Senior Operations Manager

Fastned is one of Europe's leading fast-charging networks. Active across nine countries, we have spent nearly 15 years building the infrastructure, expertise and brand that define premium fast charging in Europe. What sets us apart is our focus on reliability, sustainability and the energy transition. We have been awarded “Best Charging Network” in the UK, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, further establishing Fastned as a leading player in the field. This is your opportunity to make a lasting impact and help us accelerate our operations in the DACH region to the next level! Join Fastned at the forefront of Europe’s electric vehicle and charging infrastructure revolution. The role is based in our beautiful office in Cologne, where your over 50 future colleagues cannot wait to meet you! Your role As Senior Operations Manager DACH, you will initially focus on Germany and Switzerland while helping shape the future of operations across the wider DACH region, including Austria as the organisation expands. Germany is entering a major growth phase, with the network expected to expand significantly in the coming years. You will help design an operating model that can absorb this growth while keeping uptime above 99%, improving customer experience and managing costs and team growth responsibly. You will have significant ownership of how operations are run in Germany and Switzerland. As the key operational point of contact for German, Swiss and future Austrian stations, you will work closely with country and central teams, as well as contractors and service providers. Your scope spans preventive maintenance of chargers and stations, station appearance and amenities, reactive maintenance, spare parts logistics, and the continuous improvement of our operations and processes. Within the broader direction set by Fastned, you will define priorities, improve the operating model and make pragmatic decisions that keep the region performing as the network grows. Your responsibilities Team leadership Lead and grow the DACH field team. • Supervising, coaching and developing a team of five Field Engineers and a Station Manager, with a Maintenance Coordinator joining over time, ensuring they work safely, efficiently and as one strong team. • Managing team capacity, prioritising work and dispatching jobs in the most efficient way across the Swiss and German network. • Bringing structure to the team’s priorities and ways of working, helping ensure maintenance work is completed on time and the network remains safe, reliable and available for our customers. • Creating a strong safety culture by ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety standards and regulatory requirements, and providing a safe and caring work environment for colleagues on the road and on site. Operational excellence Ensure high uptime and a great station experience. • Being accountable for all day-to-day operations of Fastned stations in the DACH region, from chargers and systems to the overall look and feel of our sites. • Ensuring we maintain network uptime above 99% in your region through effective preventive maintenance plans and swift, high-quality reactive repairs. • Managing a network of partners responsible for maintaining and servicing our stations. • Supporting improvements to the customer experience and your team in the field by regularly visiting stations, performing site inspections and quality audits, with a strong focus on safety and customer experience. • Overseeing the handover of new stations in the DACH region from Construction to Field Operations, ensuring they meet our operational, safety and quality standards from day one. • Managing spare parts flows together with our Supply Chain team to optimise local stock levels, minimise downtime and ensu