Operations Lead

People For People; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 37,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

MacBook for professional use

Hot lunches and barista coffee

Office-based role in Amsterdam

Job summary

People for People is seeking an Operations Lead to manage warehouse operations, supply chain, and project logistics in the Netherlands and internationally. You will build lean processes, manage volunteers, and work closely with leadership to shape strategic roadmaps while delivering rapid, decisive crisis relief.

The role blends hands-on execution with strategic oversight within a fast-moving NGO, offering meaningful impact and opportunities to scale operations across multiple campaigns and

Qualifications

• Fluent in English with professional working proficiency in Dutch.
• Strong operations, warehouse and supply chain management background.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating volunteers in fast-paced environments.
• Proven ability to implement processes and SOPs.
• Data-driven mindset with capacity planning and cost awareness.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day warehouse operations in Amsterdam.
• Lead floor management and guide volunteers to ensure safe, motivated workflows.
• Coordinate inbound and outbound shipments and liaise with partners.
• Develop and refine SOPs; manage inventory and data tracking.
• Lead from the front in crisis relief and ensure timely communications.

Skills

English

Dutch (professional proficiency)

Operational leadership

Project management

People leadership

Tools

Trello

Excel

Job description

About People for People

People for People Foundation connects the business community to targeted humanitarian aid. We translate collective engagement into rapid, concrete action to restore lives in times of crisis. Founded by the founders of bunq, Picnic and Bird, we combine the power of the private sector to provide fast and targeted support to people affected by crises.

Whether it is arranging emergency transport for essential aid supplies within 48 hours or launching a nationwide campaign for thousands of children in crisis-affected areas: we believe in doing, learning and creating direct impact. No slow bureaucracy, but the speed of a tech scale-up.

Your role

As Operations Lead, you are responsible for overseeing operations, including supply chain management, warehouse management, volunteer management, emergency response efforts, and project logistics in the Netherlands and internationally. You ensure efficient workflows, seamless coordination, and effective execution across all areas of responsibility.

Because People for People is an agile crisis response organization, you will combine building smart processes (SOPs, data, and inventory management) with hands-on management during projects. You will work closely with the team, the volunteers, and external (logistic) partners to ensure relief goods arrive where they are needed most, fast and organized.

Strategic leadership & management team: As a core member of the Management Team (MT), you won't just manage daily execution, you will actively co‑steer the strategy, future, and overall direction of People for People. In our lean and fast‑moving organization, your voice carries real weight. You will work directly alongside the core leadership team to shape our strategic roadmap, scale our impact, and build the future of the foundation, making this a uniquely high‑impact opportunity for someone eager to drive both high‑level vision and hands‑on crisis relief.

Your responsibilities

Warehouse & Supply Chain Management (Inbound & Outbound)

• Daily Operations:Ownership of the day‑to‑day running of our warehouse in Amsterdam.

• Floor management:Operationally guiding volunteers and teams on the floor, providing clear instructions, and ensuring a safe, motivated, and pleasant working environment.

• Capacity planning:Collaborating with the volunteer coordinator to guarantee optimal staffing for every initiative.

• Inventory management:Accurate registration of goods, managing product categories, and monitoring stock levels.

• Inbound & outbound:Managing and streamlining incoming donations and outgoing shipments.

• Process optimization (SOPs):Developing and refining flexible processes, guidelines, and instructions for both daily operations and acute emergency relief.

• Events & packing days:Organizing and managing high‑volume packing and sorting and People for People days

• Volunteer onboarding and management: Working closely with the volunteer coordinator, ensuring high‑quality onboarding and management of volunteers including tracking of hours worked, communications via WhatsApp/Signal volunteer group, and follow‑up post‑events with volunteers.

• Open communication:Ensure timely, open, and clear communication with the warehouse team, other departments, and relevant stakeholders.

Transport & distribution (National & International)

• Logistical alignment:Maintaining contact with transport and logistics partners, as well as requesting and comparing quotes.

• Shipment documentation:Ensuring proper documentation (including customs paperwork where applicable).

• Dispatch day coordination:Overseeing truck loading and coordinating directly with drivers and external partners.

IT, data, facilities & administration (Practical operations)

• Impact & data:Maintaining quantitative supply chain data to analyze bottlenecks, optimize logistics, and make our impact transparent.

• Fleet management:Managing our company van (including scheduling, maintenance, and MOT inspections).

• Facilities & IT:Managing workstations, overseeing IT and digital security support, issuing hardware/laptops for the team and beneficiaries, and coordinating with building management (Picnic).

• Financial & operational administration: Overseeing day‑to‑day operational administration, including processing receipts and expense claims, managing volunteer allowances, and actively monitoring expenditures against the operational budget.

What you bring

• Language skills: Fluent in English, with professional working proficiency in Dutch (comfortable communicating with Dutch warehouse partners, drivers, and local stakeholders).

• Driving ability: Valid driver's license and comfortable driving a manual transmission van.

• Experience: 7–10+ years of proven operational experience with a strong track record in operations, warehouse and supply chain management, and/or logistics.

• Sector background: Prior experience in an NGO or humanitarian aid organization is a strong plus.

• Technical proficiency: Skilled in project management tools (e.g., Trello) and software (e.g., Excel).

The ideal candidate

• Highly organized & process‑oriented: You naturally bring clarity and structure to complex logistical environments. You know how to build lean, flexible SOPs that empower action without creating bureaucracy.

• Hands‑on & practical: You lead from the front. Whether orchestrating truck dispatches or jumping on the warehouse floor during peak operations, you thrive in execution and get things done.

• Calm under pressure: In acute crisis relief, situations evolve rapidly. You stay grounded, make fast and sound operational decisions, and keep the team focused and steady amid ambiguity.

• Strong people leader: An inspiring, approachable leader who excels at motivating diverse groups, from corporate volunteers and warehouse staff to international drivers and community partners.

• Entrepreneurial & proactive: You possess an open mindset. You don't wait for instructions; you identify bottlenecks early, create pragmatic workarounds, and drive continuous improvement.

• Strategic thinker: While your boots are on the ground, your mind is on the horizon. As an MT member, you can zoom out to evaluate long‑term capacity, optimize cost structures, and co‑shape P4P’s strategic roadmap.

• Data‑driven & resourceful: You leverage operational data and inventory metrics to maximize efficiency, eliminate waste, and stretch every humanitarian resource further.

What we offer

• Salary & contract: An employment contract for 32–40 hours per week with an NGO‑aligned salary (€3,300 – €4,500 gross/month based on full‑time employment) + 8% holiday allowance.

• Holidays & time Off:25 vacation days per year (based on full‑time employment) plus 1 extra day off to celebrate your birthday. We also offerflexible public holidays, if you prefer to work on traditional holidays (like Easter), you can swap them for another day of your choice.

• Personal coaching and training:Coaching and training opportunities provided by People for People and our network to take your operational and leadership skills to the next level.

• Growth & development:Plenty of room for initiative and shaping your own role within a fast‑moving organization.

• Perks & facilities:A MacBook for professional use, alongside hot lunches and barista coffee at the office.

• Work environment:An inspiring base at our warehouse in Amsterdam, combined with the P4P office, alongside a driven, entrepreneurial, and close‑knit team.

• Direct impact:Work that truly matters, your tight logistics translate directly into faster relief for people in crisis zones.

Interested?

If this sounds like the right fit for you, we’d love to hear from you! If there is a potential match, we will start with a short introductory call, followed by an interview to discuss how your experience aligns with the role and our mission.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At People for People, we celebrate diversity and consciously build an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected and at home. We believe that a diverse team leads to better ideas and greater impact. Regardless of your background, origin, faith, gender, sexual orientation or age: your unique talent is welcome here.