Job Description
Company DescriptionFollowing several years of accelerated growth, Culina Group is now a £2.2 billion turnover business, employing over 22,000 staff, with a fleet of more than 2,500 vehicles. Culina Group operates from over 100 depots across the UK and Ireland, serving more than 650 clients with frameworks for chilled, ambient, contract packaging solutions, and fresh and baked goods.
Job Description
Are you an experienced Programme Manager looking for your next challenge? Culina Group has a new opportunity to join our growing team! Reporting to the Group Programme Director, you will play a critical role in ensuring quality outcomes for programmes and projects, maintaining high standards of governance, reporting, and overall delivery.
You will ensure consistent performance, capability development, and alignment with group standards, overseeing programme-level planning, risk management, and benefit tracking to support strategic decision-making. This is a group-wide role that requires a thorough understanding of the programme to be delivered, not just application of governance. You will contribute to shaping the group's portfolio management approach and strategic delivery capability. This is a high-profile role requiring confident engagement with senior stakeholders across the organization.
Key Duties
1. Define and maintain the overall programme vision, roadmap, and strategic alignment with organizational goals.
2. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver complex, multi-project initiatives on time, within scope, and budget.
3. Establish and manage programme governance structures, ensuring compliance with internal controls and external regulations.
4. Monitor programme performance using KPIs, risk logs, and benefit realization metrics.
5. Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, sponsors, and delivery partners.
6. Communicate programme progress, risks, and decisions clearly and effectively at all levels.
7. Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate programme-level risks and issues.
8. Ensure contingency plans are in place and escalations are managed appropriately.
9. Develop and manage the programme budget, ensuring accurate forecasting, cost control, and value for money.
10. Report financial performance and ensure alignment with funding and resource plans.
11. Coordinate resource allocation across projects, resolving conflicts and optimizing team performance.
12. Support recruitment, onboarding, and development of programme team members.
13. Drive organizational change initiatives and ensure successful adoption of programme outcomes.
14. Track and report on benefits realization, ensuring alignment with business case objectives.
15. Champion best practices in programme and project management.
16. Conduct post-implementation reviews and embed lessons learned into future delivery.
Qualifications
* Proven experience delivering complex, multi-workstream programmes across diverse functions.
* Strong knowledge of programme and project management methodologies (e.g., MSP, PRINCE2, Agile).
* Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams.
* Expertise in governance, risk management, and benefits realization.
* Skilled in strategic planning and aligning programmes with organizational goals.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including at executive level.
* Strong financial acumen, including budget management, forecasting, and cost control.
* Proficient in resource planning and capacity management across multiple projects.
* Experience managing organizational change and transformation initiatives.
* Ability to analyze data and KPIs to drive performance and decision-making.
* Skilled in problem-solving, decision-making, and managing ambiguity.
* Proficient in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Power BI, Smartsheet); experience with Planview is desirable but not essential.
* Experience working with third-party vendors and delivery partners.
* Knowledge of compliance, regulatory, and quality assurance standards.
* Committed to continuous improvement and embedding lessons learned into future delivery.
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 organization committed to employee development and recognizing success. Our learning and development programs are open to all employees, offering opportunities to shape your future within logistics and foster a thriving team culture.
Our employees are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits including:
* Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays
* Company Bonus: We work to succeed together, rewarding achievement through our bonus scheme
* Company Car or Car Allowance
* Private Medical Cover via Bupa
* Pension scheme with a 5% employee and 8% employer contribution
* Life Assurance: 4x your annual salary
* Wellness support via Employee Assistance Programme
* Eye Care Vouchers and discounts on prescription glasses
* Reward & Recognition programs
* Everyday discounts on retail via our benefits platform
If you meet the requirements and are looking for your next career opportunity, please apply now and become part of our #WinningTeam!
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