Operational Director

About NRF

NRF is one of Europe’s leading suppliers in the automotive aftermarket, recognized for its innovative solutions, strong international presence and entrepreneurial culture. With locations across Europe and a growing global footprint, NRF is committed to building a high-performing, people-driven organization where collaboration, development and innovation go hand in hand.

Our Gdańsk location is one of the key operational hubs of the NRF Group. The site includes our 40,000 m² central distribution centre, serving the international Aftermarket business, as well as production, technology, IT, finance, HR and other local and Group functions. It is a diverse and dynamic environment where local teams work closely with functional leaders across the NRF Group.

In 2026, NRF Poland was recognized as Employer of the Year by Pracodawcy Pomorza in large size enterprisies, reflecting our commitment to creating a strong workplace and developing our people.

Purpose of the role

We are looking for an experienced Operational Director to take overall responsibility for the effectiveness, coherence and further development of the NRF Gdańsk location.

This is a senior leadership role with an important distinction: you will lead the site, but you will not functionally manage all the departments located there.

NRF operates in a matrix structure. Leaders of functions such as Logistics, IT, Finance, HR, Tech and Sales have their respective functional reporting lines within the Group. The Operational Director will connect these functions at site level, ensuring that Gdańsk operates as one NRF location.

You will be the senior go-to person for local, cross-functional and site-wide matters. Your role is to create the environment in which managers and their teams can perform at their best: removing obstacles, facilitating cooperation, establishing clear local policies and standards, and ensuring that decisions affecting the whole location are made effectively.

We are therefore looking for a respected, pragmatic leader - Operational Director - who combines authority with a low-ego, facilitating leadership style. Success in this position will come not from controlling individual functions, but from bringing people together, creating clarity and making the organization work better as a whole.

Operational Director (Gdańsk)

Hybrid work model

Key responsibilities

• Take overall leadership responsibility for the NRF Aftermarekt Gdańsk site and its continued development as a coherent, professional and high-performing location.
• Build and strengthen a “One NRF” culture, encouraging cooperation across Logistics, Tech, IT, Finance, HR and other functions represented at the site.
• Act as the senior point of contact for department managers regarding local and cross-functional matters, while respecting functional responsibilities and Group reporting lines.
• Facilitate alignment between local managers and Group functional leaders, ensuring that local priorities and Group objectives reinforce each other.
• Establish and maintain clear, fair and transparent site-wide policies, standards and ways of working, aligned with other NRF locations.
• Create effective forums and routines for site leadership, cross-functional decision-making, communication and issue resolution.
• Identify and remove organizational, operational and infrastructural barriers that limit the performance or growth of individual departments.
• Drive continuous improvement of the site, with particular attention to operational effectiveness, digitalization, scalability and cost consciousness.
• Maintain strong oversight of site-related costs, investments, facilities and shared resources, ensuring appropriate governance and value for money.
• Ensure that the location operates in accordance with relevant Polish legal, regulatory, employment, environmental, safety and business compliance requirements, working together with the responsible specialists and functions.
• Support the continued development of the 40,000 m² European Distribution Centre and the wider Gdańsk operation as a critical hub for NRF's international Aftermarket business.
• Coordinate site-level infrastructure, capacity and investment requirements and contribute to decisions concerning the future development of the location.
• Build constructive relationships with relevant local authorities, institutions and external partners and identify opportunities related to public funding or government incentives where applicable.
• Represent the Gdańsk organization towards NRF Group leadership and ensure effective escalation and resolution of matters requiring senior management attention.
• Enable NRF's Management Team and functional leaders to remain focused on their core business responsibilities by ensuring that the site itself is professionally and independently managed.

Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent higher education.
• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex operational or business environment, preferably including logistics, supply chain, manufacturing, operations or a comparable multi-functional organization.
• Proven ability to lead effectively in a matrix organization, influencing senior stakeholders without relying solely on hierarchical authority.
• Strong understanding of what it takes to operate a substantial business location in Poland, including relevant business infrastructure, regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational development, transformation and continuous improvement.
• A leadership style based on facilitation, credibility, pragmatism and collaboration, combined with the ability to make decisions and address difficult issues when required.
• Strong business and financial awareness, including cost management, investment prioritization and operational performance.
• Digital mindset and interest in using technology and data to improve organizational and operational effectiveness.
• Very good command of English and Polish, enabling effective communication in an international Group environment.
• Knowledge of Polish public funding, investment incentives and government support programs would be an advantage.

What we offer

• A highly influential leadership position at one of the most important operational locations within the NRF Group.
• The opportunity to shape the future development of a large and growing international Aftermarket hub, including our 40,000 m² central distribution centre.
• A role with broad exposure across operations, logistics, production, technology, IT, finance, HR and Group management.
• The mandate to build stronger cross-functional cooperation and further develop the One NRF culture in Gdańsk.
• Significant autonomy and the opportunity to make a visible impact on how the location operates and develops.
• Direct interaction with senior leaders across an international, successful and growing automotive organization.
• A collaborative environment where entrepreneurship, practical solutions and continuous improvement are valued.
• The opportunity to join NRF Poland – recognized as Employer of the Year 2026 by Pracodawcy Pomorza.
• Competitive employment conditions appropriate to the seniority and responsibility of the position.