Senior Operations Manager (Automated FC)

Picnic; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An advanced automated grocery fulfilment company in Utrecht seeks a Senior Operations Manager to oversee multiple teams and ensure operational efficiency in a high-volume environment. You will lead initiatives for safety, quality, and continuous improvement while collaborating with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of leadership experience in automated environments and strong analytical skills. Fluency in English and Dutch is required for this pivotal role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years leadership experience in warehouse or automated operations.
• Hands-on experience in automated fulfilment environments.
• Strong analytical skills, comfortable with data analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple teams across shifts to deliver on safety, quality, productivity.
• Take responsibility for performance and KPI roadmap of the value stream.
• Analyze workflows, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Operational excellence

Collaboration

Lean management

Education

University degree in Supply Chain or Engineering

Tools

Tableau

Excel

Job description

At Picnic, we run some of Europe’s most advanced automated grocery fulfilment centres, combining robotics, smart software, and a people-first culture. In this role as Senior Operations Manager (Automated FC), you own a key part of the operation, leading multiple teams across shifts to deliver on safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement. You work closely with the Site Manager and other Operations managers to turn site goals into daily action, develop strong operational leaders, and help build a high-performing, scalable operation.

Our site in Utrecht operates at high volume with a team of 500-1000 colleagues, giving you the opportunity to lead in a complex, automated fulfilment environment.

What you’ll do

• End-to-End Ownership: Take full responsibility for the long-term performance and KPI roadmap of your value stream, defining strategy and driving structural improvements in safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Hands-on Leadership: Lead the value stream day to day, coaching supervisors to effectively lead their captain teams, strengthening indirect leadership while ensuring performance targets are met.
• Data-Driven Process Optimization: Analyze workflows, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements that increase efficiency, flow, and reliability.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead daily Kaizen and improvement initiatives, embedding a culture of operational excellence and accountability.
• Operational Standards and Execution: Maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment, applying 5S principles and reinforcing consistent standards across your teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with maintenance, engineering, planning, analysts, and last-mile teams to ensure seamless end-to-end operations.

What you bring

• University degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years leadership experience, preferably in warehouse or automated operations
• Hands-on experience in automated or semi-automated fulfilment environments
• Lean and continuous improvement experience in complex operations
• Comfortable managing high-volume, high-SKU workflows
• Proven ability to lead teams of leaders and drive results
• Strong analytical skills, with a high level of competence in data analysis tools such as Tableau and Excel
• Willingness to occasionally step into operational shifts to stay close to the operation and support the team
• Fluency in English and Dutch