Maintenance Operations and Continuous Improvement Manager (Automated Site)

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

Benefits offered by this job

25 vacation days per year

Car lease option

Laptop and smartphone

Pension plan Doenpensioen

Healthy meals at sites

Job summary

Picnic seeks a Maintenance Operations and Continuous Improvement Manager for its Automated Site to own long-term strategy and continuous improvement of material handling equipment. You will translate site goals into scalable roadmaps, collaborate with Site Manager, engineering teams, and operational leaders to optimize automated workflows and drive operational excellence.

You will lead the maintenance value stream, coach engineers and supervisors, and ensure equipment availability targets are

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related technical field.
• 3+ years in maintenance, operations strategy, continuous improvement, or process engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead Maintenance value stream day-to-day and coach teams to meet equipment availability targets.
• Define and execute long-term performance roadmap for safety, quality, throughput and efficiency.
• Drive site-wide Kaizen initiatives and root-cause analyses to improve processes.
• Analyze workflows to remove bottlenecks and improve system reliability with cross-functional teams.
• Bridge maintenance, suppliers, planning, analysts and operations for end-to-end flow.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Kaizen

Data analysis

Leadership

Automation interest

Education

Master's in Supply Chain or Engineering

MSc or equivalent

Tools

Tableau

Excel

SQL

Job description

Maintenance Operations and Continuous Improvement Manager (Automated Site)

At Picnic, we run some of Europe’s most advanced automated grocery fulfilment centres, combining robotics, smart software, and a people-first culture. As Continuous Improvement and Operations Manager in our Maintenance Value Stream, you own the long-term strategic direction and continuous improvement of all material handling equipment on site. Working closely with the Site Manager, cross-functional engineering teams, and operational leaders, you translate high-level site goals into scalable improvement roadmaps, optimizing automated workflows while fostering operational excellence.

What you’ll do

Hands-on leadership: Lead the Maintenance value stream day-by-day, coaching Maintenance Engineers and Supervisors to effectively lead their teams and ensuring equipment availability targets are met with indirect leadership.

Strategic Value Stream Ownership: Define and execute the long-term performance roadmap, taking full ownership of structural strategy and high-level KPIs across safety, quality, throughput, and operational efficiency.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence: Lead site-wide Kaizen initiatives, Lean methodologies, and root-cause analyses to drive structural process enhancements and embed a culture of continuous improvement. Data-Driven Process &

Automation Optimization: Analyze complex operational and maintenance workflows using data to eliminate bottlenecks, boost system reliability, and improve equipment availability alongside technical teams.

Cross-Functional Strategic Alignment: Act as the strategic bridge between maintenance, our suppliers, planning, analysts, and operations to ensure seamless, end-to-end operational flow.

Operational Standards & Governance: Oversee site-wide adherence to safety standards, 5S principles, and operational best practices without getting bogged down in daily engineering management.

What you bring

Master’s degree (MSc) in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related technical field.

3+ years of experience focused on maintenance, operational strategy, continuous improvement, or process engineering.

Strong interest in, or exposure to, automation, robotics, and facility maintenance systems.

Proven track record in applying Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen frameworks in high-volume, automated environments.

High analytical proficiency, with strong capability in data analysis tools (e.g., Tableau, Excel, SQL).

Strategic mindset with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive high-level initiatives.

Fluency in English (Dutch is a strong plus).

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

We have Fulfilment Centres across The Netherlands in the following locations: Utrecht, Ridderkerk, Berkel en Rodenrijs, Dordrecht, Eindhoven, Zwolle, Heerenveen, Geldermalsen

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

• CV screening
• Online test
• Phone screening
• Interviews
• Closing interview
• Offer

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!