To continue fueling Swappie’s profitable growth and advance our mission of making refurbished electronics mainstream, we are seeking a temporary Team Lead (m/w/d) for our Leipzig Operations In this pivotal role, you will guide our team through our high-volume peak season and provide critical leadership stability as we roll out our new fulfillment strategy.
If you're ready to take ownership, lead with impact, and contribute to environmental sustainability - this is your chance to leave your fingerprint on Swappie's core operations. 🌏 💚
This is a temporary opportunity first, until end of June 2027, but as our operations evolve, there is a strong possibility for this role to extend into a permanent position for the right candidate.
In this role, you will be responsible for supervising a team of employees in hands-on, light goods handling in a modern warehouse environment at Swappie’s Operations site in Wahren, Leipzig, Germany. This is crucial work that directly impacts our European customers and the planet, and you'll be surrounded by a supportive, positive team.
Your role is to ensure continuous workflow, optimize efficiency, and develop your team.
Team Leadership & Coaching Conduct monthly performance evaluations, provide feedback, and lead the onboarding and ongoing development of new joiners.
Workflow Management Set and monitor shift/team targets, prioritize tasks, and efficiently allocate employees to avoid operational bottlenecks.
Operational Excellence: Ensure continuous workflow by addressing bottlenecks, actively optimizing processes, and participating in continuous improvement projects while maintaining daily floor presence.
Compliance & Reporting Ensure proper adherence to working/break times and safety standards (e.g., 6S). Report operational outcomes and key results to management.
Cross-Functional Support Collaborate effectively with the planning team and support preparation for peak season and compliance audits.
Conflict Resolution: Address team members' feedback, resolve issues, and manage conflicts effectively to maintain a positive environment.
Your success will be driven by practical leadership experience, organizational skills, and a growth mindset. So we would love to hear from you if you have:
Leadership Experience: Proven experience in leading or mentoring a team (experience in a warehouse environment is a plus).
Problem-Solving Skills: Strong ability to solve problems proactively, organize effectively, and maintain strong attention to details, accuracy, and safety.
Demonstrated ability to take ownership and make decisions independently.
Language Skills Very good verbal and written communication skills in English (our working language). Functional German skills are required (sufficient for independent site operations, resolving technical issues, and clear communication with local partners).
Mindset & communication skills: The ability to see the bigger picture while maintaining sharp focus on daily execution, motivating team members to reach targets and take ownership, paired with open and transparent communication.
Continuous Improvement: Experience in project management or Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) is a strong advantage.
Meaningful role: You will be a visible leader on the floor, managing and developing a dedicated team in their daily execution. Your leadership is grounded in direct mentorship and real-time problem-solving.
Supportive & low-hierarchy team where you can be your true self Our strength as a company comes from the diverse group of people we're proud to employ. Whoever you are – you're welcome at Swappie!
A chance to make an impact on creating a more sustainable future by making refurbished mainstream - working at Swappie makes you part of the solution; not the pollution!
Growth: Defined areas of responsibility and extensive training on the job to fuel your development, learning and growth with us.
📍 Location Leipzig, Germany (Wahren area).
📅 Start date: As soon as possible, negotiable.
🕑 Working hours Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:30
📝 Contract Full-time (40h/week) and fixed-term until 30.6.2027 (with a strong outlook for extension or permanent placement based on operational needs and performance).
💰 Compensation €20/hour (gross).
🔎 Visa Requirements: Eligibility requires a valid, long-term German work visa for full-time employment, which will be verified during the hiring process.
⏰ Application Deadline Please submit your application by June 10th.
Does this sound like an exciting opportunity for you? If yes, we'd love to hear from you!
Questions? 🤔 recruitment@swappie.com will happily reply. Kindly note that we don’t accept job applications via email.
This is how the recruitment process will look like:
Intro with Talent Acquisition Partner (20 minute call): Let’s start exploring together if this role and Swappie as an employer could be a match for you.
Interview & site tour with the Hiring Manager (on site, 60min): Dive deeper to the role and let us assess your skills and competencies for future success. You get a chance to take a tour around our Leipzig site and meet a potential future colleague too.
Culture discussion: Impact orientation, inclusion and growth mindset - explore the key pillars of our culture with our HR Business Partner and Director of Production.
The process is designed to be a transparent, two-way assessment, ensuring we find the right match for our team. If you're ready to join the mission, start by reviewing our guide on How we hire We look forward to your application!

Swappie is the leading online destination for buying and selling refurbished iPhones and iPads in Europe. Since launching in 2016, we have grown to ~700 talents and €249M annual revenue - and this is just the beginning! We empower our customers all over Europe to choose environmentally friendly and affordable ways to upgrade their smartphones. Buy smart, not new; that's how we change consumer behavior in Europe and soon worldwide.
Our values are endless optimism, highest standards, customer focus, and connect. They guide us in the decisions and actions we take every day. Global sustainability and startup awards recognize our growing model and aspiration in solving critical sustainability issues, including being listed by Financial Times as the fastest-growing company in Europe, the Finnish Innovation Fund's award for contribution to the circular economy, and appearing on Wired's list of hottest startups in Helsinki.
Sounds like the place for you? If yes, you are invited to take a once-in-a-lifetime learning and development opportunity in a unique growth setting. You will have the support of a highly talented and committed diverse team of 70+ nationalities. We welcome you to join us in our meaningful mission of making refurbished electronics mainstream.
Check out our career page and open positions: https://careers.swappie.com/