Full-Time

Director of Distribution Operations and Customer Support

Posted on 4/18/2026

Mars

Mars

10,001+ employees

Global confectionery, food, and petcare company

No salary listed

Bellheim, Germany

In Person

Category
Customer Experience & Support (1)
Required Skills
Power BI
Inventory Management
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
Requirements
  • Minimum Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business Administration or related field (MBA preferred)
  • 10+ year of experience in distribution, logistics and customer support, with 5 years in a leadership role
  • Experience in the medical device, diagnostics or life sciences industry
  • Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements
  • Proven track record of building scalable distribution networks and high performing customer service teams
  • Strong team leadership skills, with experience of managing multi-site or remote teams and leading in matrix
  • Strong data analysis and interpretation skills for operational metrics, customer support trends and inventory performance
  • Proficient in Excel, reporting tools, Power BI and digital collaboration platforms
  • Experience in designing and implementing SOPs, KPIs and scalable workflows
  • Fluency in German and English
Responsibilities
  • Oversee end-to-end distribution operations, including warehousing, shipping, receiving, inventory control and order fulfillment in DACH countries, Belgium and France
  • Ensures compliance to GDP, FDA, ISO and other applicable standards
  • Develop and implement scalable logistics strategies to support growth, minimize costs and reduce lead times
  • Responsible for cost of logistic operations, including budgeting, cost control and reporting
  • Manage relationships with external partners, i.e. freight carriers, warehouse providers to optimize performance and service levels
  • Implement KPIs and metrics to monitor delivery performance, order accuracy and inventory integrity
  • Ensure recruitment, training and associate safety of warehouse staff
  • Lead1st and 2nd level customer support organization responsible for order processing, customer issue resolution, invoicing, product returns, repair and technical service
  • Establish KPIs and monitor service level and customer satisfaction
  • Enable design and execution of customer escalation protocols and feedback loops to drive service improvement
  • Ensure staffing, recruitment and engagement of customer service team, technician team
  • Lead development of technical documentation and adapt ERP systems for Technical service
  • Accountable for developing trends in the industry to deliver value in efficiencies and customer satisfaction
  • Partner with Sales and Product Management to ensure cohesive customer experience
  • Acting as liaison between customers and distribution function related to specific customer orders
  • Manage forecasting, demand analysis, and cross-functional collaboration
  • Conduct statistical forecasting methods, deploy planning tools, and data-driven decision-making
  • Analyze historical sales data, market trends, and promotional activities to develop accurate demand forecasts that support supply chain efficiency and business objectives
  • Ensure attention to detail, and the ability to communicate insights effectively to stakeholders in Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain are essential
  • Build, mentor and lead high-performing operations and support teams
  • Managing the team leaders of Ist Level Support IHD, Customer Service for the reference laboratories and Lab Connectivity Service lead
  • Management of the Director of Logistics & Instrument Service and the Director of Sales Service & Export
  • Drive culture of continuous improvement, associate engagement and well being
  • Manage departmental budgets, staffing and resource allocation
Desired Qualifications
  • MBA preferred
  • Fluency in German and English

Mars, Incorporated makes and sells a wide range of food, confectionery, and petcare products worldwide, with brands like M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Dove, Orbit, Skittles, Pedigree, and Royal Canin, and it also operates pet health services through networks such as AniCura, Banfield, BluePearl, and VCA. Its products come from integrated manufacturing and distribution systems, delivering everyday treats and meals as well as veterinary care through a global network of partners. Mars differentiates itself through its diversified portfolio, long family ownership, and the Mars Five Principles—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom—that guide decisions and actions. The company aims to help communities prosper and improve social and environmental outcomes while growing its business and scale.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$27B

Headquarters

McLean, Virginia

Founded

1911

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $26B senior notes fund $35.9B Kellanova acquisition, adding Pringles and RXBAR by August 2026.
  • Google Cloud Gemini rollout boosts productivity in marketing, sales, and R&D through 2026.
  • $100M Chicago expansion creates 600 jobs, strengthening snacking innovation hub.

What critics are saying

  • Kellanova deal fails by August 20, 2026, triggering $26B note redemption at 101% plus interest.
  • Antitrust regulators block Kellanova over snacking overlaps, wasting $26B and erasing synergies.
  • Happy Howl cannibalizes 15% of Pedigree and Royal Canin premium sales within 18 months.

What makes Mars unique

  • Mars dominates petcare with Royal Canin, PEDIGREE, and largest U.S. veterinary networks.
  • Family-owned structure enables generation-long investments like $2B U.S. manufacturing by 2026.
  • Integrates pet nutrition, diagnostics, and wearables across 130 countries with 100,000 associates.

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Benefits

Professional Development Budget

Conference Attendance Budget

Performance Bonus

Company News

PR Newswire
Apr 8th, 2026
Mars and Strava partner to track pet activities with new 'Pet Tag' feature

Mars, the global pet care leader, has partnered with fitness app Strava to launch a "Pet Tag" feature allowing US dog owners to track outdoor activities with their pets. The collaboration, part of Mars' IAMS brand initiative, aims to encourage active lifestyles for both pet parents and their animals. The partnership includes exclusive Strava challenges throughout 2026 and supports Mars' BETTER CITIES FOR PETS programme, which seeks to create more pet-friendly urban spaces. According to Mars research, 76% of Strava users with pets say their companions motivate them to exercise, yet only 40% of urban pet owners consider their neighbourhoods truly pet-friendly. Data from the partnership will help advocate for more welcoming urban environments. Mars aims to increase access to pet-friendly green spaces for 10 million people worldwide by 2030.

Yahoo Finance
Apr 4th, 2026
Mars Snacking to create 600 jobs, invest $100M in expanded Chicago headquarters

Mars Snacking is creating 600 new jobs as it expands its global headquarters in Chicago, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced. The expansion will add the company's North America Region, Accelerator Division and Global Functions to its Chicago operations. The confectionery company, which produces M&Ms, Snickers, Twix, Starburst and Skittles, will open a new North America regional office hub in Chicago's Fulton Market district with capacity for over 1,000 associates. The Accelerator division will establish a global office hub in downtown Chicago at the former Kellanova headquarters. Under an Economic Development for a Growing Economy agreement, Mars Snacking has committed to a $100 million investment. The company currently supports more than 4,000 jobs in the Chicago region and operates its Global Innovation Center there.

PR Newswire
Jan 21st, 2026
Mars appoints Lauren Larsen as chief customer officer for Food & Nutrition North America

Mars, Incorporated has appointed Lauren Larsen as Chief Customer Officer for Mars Food & Nutrition, North America. Larsen brings 18 years of consumer packaged goods experience from companies including Procter & Gamble and Glanbia. In her new role, Larsen will lead sales strategies for Mars' rice and ready meal categories in the US, overseeing brands including Ben's Original, Seeds of Change and Tasty Bite. She will focus on driving growth and market penetration across retail channels. Dave Dusangh, Regional President of Mars Food & Nutrition North America, said Larsen's experience building sales organisations and driving commercial excellence will help accelerate portfolio growth and strengthen customer partnerships. Mars is a $65 billion family-owned business with brands spanning pet care, snacking and food products.

Sustainability Magazine
Dec 4th, 2025
Mars invests $20M in climate-smart rice farming to boost crop resilience

Mars has committed to invest $20 million in sustainable rice sourcing programmes by 2030 to help farmers adopt climate-smart agriculture practices. The investment comes as climate change threatens global rice yields, which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects will decline by 10-15% by 2050. The company, which owns Ben's Original rice brand, will work directly with farmers to implement regenerative practices like Alternate Wetting and Drying and the System of Rice Intensification. These methods reduce water usage and greenhouse gas emissions whilst improving crop resilience. One Arkansas farm using these techniques has reduced water usage by 60% and achieved up to 60% lower emissions compared to regional averages. Mars is also a founding member of the Sustainable Rice Platform, a global alliance promoting sustainable rice farming.

Mars Inc.
Jun 30th, 2025
Mars to Acquire Kellanova | Mars

Mars is expanding its snacking business with the agreement to acquire Kellanova, a leading global snacking company home to beloved brands like Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Pop-Tarts®, Rice Krispies Treats®, NutriGrain® and RXBAR®.

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