Director Order Operations EMEA

What We’re Looking For

Must-have qualifications:

• Minimum BSc degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or related field;
• Minimum 10 years of experience in order management - this is the core of the role; procurement experience is secondary
• At least 7 years in a senior leadership position managing large, multi-disciplinary teams (30+ FTEs)
• Demonstrated experience building, motivating, and growing teams
• Proven ability to manage ambiguity, non-standardized processes, and a complex stakeholder landscape simultaneously
• Process-oriented thinker with a track record of designing and implementing operational improvements at scale
• Budget management and KPI ownership experience
• Fluency in English; Dutch is a strong preference
• EU work authorization

Nice to have:

• Background in the technology solutions or IT services industry; experience with Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, or Salesforce ecosystems is a meaningful advantage
• Experience in manufacturing or high-complexity logistics environments is also relevant

Personal competencies:

• Genuinely people-first leader - empathetic, fair, and known for bringing out the best in others
• Curious and open-minded, with the intellectual rigor to dig into complex problems and the confidence to stand their ground
• Inspirational rather than hierarchical - leads through credibility, not authority
• Strong enough to manage chaos and complexity without losing sight of priorities
• A real team player who integrates naturally across departments and geographies, steering shared outcomes without needing to own everything

What We Offer

• Competitive salary aligned with seniority and experience
• 25 vacation days + 3 extra days per year
• Premium-free pension — WWT invests in your future at no cost to you
• Excellent bonus scheme
• Global benefits as part of a worldwide organization
• A high-performing, collaborative culture with real opportunities to shape the direction of a growing operation

WWT is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive environment where all employees can thrive.

About WWT

World Wide Technology is ranked #10 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For — recognised for the 15th consecutive year. At WWT’s EIC (European Integration Centre) in the Netherlands, we design, configure, and deliver complex technology solutions for some of the world’s largest enterprises.

About the Role

The Director of Order Operations EMEA sits at the heart of WWT’s EIC operation — the central point where customer orders come in and are driven through to delivery. This role acts as the spider in the web, bridging Program Management, the broader EIC organization, and WWT’s Global teams, while serving as the primary escalation point for operational issues with customers.

You will lead a team of 70+ people with 6 direct reports (order management, procurement, and planning leads) and be accountable for both day-to-day execution and long-term strategic development of the department. Our business is complex: every customer has a different process, and not all workflows are standardized — you must thrive in a dynamic environment and be skilled at managing complexity and ambiguity at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Stakeholder Management:

• Own end-to-end order fulfilment across EMEA: from the moment a customer request comes in through to product delivery, ensuring every step of the process is on track
• Serve as the central coordination point between EIC, Global Order Operations, PMO and customer stakeholders - acting as the spider in the web across all order flows
• Manage a highly complex, multi-customer portfolio where processes are often non-standardized and each customer requires a tailored approach; thrive in this environment and create structure within it
• Build and maintain strong relationships with demanding internal and external stakeholders, ensuring they understand and trust the end-to-end process
• Represent Order Operations in escalations with customers, and in senior leadership forums across EIC and WWT Global
• Operate effectively within a US-headquartered centre-of-excellence model - lead local execution of global initiatives while advocating for the EMEA organization where needed

People Leadership:

• Lead, motivate, and develop 6 direct reports and a broader team of 70+ professionals across order management, procurement, and planning
• Lead by example - be present and visible, know your team by name, and invest genuinely in their development and wellbeing
• Build a high-performing, engaged team culture that can absorb growth and change without losing momentum
• Drive succession planning within the team and identify and develop future leaders

Strategy & Continuous Improvement:

• Develop and execute 1–3 year strategic plans for the department, covering people, processes, systems, and organizational structure
• Anticipate and plan for growth scenarios — build the organization ahead of demand, not behind it
• Drive a process optimization mindset across the team: identify inefficiencies, design scalable solutions, and implement improvements in a structured way
• Manage departmental budget and own KPI frameworks that drive operational efficiency and customer satisfaction
• Balance maintaining daily operational performance with absorbing new global initiatives and managing ongoing change