Distribution Centre Lead
Key Skills
Job Description
As DC Lead, your mission is to build a high-performance, customer-first culture by enabling your team and creating a great place to work. You own site performance across safety, quality, and cost, with an driving excellence through 6S standards and Lean programs. By prioritizing leadership coaching and internal team development you deliver sustainable, reliable results that consistently exceed customer expectations.
Tricks of the trade
- Lead the site: Take responsibility for site performance on a weekly, period, and annual basis, meeting safety, quality, and operational KPIs.
- Build people culture: Create a high-performance environment where teams are supported, motivated, and accountable.
- Develop leaders: Guide and coach Operations Managers and Supervisors to strengthen leadership quality across the site.
- Drive key metrics: Deliver results on retention, perfect deliveries, delivery capacity, UPH, cost, and operational standards.
- Manage incidents and planning: Handle critical incidents, manage escalations, and ensure smooth operational planning and continuity.
- Lead HR and external affairs: Primary contact for the DC People Partner with direct accountability for complex HR cases; work with external stakeholders and authorities as required.
What you'll bring
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant field
- 6+ years operations experience, including large multi-shift teams
- Familiar with fast-paced environment
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and build high-performing teams
- Experience driving Lean and continuous improvement initiatives
- Proven ability to deliver results through KPIs and operational standards
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, managing critical incidents
- Fluent in English and Dutch
- Location Flexible: We have sites throughout the Netherlands in the following locations; Utrecht, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Heerenveen, Zwolle, Nijmegen, and Geldermalsen. During your application we will consider together which site makes most sense for you to begin your journey at Picnic. We are a fast-paced, growing company and due to this we require location flexibility from our Operations team.
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
Core Responsibilities
The Distribution Centre Lead is responsible for overseeing site performance, including safety, quality, and operational KPIs. They also focus on building a high-performance culture by coaching managers and supervisors while managing HR and external stakeholder relations.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and possess at least 6 years of operations experience with large multi-shift teams. Proficiency in Lean methodologies, strong leadership capabilities, and fluency in English and Dutch are required.
Benefits
- 25 vacation days
- Lease car
- Freshly prepared meals
- Flexible company pension plan
- Laptop
- Smartphone
- Learning and development opportunities
- Leadership training
About Picnic
Industry: Retail
Company size: 5,001-10,000 employees
At Picnic, we’re a team of inventors, builders, dreamers, and best-in-class operators! With our app-only business model and custom-built in-house supply chain, we're revolutionizing the way people buy groceries and eat every day. We're growing across the Netherlands, Germany, France, and beyond. One of the things that makes Picnic different is that we handle almost everything ourselves: from forecasting and building automated warehouses to designing custom electric vehicles and writing our own software. It gives us total freedom to experiment with bold, new ideas (which we do a lot!). We love to challenge ourselves and learn by doing. The best way to grow here? By taking ownership from day one and pushing boundaries every single day. As a diverse team of over 85 nationalities, there’s always something happening - whether you’re into sports, board games, charity work, dancing at our legendary Picnic festival, or licorice tasting (yes, really!). Our scale-up culture means you get to own your work and bring fresh ideas to life. If you’re looking to make a real impact, reach out. We’d love to hear from you!