Regional Operational Excellence Lead

Regional Operational Excellence Lead

(Fulltime – 38 hours per week)

Action is a fast-growing non-food discounter with more than 3,600 stores in 16 countries. As Regional Operational Excellence Lead, you turn business challenges into practical, lasting improvements across our Distribution Centres in Europe, and you help leaders and teams build the habit of improving every day.

Your Role

You join the DC Performance Improvement team within Central Logistics Operations and report to the Manager DC Performance Improvement. We are a support team: when the business has a challenge, we step in. One month that might be a programme for a DC whose performance needs a boost. The next, it could be unclear roles after a reorganisation, a team that isn’t working well together, or a meeting structure without real accountability. No two years look the same.

You work closely with our Supply Chain Managers, DC management, Process & Support teams and other stakeholders at International Head Quarters. You lead through influence rather than hierarchy. You bring structure to complex questions, align people with different interests, and make sure decisions turn into actions that stick on the floor.

Your main base is our European Headquarters in the Netherlands. Your current focus is International Head Quarters and our in-sourced DCs in Poland, but as Action grows, so does your scope.

You travel to our DCs across Europe, up to 50% of your time, depending on the assignment.

What You Will Do

• Translate complex or ambiguous business questions into a clear problem statement, objectives, scope and plan of approach
• Lead improvement assignments from diagnosis and design through implementation, handover and follow-up
• Set up governance, meeting structures and clear decision rights, so ownership is never in doubt
• Implement and embed our Operational Excellence approach in existing DCs: daily performance management, visual management, standard work and structured problem solving
• Lead the rollout of Operational Excellence in new DCs, working with DC management and the DC Set-up team before and after go-live
• Analyse data and observe operations on the floor to find performance losses and root causes
• Coach DC leaders and teams to create transparency, strengthen accountability and show the right leadership behaviour
• Deliver Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training and coach participants through real improvement projects
• Monitor OpEx maturity in our DCs, including KPIs, standard work, 5S, safety and continuous improvement
• Manage resistance, risks and competing priorities while keeping stakeholders aligned and moving forward

What You Bring

You combine a sharp, conceptual mind with a hands-on approach. You can zoom out to see the bigger picture and then make it practical, because a plan that only works on paper won’t stick.

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, preferably in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business Administration or a related field
• At least 5 years of experience in Operational Excellence, continuous improvement, lean, business transformation or process improvement
• A proven track record of turning complex issues into a structured approach and leading it through to lasting implementation
• Strong knowledge of Lean Six Sigma and structured problem solving; a Green or Black Belt is a plus, but not required
• Experience giving trainings or workshops, and confidence in front of a group
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and operational leaders without formal authority
• Experience in an international environment and genuine respect for different cultures
• Fluent English; Polish, Dutch or other languages are a big plus
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of your time and to work regularly from our HQ in Zwaagdijk-Oost
• Experience in logistics, retail, DC start-ups or multi-site operations is a plus, but we also welcome people from manufacturing, aviation, consultancy and other sectors

What Makes You Successful

You are a go-getter who takes initiative and doesn’t back down at the first sign of resistance. You energise people, communicate clearly at every level, and stay firm on content while respecting relationships. You are comfortable with change and see variety as a plus. You find satisfaction in impact that isn’t always measurable straight away, such as a team that finally owns its results.

What Do We Offer

At Action, you’ll be part of an energetic, international team in one of Europe’s fastest-growing retailers. You’ll have a real impact on how our DCs perform, and plenty of room to grow, including becoming a certified Green Belt trainer.

• Competitive salary based on a 38-hour working week
• Yearly bonus based on company and personal objectives
• 24 holidays, with the option to buy 5 extra days
• Hybrid working: 3 days a week on site, the rest from home in agreement with your manager, plus travel to our DCs
• 15% staff discount at Action
• Pension scheme, collective health insurance and travel allowance (Zwaagdijk-Oost)

Interested?

Are you the person who brings structure, energy and lasting improvement to our Distribution Centers? Apply now with your CV and motivation.

The selection process starts with a conversation with our recruiter. This is followed by a first interview with the hiring manager and a team member, and a second interview with the hiring manager’s manager. An assessment may be part of the process.

How we contribute to society

If you only know Action from our stores, working here opens up a different world. There's a lot happening behind the scenes, including how we work to make a positive impact. Our Action Sustainability Programme (ASP) sets out clear ambitions and goals across four pillars: People, Planet, Product and Partnership.

See where we stand today on sourcing, energy and packaging: company.action.com/planet-new.

And meet the causes we back, including SOS Children's Villages: company.action.com/partnerships-new.

Curious what else we're doing? Join our team and find out for yourself.