You will lead Nijkerk Dairy, the biggest fresh milk- and yoghurt dairy site in the Netherlands with approximately 300 employees who produce 24/7 year around with accountability for safety, food safety, quality, delivery, cost and compliance. As Site Director at Nijkerk, you lead through people, set direction and deliver results via Operational Excellence, profound change management and strong cross-functional collaboration while driving the strategic and digital development that builds capabilities for tomorrow.

How you will make an impact

As Site Director, you own end-to-end site performance and long-term development at Nijkerk. You operate both strategically and tactically, are an integral part of the Central Europe Supply Chain leadership team, and collaborate closely across Supply Chain, commercial Netherlands, and support functions. You build a culture where safety and quality always come first, and where teams feel trusted, included, and motivated to deliver.

 At Nijkerk, you will ensure an efficient year-round production assortment, while driving close end-to-end collaboration across the value chain and taking ownership of KPI follow-up; safety, quality, service, and continuous improvement. You are expected to quickly familiarise yourself with new areas and lead systematic change and disciplined execution across the site.

 Furthermore your task will be

• Act as a visible role model for safety, compliance & standards and global mindset in your everyday day leadership and decision-making.
• Ensure site Leadership & Performance development Leading the dairy and ensure team success across the Arla Performance framework SQCDMP (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Motivation, Planet).
• Leadership & Culture Development Lead, develop, and engage leaders and teams with a strong focus on Arla culture, targeted capability building and change management.
• Strategic Direction & Planning Developing and owning the Factory Strategic Plan (FSP) to set a clear direction for the site’s future which also includes assess and mitigate risks across the value chain, as well as crisis and continuity planning
• Financial & Operational Excellence Accountability on end-to-end product economics and drive cost-efficiency measures and implementing global standards
• Digital Transformation & Innovation Ensure implementation of Arla digital standards to anchor the site solid in the Global framework. Drive data-driven decision making and pursue automation where relevant.

What will make you successful?

You hold a relevant university degree and have broad experience in manufacturing industries - preferably within food or dairy. We imagine you come from a complex, large-scale production site where you have delivered strong results through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and successfully growing and transforming the site to meet future demands. Alternatively, you may have worked with supply chain transformation and implemented digital journeys in supply chain. This experience has given you a strong understanding of how to build the capabilities needed for tomorrow’s operations. 

You have extensive leadership experience, you will set a clear, future-focused direction for Nijkerk Dairy towards new horizons with your influential leadership and substantial presence.

 You are a proven confident and authentic leader with a solid track record in managing complex operations, driving continuous improvement and developing company culture. You combine financial insight with a strategic mindset and are passionate about developing people, building safety culture and securing future capabilities.

 This role requires fluent English and Dutch language communication skills.

 What we offer

• A pivotal role in a global, purpose-driven company with strong focus on leadership development, internal career opportunities, and DE&I.
• Real mandate to influence site performance, drive change and the wider Supply Chain agenda.
• A strong leadership community, access to Arla’s standards and tools (APS) and the opportunity to build capabilities for tomorrow.

 Would you like to join us?

Please apply as soon as possible. We review applications on an ongoing basis and close the position once the right candidate is found. For further information, please contact Senior Vice President Ian Brown per email [email protected]

Shape the Future of Dairy 

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.