Operational Excellence Lead

Operational Excellence Lead at Royal Reesink

Requirements

• Over 5 years of experience
• Proven track record in implementing improvements effectively
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or higher) certification
• Strong analytical and project management skills
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Pragmatic, hands-on mindset

Royal Reesink is the international leader in the distribution and support of high-tech equipment for material handling, agriculture, turfcare, and construction. The group unites forty operating companies across twelve countries, each with its own culture and way of working. The Operational Excellence Lead drives process optimization and implements best practices across the group's diverse companies.

About Royal Reesink

Royal Reesink began in 1786 as a small workshop in Zutphen. Over the centuries, it has grown into an international equipment group with a long-standing reputation for technical and operational excellence. The company goes far beyond selling, leasing and renting equipment: tailored service, fast repairs, reliable parts supply and hands-on training have defined Royal Reesink for nine generations. In 2024, the group surpassed 1.3 billion euros in revenue.

Each operating company (OpCo) operates with its own culture and rhythm, shaped by the sectors it serves. That diversity creates a dynamic environment where learning happens almost by default: different technologies, business models, and operational challenges intersect. As Royal Reesink continues its transformation – optimizing processes, strengthening collaboration, and refining performance – employees play a prominent role in shaping the next chapter of a centuries-old enterprise that remains as ambitious and full of opportunity as it was at its founding.

Vacancy: Operational Excellence Lead

The Operational Excellence Lead is a newly created role designed to optimize processes across the OpCo's and establish groupwide best practices. A key priority in the highly competitive and capital-intensive equipment industry Royal Reesink operates in.

It is an exciting position with a distinct cadence: a new project awaits every four to six months, moving between OpCo's, each with their own challenges. At the start of each assignment, the Operational Excellence Lead determines the scope of the project in close cooperation with OpCo management. The goal is to analyze processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement meaningful improvements. Over time, this role will be able to create a standardized and scalable framework covering optimal inventory levels, lead times, workshop efficiency, and procurement strategies.

The strength of the Operational Excellence Lead lies in a combination of in-depth analytical thinking and decisive execution, with a strong focus on tangible results. Improvements are implemented quickly and effectively, resulting in visible gains in operational efficiency and reduced working capital. Strong stakeholder management skills are vital, as the position engages with senior management and operational teams to secure buy-in and ensure smooth execution. Because each OpCo has its own dynamics, scale, and maturity level, the ability to adapt communication style and approach is critical. Even when an OpCo shows initial hesitation, this professional knows how to build trust and move initiatives forward. The role reports to the Director of Strategy Execution, Gijs van Loon.

"This is a role for someone who loves to roll up their sleeves and make an impact at the heart of our organization. Someone who drives tangible improvements in day-to-day performance, helps OpCo's streamline their business, and accomplish groupwide strategic goals. It offers a unique opportunity to work on innovative projects across multiple companies in the ever-evolving Royal Reesink family"
– Gijs van Loon, Director Strategy Execution

This role is an excellent fit for someone with solid hands-on operational Lean Six Sigma experience and a proven ability to deliver improvements across different organizations. Working on a new challenge every few months is part of the appeal; the ideal candidate enjoys the variety of environments and seeing the impact build across OpCo's and the group. Experience in equipment, industrial or comparable sectors is useful but not essential; a results-oriented mindset and an adaptive, flexible personality are the key to success in this role.

Interested?

Royal Reesink is working with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.