Planning & Logistics Lead, Meppel, Drenthe

The Company
The client is one of the Netherlands’ biggest dairy products manufacturers who is also active globally. 

Role Description
As Planning & Logistics Lead you will be responsible for developing and executing the planning and logistics strategy. You will lead a large team and serve as the link between the commercial organization and the factory, ensuring smooth coordination across all levels. If you have a strong understanding of complex processes and can easily navigate different organizational layers, this position is for you. 

Responsibilities

• Directly and indirectly managing a team of 19 employees across Planning, Internal Logistics, Receiving, and Shipping. Applying a coaching leadership style, conducting regular performance, development, and absence reviews, and ensuring sustainable workforce planning. Coordinating with staffing agencies to maintain flexibility.
• Overseeing daily operations with a focus on safety, quality, and environmental compliance. Implementing logistics policies, managing escalations, analyzing root causes, and proposing structural solutions. Monitoring KPIs such as Safety, Scheduling Conformance, OTIF, Budget, Absenteeism, and Inventory Control.
• Advising the management team on supply chain strategy and execution. Driving process optimization and cost control, proposing and following up on investments, and configuring systems for efficient planning (e.g., run lengths, material requirements, workforce allocation). Fostering a culture of engagement and proactivity, and managing incident reporting according to procedures.
• Working closely with the Plant Management Team and the Business Group Professional Planning Team. Reporting to both the Manager Supply Planning Encaps and the Plant Manager Meppel. 

Requirements 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, preferably in (Technical) Business Administration or Logistics.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant leadership experience, ideally managing large teams.
• Strong knowledge of production processes (preferably in Food), ERP systems (SAP), and familiarity with OMP is a plus. Experience with ERP implementation is highly desirable.
• Excellent command of Dutch and English.
• Proven ability to make decisions with limited or unclear information.
• Solution-oriented mindset with a proactive and independent approach.
• Strong focus on customer satisfaction and continuous process improvement.
• Ability to motivate and connect colleagues, management, and external suppliers.
• Previous experience in production or logistics environments; interim management experience is a plus.
• Availability for the next 3 months for 32-38hrs per week.
• Availability onsite. This is not a hybrid role. 

Other information
Apply to our vacancy for more information. Looking forward to getting in touch! 

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