Job Description

Company Description

Following 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 2500 vehicles. Culina Group operates from over 100 depots across the UK and Ireland, serving more than 650 + clients over its framework of chilled, ambient, contract packaging solutions and fresh and baked goods.

Are you an experienced Programme Manager looking for your next challenge? Culina Group have an 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 will require good and detailed understanding of the programme to be delivered, not just an 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 organisation.


Key Duties

Define and maintain the overall programme vision, roadmap, and strategic alignment with organisational goals. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver complex, multi-project initiatives on time, within scope, and budget Establish and manage programme governance structures, ensuring compliance with internal controls and external regulations. Monitor programme performance using KPIs, risk logs, and benefit realisation metrics. Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, sponsors, and delivery partners. Communicate programme progress, risks, and decisions clearly and effectively at all levels. Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate programme-level risks and issues. Ensure contingency plans are in place and escalations are managed appropriately. Develop and manage the programme budget, ensuring accurate forecasting, cost control, and value for money. Report financial performance and ensure alignment with funding and resource plans. Coordinate resource allocation across projects, resolving conflicts and optimising team performance. Support recruitment, onboarding, and development of programme team members. Drive organisational change initiatives and ensure successful adoption of programme outcomes. Track and report on benefits realisation, ensuring alignment with business case objectives. Champion best practices in programme and project management. 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 realisation. Skilled in strategic planning and aligning programmes with organisational 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 organisational change and transformation initiatives. Ability to analyse 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 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 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 the 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.

Company Car or Car Allowance

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 agreat contribution of 5% employee and 8% employer.

Life Assurance

- 4x 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!