Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you. As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits. To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact Click “Apply” to get started. Our s tory Family and ideas have always been our ingredients. Our founding families believed biscuits and chocolates could bring moments of happiness to the world. Their ideas have stood the test of time. Their spirit continues to inspire our future. It’s in the care and the craft we bake into biscuits and chocolates that have been loved for generations. And it’s in the fresh ideas, the new twists, flavours and textures we add to old and new favourites. Our 16,000 colleagues across our global network of bakers, distribution sites and offices each with their own unique, diverse experience. To bring happiness with every bite. If you’re a part of the pladis team, you know what it means to bring i t. Whether it’s or resilience, team spirit or go-getting attitude. Our courage and compassion. Our ownership. Our whole selves. We Bring it. Day in, day out. Inspired by you Our founders didn’t follow rules and recipes, they created them. We’re looking for fresh thinkers to help us create the next chapter for pladis. pladis succeeds because of people like you. People who wake up in the morning excited to get to work. Who believe in themselves and their potential. Who want to grow as part of a global community of like-minded colleagues ! Because growth is our oxygen and our fuel. And it’s our deep and abiding belief that growth comes from working together, helping each other out, always passionate about our purpose to bring happiness with every bite. Our Purpose Bring happiness with every bite! It’s a purpose that every one of our colleagues, all around the world believes in. And while we’re all unique, we also share the same values. Each of our values is important on its own. In combination they’re incredibly powerful. Our values have deep personal meaning to us. They’re part of who we are and what we stand for as an employer. Living our pladis values is a key part of success, look out for questions in your interview that link to these key pladis values. What will this role achieve? The Programme Director – MD Office, UK&I will act as a strategic thought partner to the Managing Dire ctor, UK&I o perating at the heart of a dynamic and fast-paced FMCG environment driving alignment across commercial, supply chain, marketing, and innovation functions. Accountable for shaping and delivering a robust portfolio strategy, the Programme Director will focus on enabling sustainable growth and market expansion. By translating the executive vision into actionable strategic initiatives, the incumbent will ensure operational excellence, organisational agility, and cross-functional cohesion. In addition, the role will oversee high-impact programmes, manage senior stakeholder relationships, and lead transformation efforts that support long-term business objectives. A critical responsibility will be to optimise the Managing Director’s focus on strategic imperatives, ensuring time and resources are directed toward initiatives that deliver maximum value in alignment with the UK&I business agenda. The roles report directly to the Managing Director, UK&I What will be your key deliverables? Strategic Planning & Execution Act as a trusted advisor to the MD, shaping and driving long-term business priorities across the organisation. Designed and develop a comprehensive forward-looking portfolio strategy that underpins the company’s growth ambition, leveraging deep consumer insights to unlock category potential and drive competitive advantage across all UK&I markets. Translate executive vision into actionable, cross-functional plans to advance market share, revenue growth, and operational excellence. Support the MD across a number of h igh -priority initiatives including strategic plan deployment, sustainability programmes, organi s ational design, and executive-level presentations (e.g., for global forums, CEO, and Chairman updates). Track and report on key business metrics, including market share, revenue, and operational efficiency ensuring timely interventions and alignment with strategic goals. Own the portfolio strategic priorities cascade and tracking post Strat. plan sign off Collaboration Ensure smooth communication and collaboration between functional teams such as R&D, marketing, supply chain, and sales. Act as a liaison between the MD and senior leadership, streamlining decision-making processes. Represent the MD on the UK Leadership Team, contributing to high-impact decisions and enterprise-wide initiatives. Proactively identify cross-functional dependencies and remove roadblocks to accelerate programme execution. Commercial Transformation: Leverage data-driven insights and emerging digital and AI technologies to streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and unlock growth opportunities in close collaboration with functional teams and IT. Champion the development and deployment of regional best practices, ensuring their effective implementation through strong programme leadership and strategic influence. Meeting Preparation & Follow-Up Drive the creation and cascade of strategic narratives through UK&I Townhalls and Extended Leadership Team communications. Develop executive briefs, strategic agendas, and insights to support the MD’s preparation for internal and external engagements. Own post-meeting follow-ups, ensuring stakeholder accountability and tracking progress against action items. Stakeholder Management Partner with the MD’s Executive Assistant to m anage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including board members, investors, and global business partners. Ensure the MD is fully prepared and positioned for impactful stakeholder interactions. Time Management Partner with the MD’s Executive Assistant to align scheduling with business priorities, ensuring high-value outcomes from each engagement. Ensure all meetings and engagements are content-rich, aligned with previous actions, and designed for strategic decision-making. Bring your experience. Essential Project Management experience FMCG experience Commercial acumen Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to build networks and connections Excellent communication skills and presentation skills – an ability to create a clear and concise message and tell a story Leadership – ability to influence Tenacity & resilience Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills – logical thinker with strong attention to detail Conflict and issue resolution Prioritization skills Can do mindset, action orientated Desirable Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field. Certifications: PMP (Project Management Professional) or similar certification is highly desirable. pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law. We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business. We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.