Associate Manager, Outbound Operations (m/w/d) - Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg

As Associate Manager, Outbound Logistics, you play a critical role on the outbound operations team. You lead a team of supervisors and own shop-floor execution of finished-vehicle flow from the light tunnel through charging, parking and staging, including truck flow, on-site traffic, truck audits and the external compound in Neuhardenberg. You are the first line on the floor: covering daily operations, resolving challenges as they arise, and running shop-floor meetings with supervisors and stakeholders so the yard stays ready, safe and congestion-free. The factory can produce up to 10,000 vehicles per week; this position ensures outbound capacity, space and staffing are prepared for incoming volume, not only for vehicles already on the yard. You work to make the outbound yard the most organized and automated in the world, so vehicles move through the process at high speed and are ready when needed. You work cross-functionally with Quality, End of Line, General Assembly, Production Planning and EMEA partners including Claims, and translate outbound direction into a reliable vehicle and truck flow across a 24/5 shift pattern and two sites.

- Build and lead a strong outbound team of supervisors and shop-floor staff at GFBB and Neuhardenberg, capable of delivering against readiness, flow and yard-performance targets
- Own shop-floor execution of finished-vehicle flow from light tunnel through charging, parking and staging
- Cover daily operations, including shift execution, attendance, standard work, shop-floor meetings and real-time problem-solving
- Own truck flow and on-site traffic: inbound/outbound trucks, lane discipline, traffic rules and a safe, continuous movement through the yard
- Keep outbound yards in operational condition at all times — no congestion, no blocked lanes, no uncontrolled parking, clear staging and capacity for the next hours of production
- Drive the outbound yard toward the most organized and automated standard in the world, so vehicle and truck flow is fast, repeatable and ready at all times
- Own vehicle readiness: the right VIN in the right stall or staging lane, at the right time, to the right quality standard
- Own execution of truck audits and close findings with a clear owner
- Plan ahead with Production Planning on build, mix and timing so space, staffing, staging and truck flow are ready before volume hits the yard
- Own daily operations of the external compound in Neuhardenberg and maintain one operating standard with GFBB
- Own headcount planning, attendance and shift planning across both sites, including peak volume, holidays and absences
- Build and maintain shop / headcount-balance dashboards, using AI where it adds value, so staffing and vehicle flow are visible and data-driven
- Monitor KPIs (readiness, staging accuracy, truck flow, yard condition, safety, productivity) and drive continuous improvement
- Serve as the outbound point of contact on the floor for Quality, End of Line, General Assembly and EMEA teams including Claims; close issues at source with a named owner
- Enforce safety, lane, staging, truck-flow and standard-work discipline; coach and develop supervisors; identify bottlenecks and escalate operational blockers with a clear ask

- Proven hands-on operational leader who owns shop-floor outcomes and can operate across two sites
- Ideally 5+ years of experience managing teams in a high-volume manufacturing, logistics or industrial environment
- Experience leading shift supervisors / team leads in physical operations
- Strong capability in high-volume vehicle flow, truck flow / on-site traffic, yard condition and cross-functional shop-floor collaboration
- Clear understanding of outbound performance metrics (readiness, throughput, quality, safety, yard utilization and cost)
- Ability to plan ahead, anticipate volume and mix challenges, and align with Production Planning
- Ability to build practical shop / headcount-balance dashboards and use AI tools to make staffing and flow visible
- Drive for organized, standardized and automated yard operations at high volume
- Skilled at leading, coaching and developing direct reports
- Experience with Lean operating systems and continuous improvement
- Adept at industrial safety practices, policies and legal compliance for high-volume operations
- Comfortable working with EMEA functions (e.g. Claims) on operational follow-up
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage a large workload in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and German
- University degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Industrial / Business Engineering, or equivalent experience; valid driving license and flexibility for shift patterns and off-hours availability