Senior Manager, Operational Excellence, Supplier Assurance

Do you want to lead and develop a high-impact team at the heart of Global QEHS?

As Senior Manager, Operational Excellence (OE) within Supplier Assurance (SA), you will manage a sub-team dedicated to enabling smooth daily operations, strong collaboration and delivery against key performance indicators—all while caring for people and supporting their growth.

How you will make an impact
You will provide operational leadership to the OE team within SA, ensuring clear objectives, effective collaboration and robust delivery against plans. Partnering closely with the Director, Supplier Assurance, you will build and execute business plan and barometer actions, coordinate holiday cover and local initiatives, and create a supportive environment that prioritises wellbeing and empowers the team to perform. More specifically, you will;

• Lead and develop the OE team as a sub-team of SA, enabling delivery on KPIs.
• Follow up on Dialogue objectives; evaluate results and provide guidance and support.
• Encourage cross-team collaboration and ensure smooth operations, including holiday cover for coordinator tasks and oversight of working times.
• Follow Business Plan (BP) and Barometer action plan with the Director, SA; drive relevant activities and local initiatives

The role sits within Global QEHS and collaborates across a matrix organisation. You will stay closely aligned with the Director, SA, and maintain an inter- and intra-team collaboration to secure efficient daily operations. Occasional travel to meet team members may be required.

This role is a maternity cover.

What will make you successful
You bring strong communication skills suited to a matrix organisation and valuable insight into SA and its stakeholder landscape. You focus on people—enabling and developing team members, caring for wellbeing and creating conditions for high performance. You are structured and organised, pragmatic in grey areas and patient with complex systems and processes. You make reasonable, fact-based decisions when the team needs support and are ready to delegate operational tasks to fully serve the team. You are a role model who can communicate assertively when needed and flourish when the team succeeds, even if your own tasks take a back seat. You thrive in cross-team collaboration, maintain alignment with leadership and keep a steady eye on KPI delivery, working times and holiday cover. Fluent English (spoken and written) is required, and willingness to travel to team members when needed is expected.

What do we offer?
We're committed to professional development and promoting from within. Our positive and collaborative culture will bring out the best in you. You'll join a market leader producing nutritious householdfavourite brands in a way that makes things better for our customers, the farmers who own us and the whole world—while leading a team with real impact on supplier quality and operational excellence.

Would you like to join us?
Please apply as soon as possible as we will process applications on a continuous basis.

For additional information, please contact Jens Buur Maul at

Shape the Future of Dairy
Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to producing high-quality products while championing sustainability and innovation. We're passionate about people and our planet, striving to unleash the full potential in each of us. Our goal is to make healthy dairy nutrition and good food habits accessible to all. Join us at Arla Foods and become part of a worldwide cooperative dedicated to making a significant impact on the planet and steering the dairy industry towards a sustainable future.

We are devoted to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Diversity and collaboration are key to our success, propelling us to new heights in the dairy industry.

Shape the Future of Dairy 

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about. 

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