Process Governance Lead

Process Governance Lead

Fulltime 38 hours per week

As a Process Expert - Governance, you'll play a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining the backbone of operational excellence across Action's European operations. This isn't a typical process expert role—you'll be the architect of our process management standards, ensuring consistency, compliance, and control across all departments and 14 countries.

You will define how we design, document, execute, and govern processes across the organization. Your work will create the framework that enables more than 3,000 stores and our headquarters to operate in harmony, with clear ownership, standardized ways of working, and measurable compliance. This is a strategic role for someone who can bridge departmental silos, harmonize diverse working methods, and drive organizational alignment.

This is your daily action

As our Process Expert - Governance, you'll establish the standard for process management and documentation across Action. You'll design governance frameworks that ensure processes are executed consistently across departments, with clear ownership and accountability embedded throughout.
You'll work at the intersection of multiple departments - Supply chain, Buying, Marketing, Quality, Finance and beyond - and beyond—identifying inconsistencies, bridging gaps, and creating unified approaches. With your strong character and deep expertise, you'll uphold prescribed ways of working, proactively train teams, and monitor compliance to ensure standards are not just documented but lived.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Define and maintain process management standards and governance frameworks across all departments
• Establish documentation standards, templates, and best practices for process design and execution
• Create and implement process intake procedures, test scripts, and quality control mechanisms
• Identify inconsistencies in processes and documentation within and across departments
• Design harmonization initiatives that bridge departmental gaps and foster organizational alignment
• Define clear ownership structures and responsibility assignments for all critical processes
• Monitor process compliance and enforce adherence to established standards
• Develop and deliver training programs to embed standardized ways of working across teams
• Collaborate with department heads to ensure buy-in and implementation of governance standards
• Build dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track process maturity and compliance
• Lead cross-departmental workshops to align on process improvements and standardization
• Act as the central point of expertise for process design methodology and governance questions
• Continuously improve the governance framework based on organizational needs and best practices

You'll have the autonomy to shape Action's process governance approach and the authority to drive compliance. Your work will directly impact operational efficiency, risk management, and our ability to scale across Europe while maintaining consistency.

Your team

Process excellence and governance are fundamental to Action's ability to operate at scale across 14 countries. As we grow, the need for standardized, well-documented, and consistently executed processes becomes increasingly critical. This role sits at the strategic heart of the organization, ensuring that growth doesn't compromise quality or consistency.
You will work in the process and data management team of Ation, serving as both advisor and enforcer of process standards. Our biggest challenge? Harmonizing ways of working across diverse teams, functions, and countries while maintaining the agility and simplicity that define Action. Learning new things every day and working with the best colleagues to make our operational excellence even stronger is what makes us happy. Does this apply to you, too?

This is you

You are a natural bridge-builder with a strong character who can navigate complex organizational dynamics while maintaining clear standards. You combine deep process expertise with the influence skills needed to drive change across departments. You're comfortable saying "no" when standards are at risk, while also being collaborative enough to bring people along on the journey.

You don't just document processes—you think about governance, ownership, compliance, and how to embed standards into organizational DNA. You're proactive, detail-oriented, and committed to excellence, with the ability to see both the big picture and the critical details.

In addition:

• Extensive experience in process design, process management, and cross-departmental standardization
• Proven track record of establishing governance frameworks and driving organizational compliance
• Strong understanding of process methodologies (e.g., BPMN, Lean, Six Sigma)
• Experience with Signavio or similar process management tools is strongly preferred
• Skilled in creating documentation standards, test scripts, and quality control mechanisms
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change without direct authority
• Experience training and coaching teams on process standards and ways of working
• Comfortable monitoring compliance and having difficult conversations when needed
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills in international, cross-functional settings
• Strong analytical mindset with attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Fluent in English, comfortable working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
• Experience in retail, logistics, e-commerce, or other large-scale operational environments is preferred

What we offer

• A market-based salary based on a 38-hour work week
• 24 days of holiday and the option to buy 5 extra days (based on 38 hours per week)
• A fixed contract with the intention of offering you a permanent contract in the long term
• Flexible working hours and the possibility of working up to 40% from home, of course in coordination with your team and manager
• 15% staff discount on your purchases at Action
• A good pension scheme and a travel expenses allowance (Zwaagdijk-Oost is traffic jam-free and only 30 minutes by car from Amsterdam)

How we contribute to society

If you only know Action from the stores, a world will open up for you when you come and work with us. We work hard to make a positive impact on society and the environment. Did you know, for example, that we support thousands of children worldwide who grow up in an SOS Children's Village? That our team reflects the diversity of our customers, including 151 different nationalities? That we purchase 100% of our wood products and 100% of our cotton sustainably? And that all our stores, DC's and offices only use energy-efficient LED lighting? Yes, that is also Action. Curious about what other initiatives we're facilitating? There's a lot more we are proud of and we would love for you to be part of it.

Interested?

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, and we warmly invite anyone who recognises themselves in the vacancy to apply. So take action and respond to this vacancy now!

What happens next:

1. Response to your application within 14 days (and usually earlier)
2. First meeting with the manager and a colleague
3. Second interview with more team members
4. Welcome to Action…

Throughout the process, your recruiter is your permanent point of contact and is available to answer any questions you may have.