Head of Distribution Center, region Karlovy Vary (m/f/d)

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced people leader to take charge as Head of our new Distribution Center in Ostrov – a key project for ZF Aftermarket and a future benchmark for logistics across Europe.

The center is currently in its ramp-up phase:

• In July 2025, the first warehouse operators joined for testing.
• The go-live is planned for October 2025.
• The current hall covers 55,000 m²; construction of a second, 45,000 m² facility will begin in 2026.

As the Head of DC, you will be responsible not only for Logistics Operations, but also for a broad portfolio of critical areas, including Quality Assurance, EHS, Facility & Maintenance, and others.

You’ll oversee both the launch of the first hall and the development of the second – from ground works to full operations. This is a unique opportunity to shape the culture, structure, and long-term direction of a high-impact logistics hub.

What can you look forward to as Head of Distribution Center (m/f/d)?

• Full responsibility for the ramp-up and long-term development of a flagship, best-in-class distribution center.
• Leadership across a broad set of functional areas.
• Opportunity to build and inspire a cross-functional team from the ground up – shaping a shared culture of ownership, motivation, and continuous improvement.
• Active role in the design, construction, and strategic launch of the second facility (45,000 m²), set to begin in 2026.
• Day-to-day cooperation with experienced local teams (operations, HR, support), who are highly engaged.
• Implementation and continuous optimization of performance frameworks (KPI) to drive excellence and proactively respond to deviations – supported by central analytics teams.
• Chance to set the tone and vision for how the site operates – mindset and team spirit.
• Close collaboration with ZF’s central logistics, IT, and automation teams to drive innovation, and smart logistics solutions.
• A visible and strategic leadership role within ZF Aftermarket – with the opportunity to position Ostrov as a model site for the European DC network.

Your Profile:

• Proven experience in leading large-scale warehouse or distribution center operations with strong knowledge of LEAN/Six Sigma, ideally with oversight of multiple domains beyond operations (e.g. Quality, EHS, Maintenance).
• Strong people leadership skills – you build high-performing teams, shape culture, and know how to inspire and motivate others.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams.
• Skilled in building engagement and continuous improvement mindset across diverse teams.
• Strong project and change management capabilities, preferably with exposure to greenfield or major transformation projects.
• Deep understanding of logistics KPIs, process optimization, modern warehouse technologies, and adept at identifying and addressing business risks and issues.
• Fluent in Czech and English; German is a plus.
• Willingness to be present on-site in Ostrov and to travel as needed.

Why to choose ZF in Ostrov?

• You will lead one of the most important logistics projects in ZF Aftermarket.
• Freedom to shape the culture, processes, and structure of a flagship site.
• Access to modern systems, automation and smart logistics technologies.
• Chance to be part of a dedicated team that sees this project as their personal mission.
• Performance and annual bonuses, anniversary rewards.
• Competitive compensation and benefits, including company car.
• 5 weeks of holiday, flexible working hours.
• Language courses and external training.
• Subsidized lunches and regular monthly cafeteria allowance.