Operations Manager

Operations Manager

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Job area

Life Cycle Services

Location

Zaandam, Netherlands.

Contract type

Full time

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About the Role

We are seeking an Operations Maintenance Manager to lead the Corrective Maintenance Team within a 24/7 automated, ambient-temperature warehouse operating in the food supply chain. Working closely together with our customer and warehouse operations teams, you will support service performance, system availability, and continuous improvement. You will ensure corrective maintenance activities are delivered safely and effectively, with a strong focus on root cause elimination and preventing recurrence of issues. This is an office-hours position and forms part of the wider site management team. Due to the nature of a 24/7 automated operation, a degree of flexibility is required to support the team and the operation when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Corrective Maintenance Team operating across a 24/7 shift pattern
• Ensure fast, safe, and effective response to equipment faults and system breakdowns
• Drive a proactive corrective maintenance culture, focused on root cause analysis and permanent solutions
• Reduce repeating failures and unplanned downtime by preventing recurrence of issues
• Ensure high availability and performance of automated warehouse and material handling systems
• Promote and enforce a strong health & safety culture
• Analyse breakdown data, trends, and failure modes to identify improvement opportunities
• Work closely with warehouse operations to minimise disruption and support service continuity
• Collaborate with internal teams (site-based and headquarters) and our customer to resolve maintenance and operational challenges
• Manage contractors and service partners supporting corrective maintenance activities
• Monitor and improve maintenance KPIs including response times, MTTR, and system availability
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and reliability improvements

Required Skills

• Proactive Leadership & Safety Focus: Proactive ability to motivate, coach, and develop teams, fostering a safe working environment while driving ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Customer Relationship Management: Proactively build trust and maintain strong working relationships with our supermarket customer, operating effectively in a dynamic, service-driven environment
• Analytical & Proactive Problem Solving: Strong capability to analyse data, identify trends, anticipate risks, and implement improvements; able to make effective decisions under pressure
• Project & Priority Management: Proactive approach to managing multiple priorities, initiatives, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Technical Understanding & Learning Mindset: Willingness and ability to learn and understand the complexity of a highly automated warehouse environment, including systems, processes, and interfaces
• Systems & Digital Skills: Confident user of Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Outlook, Word) and willing to learn, understand, and use customer-based software and systems
• Communication Skills: Clear, professional verbal and written communication skills in English and Dutch
• Flexibility & Resilience: Proactive, flexible, and adaptable, able to respond to operational needs outside normal office hours when required

What we offer

In this important and challenging role, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in industry-leading projects and work closely with dedicated colleagues and customers.

We offer a professional, international, and informal workplace where personal development is encouraged. By joining our growing and successful company, you'll be able to set ambitious goals and focus on building your future.

Salary & benefits

• Competitive salary: €5.400 - €6.400 gross per month (excluding 8% holiday allowance).
• 40 vacation days (20 statutory days plus a flexible budget worth 20 days).
• Health & Wellbeing budget (€300 per year).
• Commuting allowance, with full public transport reimbursement.
• Working from home allowance.
• Collective pension scheme and health insurance discount.
• Active Vanderlande Network communities and initiatives.

Interested in this role? Apply directly via our Workday vacancy link by submitting your resume and a short motivation.

For more information, you can contact (Recruiter) :

Diversity & Inclusion

At Vanderlande, we believe in equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds-regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

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