Overview
The Role
The Business Unit Director – Retail Automation is a senior operational leadership role responsible for building, scaling, and running B2X’s new Retail Automation business unit.
This business unit delivers installation, maintenance, and lifecycle services for in-store retail automation technologies, including (but not limited to):
- Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL)
- camera and sensor stock monitoring solutions
- Automated checkout ordering and payment self-service kiosks
- Related in-store digital and automation technologies
- Retail digital advertising
The role requires a highly experienced operations leader with strong working knowledge of retail operations across supermarket chains or comparable multi-site retail environments. You will be accountable for end-to-end business unit performance, covering operational execution, service quality, risk management, and financial results.
You will lead a team of Service Managers and Delivery Managers, act as the senior escalation point for key clients, and work closely with internal stakeholders across IT, Sales, Finance, and Engineering. This role reports directly to the VP Operations and plays a critical part in shaping B2X’s growth in retail automation services.
Your reporting line is to: Senior VP Operations. Your location is Flexible (with travel as required).
Language mandatory: English and German must be fluent at C2 level in both.
Salary: up to 90k Euro (depending on experience and capabilities).
Your Responsibilities
- Business Unit Leadership & Strategy
- Own and drive the overall performance of the Retail Automation business unit, including operational, financial, and strategic outcomes
- Define and execute the business unit operating model, processes, and governance
- Translate company strategy into executable operational plans aligned with customer and market needs
- Support business development activities by contributing operational insight to new opportunities and customer proposals
- Build strong relationships with external partners used to deliver the operational execution
- Operational Excellence & Delivery
- Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of installation and maintenance services across retail environments
- Oversee multi-country (EU-wide, multi-partner) operations, ensuring scalability and reliability
- Establish, monitor, and continuously improve KPIs, SLAs, and service quality metrics
- Drive a continuous improvement culture focused on efficiency, cost control, automation, and service innovation
- Ensure operational readiness for new product launches, pilots, and large-scale rollouts
- Financial Performance & Risk Management
- Full P&L responsibility for the business unit
- Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and financial performance targets
- Identify and mitigate operational, commercial, and delivery risks
- Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, and internal governance requirements
- Client & Stakeholder Management
- Act as the senior escalation point for all major client issues and service challenges
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key customers, including major retailers and OEM partners
- Represent the business unit in executive-level customer meetings and governance forums
- Work closely with Sales on account growth, renewals, and upsell opportunities
- Internal Collaboration
- Partner closely with IT, Engineering, Sales, Finance, and Product teams to ensure aligned execution
- Ensure service operations are supported by scalable systems, tools, and reporting
- Provide clear, data-driven communication to senior leadership and stakeholders
- People Leadership
- Lead, develop, and mentor a team of Service Managers and Delivery Managers
- Set clear objectives, performance expectations, and development plans
- Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and customer focus
- Support succession planning and capability development within the business unit
Your Profile
- Proven experience in senior operations leadership roles, ideally within retail operations, retail services, or complex multi-site service environments
- Strong understanding of how supermarket chains or comparable retail operations function at store and regional level
- Experience delivering technology-based services, installations, or field service operations (retail automation, IT, IoT, or similar environments preferred)
- Demonstrated P&L ownership and strong financial acumen
- Track record of managing complex stakeholder environments and senior-level client relationships
- Experience leading and scaling operational teams across multiple locations or partners
- Strong risk management, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels
- Happy to work in a fast-growing, change-oriented environment
- You speak English fluently to work in an international environment
What We Offer
- A senior leadership role with full ownership of a strategically important, high-growth business unit
- The opportunity to shape and scale a new retail automation services offering from the ground up
- Exposure to leading global retailers and innovative OEM partners
- A collaborative, international working environment with short decision-making paths
- Competitive compensation aligned with senior leadership responsibility
- Flexibility in working location and autonomy in how you run the business unit
About B2X
B2X is a leading provider of post sales services specializing in circular lifecycle management for electronic hardware. Established in 2007 and head-quartered in Munich, our solutions and services spanning the whole lifetime of a wide range of consumer electronic products as well as B2B electronic infrastructure.
Our digital platform services and (web) portal solutions facilitate the digitalization and automation of multiple workflows and interactions with end-users and partners in our clients' network.
We empower companies with innovative carbon solutions to manage their hardware lifecycles towards carbon net zero.
Together with top-tier tech companies across multiple industry sectors and geographies, we create unique customer experiences at reduced complexity and cost for lifecycle management.
The kind of unique B2X operating model integrates more than 200 service partners in over 30 countries, orchestrated by our B2X team of more than 100 service professionals and steered by the proprietary B2X service management platform.
How to apply
Send your CV in English and a brief note outlining your relevant experience in retail operations and service leadership. We’re looking for someone ready to take ownership, build strong teams, and drive operational excellence in retail automation.
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