Senior Lead -3PL Operations, EMEA

As a Senior Lead - 3PL Operations EMEA at On, your primary responsibilities include overseeing warehouse operations across Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the U.K. You will lead a team of logistics professionals, enhance OTIF (On-Time, In-Full) performance, and partner with 3PL providers to optimize operations. Additionally, you will drive strategic initiatives that reinforce operational efficiency and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure alignment with On’s overall objectives.

The ideal candidate for the Senior Lead - 3PL Operations EMEA role at On should possess extensive experience in warehouse operations, with at least 8 years in dynamic environments. Strong leadership skills, commercial acumen, and familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean and Six Sigma, are crucial. A background in Supply Chain Management or Logistics, along with good communication skills and fluency in English, are also essential for success in this role.

The Senior Lead - 3PL Operations EMEA plays a crucial role in ensuring operational excellence by streamlining warehouse processes, monitoring performance metrics, and identifying improvement opportunities. This position allows for the nurturing of strong relationships with 3PL providers, which is key to enhancing fulfillment across different channels. By implementing strategic initiatives and guiding the team through transitions, such as the upcoming automated warehouse, the Lead directly impacts On's operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

For the Senior Lead - 3PL Operations EMEA role at On, beneficial skills include strong leadership and team development abilities, expertise in data-driven decision-making, and insights into warehouse management systems (WMS). Proficiency in analytics tools like Looker is advantageous, along with excellent communication skills for effective collaboration across teams. A proactive problem-solving mindset and experience in handling cost management and negotiation also enhance performance in this position.

The Senior Lead - 3PL Operations EMEA position at On may require up to 25% travel. This travel is essential to oversee operations at various warehouses, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and drive on-site initiatives, ensuring that all locations align with On’s strategic goals and operational excellence.

When answering this question, focus on specific examples from your previous roles where you managed 3PL operations. Highlight any strategies you implemented to improve efficiency, your experience with metrics tracking, and how you developed relationships with third-party logistics providers to enhance service.

Discuss your methodology for achieving operational excellence, including your use of key performance indicators, your commitment to continuous improvement, and how you leverage data to make informed decisions. Provide examples of successful initiatives you've led that resulted in a positive impact on operations.

For this question, share a specific challenge you encountered in a warehouse setting, detailing the context, the approach you took to address it, and the final outcome. Emphasize your problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively with your team and other stakeholders.

Discuss your approach to team development, including how you set clear expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and create opportunities for professional growth. Share examples of how you motivate team members and foster a collaborative environment that supports everyone's success.

Highlight the key metrics you monitor, such as OTIF, order accuracy rates, inventory turnover, and cost per order. Explain how you utilize these metrics to guide your team’s performance and drive improvements, and discuss how transparency in these metrics can enhance team collaboration.

Describe your negotiation strategies, emphasizing your ability to balance company needs with service level agreements while building a partnership with providers. Share an example of a successful negotiation where you achieved beneficial terms for both parties.

Provide an example of an initiative you led that resulted in improved efficiency or reduced costs. Detail the steps you took to identify the need for improvement, the implementation process, and the results this initiative achieved, citing measurable outcomes when possible.

Share your experience with WMS, including specific systems you're familiar with, how you have utilized them to improve warehouse operations, and any challenges you encountered. Highlight your proficiency in leveraging data analytics tools to optimize workflows and enhance operational efficiency.

Discuss your proactive planning approach, including how you would engage all stakeholders, align training for staff, and ensure operational continuity. Emphasize previous experience with transitions or automation processes, and how you navigate challenges during such transformations.

Elaborate on the importance of data analytics in driving decision-making in logistics. Discuss how you use data to identify inefficiencies, optimize performance, and enhance customer satisfaction. Provide examples of analytics tools you have used to inform operational strategies.