Area Manager OPS

Employment: Permanent

Industry: Fashion and Apparel

Department: Supply-Chain Operations

Reports to: Head of Operations

About VF

VF Corporation is a global portfolio of iconic lifestyle brands such as Timberland, The North Face, Eastpak and Vans. Across the business, VF is driven by a purpose-led and performance-focused culture, with a strong commitment to people, product and operational excellence. VF believes in creating an environment where associates can grow, make an impact, and help move its brands and business forward.

Let's Talk About the Role

As Area Manager – DC Operations, you will take full ownership of one of the core operational areas within the Almelo Distribution Center (Inbound, Returns, Picking, Replenishment, VAS or Shipping). You will translate site strategy into strong daily execution, leading multiple First Line Managers and their teams to deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role at the heart of DC performance, requiring strong people leadership, operational judgement and the ability to perform under pressure in a high-volume environment.

How You Will Make a Difference

• Own daily and seasonal performance of your area across safety, service, quality, productivity and cost.
• Lead and develop First Line Managers through clear expectations, coaching and accountability aligned to VF values.
• Ensure a safety-first culture, acting immediately on risks, incidents and non-compliance, and role-modelling safe behaviours.
• Drive performance management through daily management routines and KPIs, identifying gaps early and leading corrective actions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, process optimisation and automation in partnership with Engineering, Planning and CI teams.
• Collaborate closely with other Area Managers and the Head of Operations to ensure smooth end-to-end DC flow.
• Make timely people and operational decisions, balancing service, cost and risk.
• Act as a visible leader on the floor, ensuring engagement, clarity and consistency across shifts.

Skills for Success

• Proven leadership experience in a distribution centre, warehouse or logistics environment.
• Experience managing Team Leaders or First Line Managers in a high-volume, fast-paced operation.
• Track record of delivering operational performance through people.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, using data and KPIs to drive decisions.
• Solid understanding of health & safety requirements in an operational environment.
• Clear communicator, able to engage credibly from shop floor to senior leadership.
• Structured, resilient and adaptable, comfortable working across shifts and peak periods.
• Good command of English (B2+); Dutch is a strong advantage.

Why This Role Is a Great Opportunity

This is a role for an operational leader who wants real ownership—not coordination, but accountability. You will have direct impact on daily results, people experience and safety outcomes, while building leadership capability that supports the long-term success of the Almelo DC. For strong performers, this role offers a clear pathway toward broader site leadership.

What's In It for You

• End-to-end ownership of a core operational area in a key European DC.
• Direct influence on performance, safety and team engagement.
• Opportunity to lead and grow First Line Managers.
• Exposure to site-wide improvement, automation and transformation initiatives.
• Strong development focus and internal mobility opportunities across VF.