Fulfilment Site Lead (Automated FC)

Picnic Technologies; Dordrecht; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology-driven grocery retailer in Dordrecht is seeking an experienced Site Lead to manage an automated warehouse. You will oversee a diverse team of 500-1,000 colleagues, focusing on operational excellence and continuous improvement through Lean principles. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in operations, including leadership of large teams in fast-paced environments. This full-time role offers an opportunity to drive significant impact in a leading firm in the retail industry.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in operations, including 3-5 years leading large, multi-shift teams of 300+ FTEs.
• Hands-on leadership experience in high-volume, automated fulfillment or production environments.
• Proven hands-on leader with the ability to build trust and inspire confidence.
• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Fluent in Dutch and English in a busy warehouse environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team of supervisors and operations managers.
• Drive a culture of execution and ownership in operations.
• Collaborate with last-mile teams and central operations for performance.
• Foster ownership, accountability, and strong teamwork.
• Apply lean principles and data insights to implement improvements.
• Collaborate with last‑mile, central ops, and international teams to ensure end‑to‑end performance.
• Be a visible, approachable leader on the floor.

Skills

Leadership

Operations Management

Data-Driven Decision Making

Lean Principles

Problem Solving

Bilingual: Dutch and English

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in logistics, engineering, business or related field

Job description

At Picnic, we’re transforming the way people buy groceries, combining advanced automation with a people‑first approach. To strengthen our fulfilment operations, we’re looking for an experienced Site Lead to take full responsibility for one of our automated warehouses in Dordrecht. In this key leadership role, you’ll oversee a large and diverse team of 500‑1,000 colleagues in a high‑throughput, automated fulfilment center that processes around 100k weekly deliveries. You’ll lead operations supported by advanced material‑handling systems and data‑driven processes, with a strong focus on developing people, building capable teams, and shaping a mature, high‑performing site that supports sustainable growth.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of supervisors, operations managers, value‑stream leads, and support functions, enabling large and diverse teams to reach their full potential.
• Drive a culture of execution, where every day counts, complacency has no place, and the site is treated as your own kitchen: clean, organized, and running efficiently.
• Set the direction for day‑to‑day operations, building operational maturity and ensuring performance, safety, and quality standards are met, while owning business continuity and crisis management.
• Create a culture of ownership and accountability, where people take pride in delivering results and supporting one another.
• Drive continuous improvement, applying Lean principles and using data, experience, and team insights to identify opportunities and implement effective solutions.
• Collaborate closely with the last‑mile teams, central operations, analysts, and colleagues at other sites in Germany and France to ensure seamless end‑to‑end performance.
• Lead by example on the floor: visible, approachable, and focused on long‑term operational maturity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in logistics, engineering, business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in operations, including 3–5 years leading large, multi‑shift teams of 300+ FTEs.
• Hands‑on leadership experience in high‑volume, automated or semi‑automated fulfilment or production environments, managing high SKU complexity.
• Proven hands‑on leader with a calm, pragmatic style, able to build engagement, trust, accountability, and inspire confidence and cooperation.
• A results‑driven mindset with clear ownership and a strong bias for action in fast‑paced environments.
• Demonstrated success in lean operations and continuous improvement, bringing structure and stability while maintaining agility and focus on daily improvement.
• A data‑driven, comfortable using KPIs and insights to guide strategic decisions.
• Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English, with the ability to align and inspire both leadership and operational teams.

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Project Management and Information Technology

Industry

Retail