Operations Manager

Are you ready to work for a dynamic and fast-growing company, in one of the most technically advanced automated material handling services environments? Then this job might be for you!

The main goal is to ensure a smooth transition from project to a steady-state operation and service of the Material Handling System, ultimately creating a positive customer experience and customer value.

What will you be doing?

As Operations Manager – Operational Readiness, you will manage the process of change of ownership in a complex Automated Material Handling System (MHS) delivered by Vanderlande. You will have a strong focus on operational readiness within our segment and be responsible for the management of the transition phase and the set-up of complex service contracts at sites around the world. You will manage Solution-, Service-, and Customer-readiness and mitigate transition risks.

We are hiring for 3 positions: one in the Americas, one in APAC, and one in North(East) Europe. In principle, you will be stationed at the location of the project(s) in these regions, but this is not fixed—a position in another region can be required, depending on the actual global workload.

Key Responsibilities:

• Consult, assess, and take over the service contract to be sold by the Service Account Manager: contract knowledge, identification of risks and opportunities
• Set up and execute transition plan and planning together with the customer and project, and mitigate transition risks
• End-to-end management of the transition of complex solutions into stable operations (Solution-, Service-, Customer-readiness)
• Manage the service contract to ensure contract execution based on the agreed performance until steady-state operations, and hand over the service contract to the Service (Contract) Manager
• Execute the transition plan within budget and planning in coordination with the customer, project, and service
• Act as the contact person towards the customer(s) up to board level for all issues during the transition phase; manage customer expectations
• Develop and further professionalize the setup of site-based service team(s)

What do we ask from you?

As a successful Operations Manager Operational Readiness, you develop long-term supplier and customer relationships and networks. To achieve this goal, you have a drive for continuous improvement and are proactive in your approach. Additionally, you are commercially minded and possess project management skills.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant technical area
• At least 3 years of relevant project, integration, and stakeholder management experience within an international environment, working with different cultures
• Outstanding planning, scheduling, and coordination skills
• A team player who works well in a cross-functional team environment
• Knowledge of IT Service Management processes (ITIL) is preferred
• Excellent verbal and written skills in the English language
• Willingness to travel worldwide (40-50%)

About your department

Within Vanderlande, the Business Unit Warehousing Solutions (BU WS) is active throughout the world. You will be part of the Service Excellence organization, an internationally operating service organization for our customers. Service Excellence consists of more than 200 employees who work together to ensure systems are available around the clock for our customers. Apart from traditional service delivery, we are also dedicated to developing ourselves as a business partner for our customers.

What we offer

This position offers a competitive salary range of €4,700 to €6,400 gross per month (excluding 8% holiday allowance). Through exceeding performance expectations, you even have the possibility to grow outside this scale.

On top of your fixed salary, you’ll receive the following secondary benefits:

• 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
• Vanderlande Academy and training facilities to boost your skills
• A variety of Vanderlande Network communities and initiatives