Distribution Area Lead (Regio Zuid NL)

Picnic
Limburg, Netherlands
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Logistics professionals with leadership experience and multilingual skills will find this operational management role in the Netherlands, requiring frequent travel and team coaching across multiple sites.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with leadership experience in logistics and e-commerce who are fluent in Dutch and English
    — “Fluent in both Dutch and English”
  • People with a focus on process optimization and operational efficiency in fast-paced delivery systems
    — “Drive improvements in daily Hub operations by identifying key performance and customer experience drivers”

Things to consider

  • Frequent travel is required between multiple hub locations across the Netherlands
    — “Willingness to travel to different hub locations”
  • Must possess a type B driver's license for operational responsibilities
    — “A drivers license (type B)”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in coaching and leading teams in high-pressure, last-mile delivery environments
    — “Coach Hub Leads (Location Managers) in their personal development”
  • Demonstrate data-driven process optimization skills with clear examples from past roles
    — “Continuously improve processes using a data-driven approach”
  • Emphasize your ability to manage growth and adapt to evolving logistics systems
    — “Navigate rapid company growth with a generalist mindset and entrepreneurial approach”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Improved operational performance across multiple Hub locations
  • Coached Hub Leads in personal development
  • Optimized daily operations with a focus on safety, customer experience, and team well-being
  • Translated feedback and insights into concrete actions
  • Maintained deep understanding of distribution strategies and logistics processes
Typical background
3-6 years of experience in a leadership roleBachelor’s or Master’s degreeFluent in Dutch and English

Skills & requirements

Required

Leadership-developmentTeam-coachingOperational-excellencePerformance-improvementOperational-oversightMulti-site-managementStakeholder-collaborationProcess-optimizationChange-managementGrowth-management

Preferred

LogisticsE-commerceHospitalityData-driven-approachGeneralist-mindsetEntrepreneurial-approach

Stack & domain

LeadershipTeam CoachingOperational ExcellencePerformance ImprovementOperational OversightMulti-site ManagementStakeholder CollaborationProcess OptimizationChange & Growth ManagementData-driven ApproachLogisticsE-commerceHospitalityRetail

About the role

Original posting from Picnic

In a nutshell

As a Distribution Area Lead, you are responsible for improving operational performance across multiple Hub locations in the Netherlands, working closely with on-site teams. You coach Hub Leads (Location Managers) in their personal development while optimizing daily operations with a strong focus on safety, customer experience, process efficiency, and team well-being. 

Picnic groceries are picked in Fulfilment Centers, transported by truck to one of approximately 65 Hubs, and then unloaded by Runners who load them into electric Picnic vehicles to deliver orders to customers. Each Hub spans around 1,500–2,000 m² and employs between 30 and 200 Runners working together to ensure smooth and reliable last-mile delivery.

Trick of the trade

Leadership development: Spot, mentor, and grow current and future operations leaders at Hub locations.

Team coaching: Support and coach Runners, Runner+’s, and Hub Leads to meet targets for safety, service quality, and efficiency.

Operational excellence: Drive improvements in daily Hub operations by identifying key performance and customer experience drivers.

Performance emprovement: Translate feedback and insights into concrete actions and guide teams from startup phase to high performance.

Operational oversight: Maintain deep understanding of distribution strategies, systems, logistics processes, and equipment.

Multi-Site management: Coach and support multiple Hubs through frequent on-site visits and close performance follow-up.

Stakeholder collaboration: Work effectively across Hubs, the Amsterdam office, and remote settings to ensure alignment.

Process optimization: Continuously improve processes using a data-driven approach in a fast-paced environment.

Change & Growth management: Navigate rapid company growth with a generalist mindset and entrepreneurial approach to building the future of retail.

You can find all current Hub locations here.

About you

Finished Bachelors or Masters degree

3-6 years of experience in a leadership role, preferably in the field of logistics, e-commerce and/or hospitality

Fluent in both Dutch and English

Curious, mature, and confident to coach and intervene

Strong people and process focus

Hands-on, flexible and getting things done mentality

Result-driven, happily chasing outputs

Analytical and problem-solving skills

An incredible drive to disrupt the world of grocery shopping

Willingness to travel to different hub locations

A drivers license (type B)

Picnic Perks

🥗Fresh Lunch, coffee, and snacks 

Our offices are equipped with fully-fledged coffee bars and a kitchen and chefs. They prepare delicious fresh and warm lunches every day so you can keep your energy up.

🚵🏼Health insurance discount & bike plan

We have a partnership with CZ (a health insurance provider). Picnic employees get a discount on CZ insurance packages between 5% and 15%. Furthermore, through our partnership with Lease a Bike, you can rent-to-own a new (e)bike at a discounted rate

✍🏼Learning & development 

You’ll get ample opportunity to work on yourself at Picnic. We offer personal development through Lepaya courses, Academy trainings, and more. Interested in improving your mental wellbeing? Through OpenUp you get free access to trained psychologists and many courses. 

All the rest 

At Picnic you get 25 holidays, a leasecar and offer a pension plan. And your phone and laptop are on us, as well. 

Source: Picnic careers

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