Sr. Director - Operations & Supply Chain

talabat is part of the Delivery Hero Group, the world’s pioneering local delivery platform, our mission is to deliver an amazing experience—fast, easy, and to your door. We operate in over 70+ countries worldwide. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Delivery Hero has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2017 and is part of the MDAX stock market index.

We are looking for a seasoned Regional Senior Director of Supply Chain & Operations to lead the end-to-end supply chain strategy, operational design, and execution for our grocery verticals across 8 markets. This role will oversee talabat mart dark stores and distribution centers, as well as the local shops ecosystem (including Instashop and Talabat).

The mandate is to drive regional standardization, operational excellence, inventory health, and long-term scalability—while collaborating closely with commercial, product, and tech teams to create a resilient and future-ready supply chain.This role will own the strategy, policy, process design, and product evolution across three core verticals: in-store & DC operations, end-to-end supply chain, and inventory management , for our Grocery & Retail business.

1. Strategy & Network Design

• Define and execute the regional supply chain strategy including warehousing, last-mile models, and hub-spoke configurations.

• Lead long-term capacity planning, infrastructure investments, and operational design for both dark stores and local shop operations.
  Build the operational model for local shops, including in-store picking and fulfillment processes.

2. Operational Excellence & Standardization

• Develop, document, and roll out standardized best-in-class processes across inventory management, order picking, and delivery logistics.

• Lead process optimization and automation techniques across all markets.

• Govern inventory health metrics: stock availability, accuracy, turnover, and working capital utilization.

• Build and enforce operational governance frameworks to ensure policy alignment and compliance across all countries.

3. Supplier Collaboration Framework

• Establish strategic partnerships with regional 3PLs and key grocery suppliers.

• Lead regional contract negotiations and performance-based SLAs.

4. Performance Governance

• Define and track KPIs, dashboards, and country scorecards for performance monitoring.

• Benchmark country-level performance and drive continuous improvement through cross-market knowledge sharing.
  Act as a coach and thought partner to country-level supply chain and operations leaders.

5. Innovation & Future Readiness

• Pilot cutting-edge tech solutions such as AI-based demand forecasting, robotics, and smart replenishment tools.

• Collaborate with Product and Tech to develop digital tools that enable smarter, faster, and more reliable operations.

6. Talent Development

• Build and nurture a strong talent pipeline for both country and regional supply chain roles.

• Drive capability-building programs and foster leadership alignment across supply chain teams.

• Champion a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, and customer-first thinking.

7. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Compliance

• Work cross-functionally with Commercial, Finance, Product, and Tech to align supply chain strategies with overall business goals.

• Manage key cost drivers including logistics, labor, and inventory.

• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, and food regulatory standards across all facilities.

A more detailed view: 

Store & Distribution Center (DC) Operations

• Drive efficiency, accuracy, and reliability in dark store and DC workflows including receiving, replenishment, picking, packing, and dispatch.

• Ensure strong labor productivity, high order fulfillment rates, and store-level operational excellence.

• Identify automation and process improvement opportunities to scale operations efficiently.

Supply Chain Management

• Lead inbound logistics, replenishment planning, and warehouse network optimization.

• Build agile, cost-effective supply chains capable of responding to changing demand and market dynamics.

• Work closely with vendor management and planning teams to reduce lead times and improve delivery performance.

Inventory Management

• Own regional inventory health including accuracy, stock availability, and working capital efficiency.

• Improve demand planning alignment and implement smart tools to minimize waste, shrinkage, and overstock.

• Introduce data-led forecasting models and inventory control mechanisms where applicable.

• 10+ years of experience in supply chain management and operations, with at least 5 years in a senior regional leadership role—preferably in grocery, FMCG, eCommerce, or quick commerce.

• Proven success in scaling supply chain networks and driving operational excellence across multiple markets.

• Strong background in inventory management, logistics design, warehouse operations, and vendor management.

• Expertise in implementing tech-enabled process redesign.

• Ability to operate at both strategic and executional levels—balancing long-term thinking with daily performance delivery.

• Demonstrated experience in managing high-performing, cross-market teams.

• Strong stakeholder management skills across commercial, tech, and finance domains.

• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical, forecasting, and performance-tracking capabilities.

• Experience managing large budgets and driving cost optimization initiatives.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational change management skills.

• Knowledge of food safety and regulatory compliance requirements is advantageous