Culina Group is a leading UK 3rd party food & drinks logistics provider offering dedicated and shared user warehousing and distribution solutions.
At Culina we have a winning culture, we believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive… A place where you're valued, challenged, and inspired!
Job Description
We have a brand new opportunity to join the team as Group Head of Learning and Development. We are looking for a candidate to be preferably based in the Midlands or North West.
This role will be vital in establishing thelearningstrategy fororganisationaltraining and accelerated management and leadership development pathways to ensurethe skills, knowledge, and development opportunities needed to perform effectively, grow professionally, and support the organisation’s strategic goalsandpromote our culturetogenerate high performance outcomesfor ourcustomers.
Key responsibilities of the Group Head of Learning & Development:
Strategic Leadership:
Working with ODR peers (Head of Talent, Head of Reward) and guidance from HR Directors, develop and lead the Group-wide Learning & Development strategy aligned to business priorities and future skills needs.
Collaborate with senior leaders across Chilled & Fresh Logistics, Contract Logistics, Networked Transport,CoPacking, Specialist Operations, and Central Support toidentifycapability gaps.
Champion a learning culture that supports cultural alignment, continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.
Translate organisational goals into clear annual and multi‑year learning priorities and roadmaps.
In collaboration with theHead of Talentand Director of Centre of Excellence, develop and implement strategies todevelopnew talent into key pipeline and critical‑skills roles.
Gaining insight from the Head of Talent to understandtalent mobility frameworks, designappropriate learningstrategiesto support progression and movement of internal talent across all levels of the organisation.
Align external talent attraction, apprenticeships, early careers, and internal talent development into an integrated Group-widelearningstrategyto support Talent across the Group.
Learning Program Design & Delivery:
Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of learning programs including onboarding, compliance, leadership development, technical and operational skills.
Ensure learning solutions are scalable and accessible across multi‑site, shift‑based, and deskless workforce environments.
Partner with internal SMEs and external providers to deliver high‑impact, learner‑centred training programs.
Working in collaboration with theHead of Talent and EHRBPs, design and overseesignificant training programs, performance reviewprocesses, and career development initiatives that support the internal progression of professional and managerial employees.
Operational Capability & Compliance:
Work closely with Health & Safety, Compliance and CI teams to embed mandatory training requirements across all business units.
Ensure all training programs meet regulatory and audit requirements for operational sites.
Monitor training completion, training currency, and audit readiness, ensuring robust governance processes are in place.
Use data toidentifycompliance risks and implement corrective actions where training gaps exist.
Enabling Organisational Adaptability & Growth:
Ensure the organisation is equipped with the skills, capabilities, and leadershiprequired to respond effectively to change.
Promote a culture of continuous professional development, high performance, and employee engagement.
Provide insight and data to support strategic decision-making on workforce capability and future skill requirements.
Diversity andinclusion: Promote a diverse and inclusive workplace through targeted initiatives
Co-design and deliver leadership development pathways with the Head of Talent emerging leadersand accelerated leaders.
Support internal mobility and career progression through structured development plans, coaching, and capability frameworks.
Ensure alignment between L&D, Talent Management, Succession Planning, and performance processes.
Embed leadership behaviours that reinforce the organisation’s culture and strategic priorities.
Team & Budget Management:
Lead, develop, and performance‑manage a team of L&D professionals.
Manage the L&D budget and optimise use of the company’s Apprenticeship Levy to maximise ROI.
Oversee selection, management, and quality assurance of external training providers.
Ensure efficient resource deployment and cost‑effective delivery of all learning initiatives.
Work closely with HR, Operations, H&S, CI, Compliance,Financeand other key stakeholders to ensure L&D activities are aligned with organisational goals.
Integrate learning support into organisational change initiatives, new systems deployment, and process improvement activities.
Act as an advisor and strategic partner to senior leaders on capability building, workforce development, and leadership effectiveness.
Qualifications
* Learning Expertise: experienced L&D qualified professional, well versed and practised inapplying modern learning ecosystemsand have successfully embedded program evaluation models; linking learning to operational metrics.
* Strong leadership and interpersonal skillsto inspire trust and collaborate effectively with senior management and employees.
* Apprenticeships & UK Levy:Knowledge and experience of standardsselection(L2–L7), provider governance, EPA readiness, Ofsted/ESFA compliance, funding rules, ILR basics.
* Compliance & Operational Context (Logistics/Manufacturing):Health & Safety fundamentals, Food Safety where relevant, Transport compliance, MHE training regimes, audit readiness, evidence trails.Understanding of shift‑based workforces and deskless enablement constraints.
* Change & Continuous Improvement:Change management (sponsor roles, adoption planning,hypercare) and CI/Lean principles to align learning with process improvement.Exceptional communication skills to build relationships,facilitatediscussions, and provide feedback constructively.
* Data Savvy:Candemonstrateproficiencyin working with analytics (bothinsystems andtheability to interpret data and draw logical conclusions), specifically:
* Analytical Skills:Proficiencyin analysing workforce data toidentifytrends, assess talent gaps, and evaluate the effectiveness of succession plans.
* Digital Learning & Data:LMS/LXP capabilities (curricula, roles/permissions, automation, multi‑sitehierarchies), content libraries, mobile learning.
* Talent & Leadership Architecture:Knowledge and experience of working with/introducing competency/behaviour frameworks, leadership levels, assessment methods (180/360, centres), succession integration.Expertisein developing coaching andmentoringprogrammes that canguideleaders and upcoming talentin their development journey and prepare them for leadership roles.
* Problem-Solving Skills:Ability to tackle challenges related tolearning design and evaluation, learner engagement/uptake,lagging retention, andL&D solutions for operational performance improvement.
* Knowledge of HR Tools and Practices:Familiarity with talentand learningmanagement systems, performance evaluation techniques, and industry best practices.
* Cultural Sensitivity:Awareness and respect for diversity to ensure inclusivelearning and developmentstrategies.
Additional Information
As part of our drive to make Culina Group a great place to work. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation where we are committed to employee development and recognising success for hard working performers.
Our dedicated learning and development programmes are open to every employee to give you the opportunity to shape your own future within logistics and continue to work in an environment where team culture thrives.
Our People are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits which include:
* Annual Leave – Competitive holiday entitlement of 25 days plus 8 Bank Holidays
* Company Bonus – We do our best work to succeed together. When we achieve our goals you’ll be rewarded through our bonus scheme
* Private Medical Cover– This gives you peace of mind, you have choice, flexibility and speed of access to the most clinically appropriate care via Bupa
* Pension scheme – we want colleagues to enjoy a comfortable retirement so we offer a great contribution of 5% employee and 8% employer
* Life Assurance - x4 your annual salary
* Wellness – Via our Employee Assistance Programme we offer immediate access to a confidential telephone counselling and legal information service that operates 24 hours a days, 365 days a year
* Eye Care Vouchers – We can provide you with substantial savings with free eye tests and discounts on prescription glasses
* Reward & Recognition – We recognise that employees have gone the extra mile via Employee of the month and year, special recognition and long service awards.
* Everyday discounts - via our benefit platform you will have access to over 50 retailer discounts for everyday savings!
If you meet the requirements for the above role and are looking for your next career opportunity please apply now and become a part of our #WinningTeam!
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