Posting Start Date: 2/26/26

Your Future in the World of Fruit & Vegetables

SVZ supplies the world’s leading food and beverage manufacturers with high-quality, sustainable fruit and vegetable ingredients. With production sites across Europe and close partnerships with growers, we combine decades of expertise in natural ingredients with an unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability. Our people are passionate about turning nature’s best into ingredients that inspire healthy and delicious products enjoyed by millions of consumers worldwide.

Let us be part of your future.

Head of Cluster - Supply Chain Operations

International | Leadership | Manufacturing & Operational Excellence

What the role is about

As Head of Cluster – Supply Chain Operations, you hold full operational responsibility for three production sites in Spain, Poland and Belgium (±250 permanent employees across the cluster, scaling to 650+ in peak season).

Operating at international cluster level, you are a key member of the SVZ Management Team in Breda. You report to senior SVZ leadership, with a dotted-line into the Döhler matrix organization.

You lead manufacturing, quality, maintenance and logistics across the cluster, driving operational excellence, service performance and cost competitiveness. In close collaboration with Cluster and Regional Demand & Supply Planning as well as Procurement, you contribute to continuous supply chain improvement and actively support digitalization and process harmonization initiatives across the region.

Combining strategic oversight with strong people leadership, this role requires a leader who understands our business and supply chain volatility, engages and mobilizes teams, and drives sustainable performance through clear direction and strong execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Full operational responsibility for the SVZ cluster (Spain, Poland, Belgium).
• Leadership and development of the Heads of Plant and their management teams, building a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Driving performance across production, maintenance, quality, safety and logistics.
• Ensuring strong alignment with Planning and Procurement to secure service performance and inventory transparency.
• Optimizing capacity, yield, service levels and overall cost competitiveness.
• Leading harmonization, digitalization and automation initiatives across the cluster.
• Steering capital investments in line with growth ambitions.
• Acting as a strategic operations partner within SVZ and the Döhler Group matrix organization.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a senior, internationally experienced operations leader with strong manufacturing depth. You are comfortable in complex, multi-site and matrix environments and combine strategic thinking with pragmatic execution.

You balance short-term operational performance with strategic development and know how to build structure, discipline and transparency without losing agility.

Your profile

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management or related field.
• Proven experience in senior operations or multi-site leadership roles in an international environment.
• Strong understanding of operational supply chain dynamics within process, food or beverage industries (seasonal/agricultural supply chains are a plus).
• Strong track record in operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Experience within matrix organizations and strong cross-cultural leadership capabilities.
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAP).
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are an advantage.

What we offer

• A highly strategic executive position within an international and growing organization.
• Direct impact on operational performance and strategic investment decisions.
• A culture that values ownership, sustainability and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Close collaboration with the SVZ Management Team in Breda and colleagues across Europe.
• A dynamic international environment where your leadership makes a visible difference.