Key Skills

Job Description

06/11/2026 Danish Crown Foods NLD-Haarlem Head of Packaging (m/f/d) Are you a natural leader who gets energized by an optimally running packaging process? Do you enjoy coaching and motivating teams while keeping a clear focus on safety, performance and quality? Are you someone who can translate strategic objectives into daily operations and inspire others to continuously improve? Then join us as Head of Packaging (m/f/d) at our Haarlem site! What is the job about? At our modern factory in Haarlem, approximately 600 employees produce a wide range of bacon products every day. Our products are delivered to retailers, wholesalers, hotels, sandwich shops, fast-food chains, and industrial customers across Europe in various product and packaging variants. To strengthen our production organization in Haarlem, we are looking for a driven and an ambitious Head of Packaging who takes ownership of the entire packaging process and ensures stable, safe, and efficient operations. In this role, you will be the vital link between strategic objectives and the daily reality of the production floor. You will translate annual targets into concrete actions, working closely with your shift leaders to achieve objectives while maintaining high standards of Safety, Quality, and Efficiency. You will lead, coach, and motivate your shift leaders and their teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. By maintaining a strong connection with the production floor and working closely with other departments, you will ensure operational continuity and contribute to the long-term development of our production organization. Your Responsibilities Take overall responsibility for the packaging process, ensuring a safe, stable and efficient operation. Translate annual objectives and departmental targets into daily operational activities and ensure that production schedules are achieved within established standards. Lead, coach, and motivate shift leaders and their teams, fostering a positive working environment focused on performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Conduct performance reviews, identify training needs, and support the professional development of employees. Work closely with shift leaders to ensure effective personnel planning, including task rotation and sustainable employability. Coordinate directly with other departments to resolve operational deviations and ensure continuity of production. Maintain an overview of departmental budgets, annual objectives, and operational performance. Initiate, lead, and participate in improvement projects, translating ideas into practical solutions on the production floor. Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and safe working practices throughout the production organization. Your Profile Higher Professional Education (HBO) working and thinking level, preferably within production management, engineering, operations, or a comparable field. Relevant professional experience in a production management or leadership role, preferably within the food manufacturing industry. Sound knowledge of HACCP, GMP, Safety regulations. Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies and experience applying them in a production environment. Excellent written and spoken Dutch and English skills. Strong organizational skills and an analytical mindset, with the ability to maintain an overview in a dynamic operational environment. A natural leader who knows how to coach, motivate, and develop employees while maintaining a clear focus on results. A strong communicator and connector who collaborates effectively with different departments and stakeholders. The confidence to address behavior, performance, and accountability in a constructive and motivating way. A proactive and hands-on approach, with the ability to translate strategic objectives into practical improvements on the production floor. What You Can Expect A challenging and responsible management position within a dynamic production environment at a leading international food producer. A professional working environment with a strong focus on organization, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. Room for personal initiative and the opportunity to lead concrete improvement projects. A supportive company culture that values collaboration, employee development, and mutual respect. Opportunities for professional and personal development within an international organization. A competitive salary based on your professional experience and qualifications. At Danish Crown Haarlem, you will have the opportunity to combine leadership, operational responsibility, and continuous improvement while contributing to the success of a modern food production facility. Appetite for more? To learn more, please contact Gert-Jan Wal, Operations Manager, at +31 2 32 07 14 15. We review applications on an ongoing basis, so please send your application and CV as soon as possible, including your earliest possible start date. We look forward to hearing from you. Your Contact Frank Garbelmann Recruitment Team Danish Crown Haarlem, The Netherlands

Core Responsibilities

Lead the packaging process to ensure safe, stable, and efficient production, translating annual objectives into daily operations and meeting production schedules and standards. Coach shift leaders and their teams, manage performance and personnel planning, coordinate with other departments, oversee budgets and operational results, and lead continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Requires higher professional education (HBO) level, preferably in production management, engineering, operations, or a related field, and relevant leadership experience in production, preferably food manufacturing. Candidates should know HACCP, GMP, safety regulations, and continuous improvement methods, and have strong organizational, analytical, communication, and people-leadership skills, with excellent Dutch and English.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Personal Development Opportunities