Senior Director, Operations Launch – Contract Logistics Europe

As Senior Director, Launch Management, reporting into the Regional VP Operations Excellence, you will provide leadership, governance and direction to both the regional & cluster Launch Management function. However, the cluster Launch Management function, reporting to the Cluster VP of Contract Logistics is responsible for the execution of launch, turning commercial opportunities into successful, operationally ready solutions. Occasionally, your Regional Team may assist or lead the successful delivery of some of the most strategic and complex customer implementations, business expansions, and operational transformations across Europe. 

This role sits at the heart of our growth strategy. You will partner with senior leaders, customers, and cross-functional teams to ensure new operations are launched safely, efficiently, on time, and within budget. From greenfield start-ups and automated facilities to large-scale supply chain transformations, your leadership will help create sustainable operational success, exceptional customer experiences, and long-term business value.

What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

• Lead the Regional Launch Management function, ensuring successful governance & delivery of customer implementations, business expansions, and transformation programs across Europe.
• Establish and continuously enhance launch governance, methodologies, standards, and operational readiness processes to support consistent project execution.
• Provide strategic oversight throughout the project lifecycle, from project initiation and design through deployment, stabilization, and transition to business-as-usual operations.
• Build strong partnerships with customers and act as the senior operational escalation point during implementation and stabilization phases.
• Ensure launch programs meet agreed milestones, operational readiness requirements, quality standards, and financial objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams and stakeholders ensuring strong collaboration/alignment across Operations, Engineering, IT, Automation, Finance, HR, Commercial, Quality, and Security functions to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Oversee operational readiness, systems implementation, testing activities, training programs, and go-live governance processes.
• Monitor project risks, budgets, resources, and performance metrics, taking proactive action to address challenges and protect business objectives.
• Develop and coach Launch Managers and Launch Support Specialists while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and learning.
• Drive adoption of Operational Excellence, Lean, and data-driven improvement practices to enhance launch quality, speed, customer satisfaction, and operational performance.
• Continuously contribute enhancing launch governance, methodologies, standards, and operational readiness processes in close collaboration with Global Launch Management to support consistent project execution.
   

• Experience leading large-scale operational launches, customer implementations, business transformations, or complex supply chain projects within Contract Logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, technology, or related industries.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with executive stakeholders, customers, and cross-functional teams in complex, international environments.
• Strong expertise in leadership, program management, operational readiness, change management, risk management, and delivering strategic initiatives with measurable business impact.
• Experience developing high-performing teams through coaching, capability building, succession planning, and collaborative leadership.
• A customer-focused, results-oriented, and continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, influence decisions, and drive sustainable outcomes.