Distribution Manager

The Distribution Manager, EMEA is responsible for the effective, compliant, and cost-efficient distribution of Life Sciences products throughout the EMEA region.

Based at the company's EMEA headquarters in Amsterdam, the Distribution Manager will lead the local warehouse team and manage a network of external third-party logistics providers (3PLs), including operations in key markets such as the United Kingdom and Switzerland . The role will also manage transportation and freight partners supporting customer deliveries throughout the region.

The Distribution Manager will act in compliance with the Global Operations framework and has end-to-end responsibility for warehouse operations, inventory management and accuracy, order fulfillment, transportation performance, 3PL management, physical inventory counts, and the distribution-related customer experience .

This is both an operational leadership and continuous-improvement role. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain compliance and develop a high-performing distribution organization, establish strong performance management across internal and external partners, and continuously improve inventory turns, lead times, service levels, cost, and customer satisfaction .

Key Responsibilities

1. EMEA Distribution Operations

• Lead day-to-day distribution and logistics activities across EMEA, ensuring reliable and timely fulfillment of customer orders.
• Manage operations within the Amsterdam warehouse, including receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, and inventory control.
• Ensure appropriate capacity, processes, systems, and resources are available to support current business requirements and future growth.
• Establish and continuously improve standard operating procedures across the distribution network.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement solutions to improve productivity, service, and scalability.
• Ensure appropriate handling and storage conditions for Life Sciences products in accordance with product requirements, company policies, and applicable quality standards.
• Develop contingency plans to minimize the impact of potential supply chain and distribution disruptions.

2. Warehouse Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop the Amsterdam warehouse team.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, objectives, and performance expectations.
• Ensure appropriate workforce planning, training, and cross-training to provide operational flexibility and business continuity.
• Develop a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement .
• Conduct regular performance reviews and support the professional development of team members.
• Ensure the team has the appropriate skills, tools, and processes to meet business and customer requirements.

3. 3PL Management

• Manage relationships and operational performance of external 3PL providers in Amsterdam and across EMEA, particularly in strategic markets such as the UK and Switzerland .
• Establish clear service-level agreements (SLAs), KPIs, and operating expectations with each provider.
• Conduct regular business and performance reviews with 3PL partners.
• Monitor inventory accuracy, order fulfillment, lead times, quality, customer service, and costs at external warehouse locations.
• Lead corrective-action plans when external providers do not meet agreed performance standards.
• Participate in the evaluation, selection, implementation, and transition of new logistics partners when required.
• Ensure 3PL partners follow relevant company procedures and quality requirements.
• Develop strong working relationships with partners while maintaining clear accountability for agreed performance.

4. Transportation & Freight Management

• Manage transportation partners supporting parcel, express, air, road, and other relevant freight services across EMEA.
• Monitor carrier performance, including on-time delivery, lead time, shipment reliability, damages, claims, and transportation costs .
• Ensure appropriate transportation solutions are selected according to customer requirements, product characteristics, service expectations, and cost.
• Negotiate and manage carrier agreements in collaboration with Procurement and other relevant stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate shipments, optimize transportation routes, and reduce costs without compromising customer service.
• Lead carrier performance reviews and corrective actions where service falls below expectations.
• Monitor changes in the transportation environment and proactively identify potential risks to customer deliveries.

5. Inventory Management & Physical Inventory

• Maintain high levels of inventory accuracy across company-operated and third-party warehouse locations.
• Monitor overall inventory levels and ensure inventory appropriately supports customer demand while minimizing excess and obsolete stock.
• Drive improvement in inventory turns and working-capital efficiency while maintaining appropriate customer service levels.
• Establish and manage effective cycle-counting processes and inventory-control procedures.
• Plan, coordinate, and lead quarterly and annual physical inventory counts at the Amsterdam warehouse and, where applicable, external 3PL locations.
• Ensure physical inventory counts are performed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with company policies and Finance requirements, including appropriate preparation, count controls, reconciliation, approval, and reporting.
• Partner closely with Finance and, when required, external auditors to support annual physical inventory verification and audit requirements.
• Investigate inventory discrepancies identified through cycle counts and physical inventories, determine root causes, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure timely reconciliation between physical inventory and inventory recorded within relevant ERP and warehouse-management systems.
• Monitor and report inventory adjustments and identify recurring sources of inventory variance.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service, and Finance to identify slow-moving and excess inventory and develop appropriate action plans.

6. Customer Service & Order Fulfillment

• Ensure distribution operations consistently meet customer expectations for accuracy, product availability, lead time, and delivery performance .
• Monitor customer-related distribution issues and ensure timely root-cause analysis and corrective action.
• Partner closely with Customer Service, Sales, Supply Chain, and other functions to improve the overall order-to-delivery experience.
• Support key customer requirements and escalation management when necessary.
• Use customer feedback, complaints, and service metrics to identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Promote a strong customer-focused mindset throughout the warehouse, distribution, 3PL, and transportation network.

7. Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

Develop, maintain, and regularly review an EMEA distribution performance dashboard covering the Amsterdam warehouse, external 3PLs, and transportation providers.

Key performance measures will include:

Inventory

• Total inventory value
• Inventory turns
• Inventory accuracy
• Physical inventory count accuracy and variance
• Cycle count accuracy
• Inventory adjustments
• Excess and obsolete inventory

Customer & Delivery

• Order-to-ship lead time
• Order-to-delivery lead time
• On-time delivery / OTIF
• Order and shipment accuracy
• Backorder performance
• Customer satisfaction
• Distribution-related customer complaints

Operational Excellence

• Warehouse productivity
• Picking and shipping accuracy
• 3PL performance against SLA
• Carrier performance
• Freight claims and damages

Financial

• Distribution cost as a percentage of sales
• Transportation cost per order/shipment
• 3PL and warehouse operating costs
• Performance against budget

The Distribution Manager will analyze performance trends, identify root causes, and establish measurable improvement plans to drive improved operational and financial performance.

The role is expected to promote a culture of continuous improvement , using structured problem-solving and Lean methodologies where appropriate.

8. Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure warehouse and distribution activities comply with applicable company policies, quality standards, and regulatory requirements relevant to Life Sciences products.
• Partner closely with Quality and Regulatory teams to maintain appropriate procedures, documentation, records, and operational controls.
• Ensure appropriate handling of temperature-sensitive, controlled, high-value, or other specialized products where applicable.
• Support internal and external audits of warehouse and distribution operations.
• Ensure identified audit findings are addressed through appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain appropriate business-continuity and contingency plans across the EMEA distribution network.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to inventory, transportation, warehouse capacity, 3PL providers, and potential supply chain disruptions.

9. Budget & Cost Management

• Develop and manage the EMEA distribution and logistics operating budget.
• Monitor warehouse, 3PL, and transportation expenses against budget and forecast.
• Identify opportunities to reduce total distribution costs while maintaining or improving customer service.
• Support annual transportation and 3PL negotiations.
• Provide reliable forecasts of logistics costs and explain significant budget variances.
• Develop business cases for significant operational investments and improvement initiatives where required.
• Balance cost, inventory, lead time, quality, and customer-service considerations when making operational decisions.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance for the position will primarily be measured against the following:

Inventory

• Inventory value
• Inventory turns
• Inventory accuracy
• Quarterly and annual physical inventory accuracy
• Cycle count accuracy
• Inventory adjustments and variances
• Excess and obsolete inventory

Customer Delivery

• Order fulfillment lead time
• On-time delivery / OTIF
• Order and shipment accuracy
• Backorder performance

Operational Excellence

• Warehouse productivity
• Picking and shipping accuracy
• 3PL SLA performance
• Carrier performance
• Damage and freight-claim rates

Financial

• Distribution cost as a percentage of sales
• Transportation cost per order/shipment
• Warehouse and 3PL operating costs
• Performance against budget

Customer

• Customer satisfaction
• Distribution-related complaints
• Complaint resolution time

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, Business Administration, Engineering , or equivalent relevant experience.
• Approximately 5+ years of progressive experience within distribution, logistics, supply chain, or warehouse operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing warehouse and inventory operations.
• Experience managing 3PLs and transportation providers across multiple countries .
• Previous people-management experience with a demonstrated ability to develop and motivate operational teams.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, physical inventory controls, warehouse operations, and transportation management.
• Experience establishing and managing operational KPIs and SLAs.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience working with ERP and/or Warehouse Management Systems.
• Strong Excel and data-analysis capabilities.
• Fluent English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within an international and cross-functional environment.

Preferred

• Experience within the Life Sciences, biotechnology, laboratory, medical device, pharmaceutical, or scientific products industry .
• Experience managing European cross-border distribution operations.
• Familiarity with distribution requirements associated with sensitive, high-value, or temperature-controlled products.
• Experience with continuous-improvement methodologies.
• Experience implementing or optimizing warehouse, WMS, ERP, or transportation-management processes.

Leadership Competencies

Customer Focus

Understands that distribution is a critical component of the overall customer experience and ensures operational decisions support customer needs.

Ownership & Accountability

Takes responsibility for results across both internal operations and outsourced logistics partners.

Operational Excellence

Builds disciplined, reliable, and scalable processes while continuously seeking opportunities to improve performance.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Uses KPIs, operational data, inventory information, and financial metrics to identify issues, establish priorities, and make informed decisions.

People Leadership

Builds capable and engaged teams, sets clear expectations, promotes accountability, and creates opportunities for employee development.

Vendor Management

Develops productive relationships with 3PL and transportation partners while establishing clear expectations and holding providers accountable for performance.

Continuous Improvement

Challenges existing processes and proactively identifies opportunities to improve service, productivity, inventory efficiency, lead time, and cost.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Works effectively with Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Finance, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory , and other functions to achieve business objectives.

Cytek is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.