Head of Project Delivery & Change

The Coles Group; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Gym facility

Free parking

Employee discounts

MyThanks recognition

Career development

Paid parental leave

Share plan

Job summary

The Coles Group is seeking a Head of Project Delivery & Change to lead delivery of complex operational initiatives across our national network. This senior role combines hands-on program management with PMO discipline, governance, and executive-level influence.

You’ll lead planning, mobilization, deployment and transition to BAU, ensuring scope, time, cost and quality stay on track while driving change at scale across store, state and support teams.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex programs in a large operational environment.
• Strong PMO governance capability, including budgets, RAID, portfolio reporting and delivery controls.
• Experience leading operational deployment and change at scale with frontline readiness and adoption.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from planning and mobilisation through execution, deployment and transition to BAU.
• Govern RAID, budgets, milestones and interdependencies; produce executive materials for timely decisions.
• Build and lead a high-performing delivery team and influence at executive level.

Skills

Complex programs

PMO governance

Deployment change

Executive Stakeholders

People leadership

Commercial acumen

Job description

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

Central Operations keeps our business moving. Our team supports, coaches, and empowers our retail teams across the country. We help them be at their best, so they can deliver the best experiences for our team members and customers every day.

We’re looking for an experienced Head of Project Delivery & Change to lead the delivery of complex operational initiatives across our national network. This is a hands‑on senior leadership role for someone who combines strong project and PMO discipline with operational credibility, commercial judgement and the ability to influence at executive level.

Reporting to the General Manager, you’ll lead a team and partner broadly across Operations and key enterprise functions. The delivery structure is established; your focus will be bringing pace, discipline and clarity across a portfolio of concurrent priorities.

About the role

You’ll lead projects from planning and mobilisation through execution, deployment and transition to BAU, ensuring scope, time, cost, quality and operational readiness remain on track. You’ll also lead change and adoption across store, state and support teams, helping translate plans into practical implementation.

A core part of the role is strong governance: managing RAID, budgets, milestones and interdependencies; maintaining clear reporting and delivery cadences; and producing high‑quality executive materials that support timely decisions and intervention.

What you’ll bring

You’ll be an experienced project and program delivery leader who is comfortable moving between delivery detail and senior stakeholder conversations. We’re looking for:

• Significant experience leading complex programs and multiple concurrent projects in a large, operational environment.
• Strong PMO and governance capability, including budgets, RAID, portfolio reporting, packs and delivery controls.
• Experience leading operational deployment and change at scale, with a strong understanding of frontline readiness and adoption.
• Executive‑level stakeholder management and the ability to navigate competing priorities and cross‑functional dependencies.
• Proven people leadership, with the ability to build a high‑performing team and strengthen delivery capability.
• Strong commercial and operational acumen, with confidence presenting to ELTs and contributing to corporate planning discussions.

What’s in it for you?

This is an opportunity to lead delivery at genuine scale, working across initiatives that directly shape how our operations and frontline teams work. You’ll partner with senior leaders across Coles to turn strategy into practical, sustainable outcomes across our network.

If you’re a delivery leader who brings structure to complexity, builds confidence with senior stakeholders and knows how to turn plans into outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work‑life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini‑Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in‑store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job‑specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre‑tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email ***************@coles.com.au

Employment Type:Full time