Senior/Group Leader R&D Product Development

Are you ready to join the world of automation and material handling solutions? And are you experienced in managing and developing a team of technical professionals in a dynamic, international and market-leading environment? If yes, we are looking forward to meet you and welcome you to be part of our vision to be the worldwide leader in sustainable automated logistic solutions!

We are looking for a group leader who enjoys leading and building a high performing, innovative, multidisciplinary and agile team in order to deliver high quality platform, guiding teams to get automation in the engineering team to the next level.

What will you be doing?

As Group Lead for Modularization, you will lead a multidisciplinary team of 20–25 talented professionals, driving the development and deployment of modular solutions that are scalable, reliable, and aligned with our business goals. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s culture, fostering innovation, and ensuring operational excellence as we take our Modularization team to the next level.

In this role, you will work closely together within an international management team to ensure the right people and competences are available for the right projects to be successful.

As an enthusiastic, result driven and natural team leader, you will:

Team Leadership & Development

• Guide, coach, and inspire a diverse team of engineers and specialists, supporting their career growth and professional development.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance team culture rooted in trust, continuous learning, and customer-centricity.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and identify development opportunities for team members.
• Oversee onboarding and integration of new team members, ensuring a smooth transition and rapid productivity.

Strategic Direction & Execution

• Define and communicate a clear vision and strategy for the Modularization team, aligned with organizational objectives.
• Set ambitious yet achievable goals, monitor progress, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality modular solutions.
• Drive standardization, process adherence, and continuous improvement initiatives within the team.

Operational Excellence

• Enable direct reports to focus on results, manage dependencies within and outside the team, and maintain a pragmatic, end-user-focused approach.
• Lead (multi-disciplinary) improvement initiatives, leveraging best practices in modular design, productivity tooling, and agile methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality standards in all team activities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key liaison between the Modularization team and other departments (engineering, supply chain, service, etc.), ensuring alignment and effective collaboration.
• Communicate effectively with upper management, reporting on team performance, challenges, and opportunities.

About your department

You will be part of our Technology department where no two days are the same. We maintain and improve our current products and develop new solutions by working closely with engineering, supply chain and service, all driven by our customer needs.

Our activities are based all over the world and each project is different. These projects improve the business of our external customers within Distribution market with our scalable products like line sorters, loop sorters and conveyors. Every one of our talented R&D engineers are committed to solving the next challenge, and enhancing Vanderlande’s competitive position.

What do we ask from you?

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Technology, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in leading multidisciplinary technical teams, preferably in modularization, automation, or product development.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong affinity with Mechanical, Electro-mechanical, and PLC systems, with a focus on productivity tooling.
• Proven track record in driving process improvements and leading (multi-disciplinary) initiatives.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, result-driven mindset and a passion for innovation.
• Fluent in English (Dutch is a plus).

What we offer

We offer a position in an informal, international and professional working environment with a lot of scope for personal development.

• 40 vacation days (20 statutory days and a flexible budget worth 20 days).
• Flexible working hours.
• A hybrid workplace (40% working from home and 60% in the office)
• A Health & Wellbeing budget worth €300 per calendar year
• Commuting allowance, including full reimbursement of travel by public transport.
• Working from home allowance.
• Collective pension scheme and discount on additional health insurance
• On-site company health centres with a gym, physiotherapists and occupational therapists
• A variety in Vanderlande Network communities and initiatives