Teamleider Planning / Team Leader Planning

Life tastes better with ice cream

The Planning department at the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Hellendoorn is a crucial part of the Supply Chain. It is responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of products to customers, optimal production scheduling, planning and timely arrival of raw materials and packaging, and monitoring of finished goods, raw materials and packaging inventories.

As a Team Leader (day shift), you will manage the department, leading a team of 3 employees. You will also be responsible for developing and executing planning policies aligned with the factory’s objectives. As a Team Leader, you will be part of the leadership team that defines the long-term goals for the factory.

What you'll be responsible for

• Lead, coach, motivate and develop your team of Supply and Material Planners (3 employees).
• Act as the on-site representative of the Planning function at the factory, ensuring strong visibility and alignment with operations.
• Maintain a strong and consistent physical presence on the factory floor to support day-to-day decision-making and cross-functional coordination.
• Define and implement departmental policies aligned with the factory’s objectives.
• Participate in the Management Team (MT) and Leadership Team (LT), providing input from your area of expertise and helping shape long-term factory goals.
• Lead the planning-related transformation, including OPUS implementation and Ice Cream Europe initiatives at Hellendoorn, coordinating across cross-functional teams and projects.
• Provide input for and make strategic decisions for the factory, such as shift models and projects.
• Maintain contact with Procurement and suppliers regarding delivery issues, flexibility, long-term forecasts and capacity.
• Manage inventory of raw materials and finished goods.
• Participate in the Ben & Jerry’s PTM, contributing from a planning perspective.
• Prepare and deliver presentations with relevant information about Ben & Jerry’s and Planning.
• Maintain close contact with the Category Planning Manager and Category Director.
• Achieve departmental targets including Dispatch Rate, Business Waste, OEE/run strategy, slow movers and departmental budget.
• Ensure effective communication within and outside the department.

We're looking for someone who

• Has a relevant completed bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Has a minimum of 5 years of experience in Supply Chain or Planning.
• Has strong experience in team management and leadership.
• Is fluent in both English and Dutch.
• Is energetic, communicative, collaborative, analytically strong and resilient under pressure.
• Has knowledge of SAP, APO and Kinaxis.
• Has advanced Excel skills.
• Has strong problem-solving, decision-making, planning and organizational capabilities.
• Has a clear understanding of end-to-end supply chain processes and current planning developments.
• Has experience in the ice cream and/or food industry, which is a plus.
• Has a proven track record of independently leading improvement projects.

Why join us?

This is a place for people who are passionate about ice cream and are growth obsessed, both for the business and for themselves. People who act like an owner and drive our business end-to-end. People who are driven by success to deliver more than we ever thought we could.

You’ll thrive here if you value an inclusive culture with low ego and hierarchy, and if you’re excited to continuously learn and challenge how we work using digital, data and new thinking to push us forward.

• Roles with real accountability and visible impact.
• Freedom to move fast, experiment and challenge how things are done.
• Continuous learning and development as the business grows.
• Reward linked to performance and contribution.

Your career here is shaped by what you deliver, as you work across functions and markets and grow with the business.