Head of Projects & Programmes

The Co-operative Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday

Pension with up to 10% employer

Private healthcare

Company car or £6,000 car allowance

Onsite gym access (Manchester HQ)

Discount on Co-op products

Stream – pay access

Job summary

The Co-operative Group in Manchester is seeking a Head of Projects and Programmes to lead a team delivering large-scale programmes and change initiatives. This is a hybrid role, with time split between the Manchester office and working from home as required by business needs.

You’ll partner with senior leaders to shape and deliver change, ensuring investment yields lasting value for colleagues, members and customers. Strong leadership and governance experience are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex programmes and projects in a large and complex organisation.
• Proven ability to build, lead and develop high‑performing teams with strong people leadership.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills with senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the successful delivery of complex business programmes and projects within or across a Value Stream Group.
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, sponsors and stakeholders to support delivery.
• Help shape programme and project portfolios aligned to strategic goals and capacity.
• Provide clear oversight of delivery progress, risks, dependencies and opportunities.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of senior project managers and change professionals.

Job description

Head of Projects and Programmes

Up to £90,000 plus private healthcare, company car or car allowance and more great benefits (Work Level 4)
10-month secondment
Manchester city centre - in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and coming to our Manchester office when required by business needs (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

We’re reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.

We're looking for a Head of Projects and Programmes to join our Projects, Programmes and Change Management Practice to lead the delivery of meaningful business change across our Co-op. In this significant leadership role, you'll lead a team of project and change professionals delivering large-scale programmes, projects and change management interventions that support our strategic priorities, while building strong partnerships across the business and technology teams. You'll work closely with senior leaders to shape and deliver complex change, ensuring investment is focused on the right outcomes and creates lasting value for our colleagues, members and customers.

Why this role matters

This is a high-impact leadership role with the opportunity to influence some of the most important change initiatives across our Co-op. You'll work at the heart of strategic decision‑making, partnering with senior stakeholders to turn ambition into action. As well as leading major programmes and projects and ensuring that change is embedded across the business areas you work with, you'll play a key role in developing project, programme and change management capability across the organisation, building high‑performing teams and creating a culture where people can do their best work. If you're passionate about leading change, developing others and delivering results that make a real difference, this is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of our Co-op.

What you’ll do

• Lead the successful delivery of complex business programmes and projects within or across a Value Stream Group, ensuring they achieve agreed business outcomes and benefits, working hand in glove with a Value Stream Group Director and their team (over 95% of the projects we deliver are technology led or enabled)
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, sponsors and stakeholders, providing expert guidance and constructive challenge to support successful delivery
• Help shape programme and project portfolios, ensuring priorities are aligned to strategic goals and available capacity.
• Provide clear oversight of delivery progress, risks, dependencies and opportunities, supporting informed decision‑making
• Lead, coach and develop a team of senior project managers, project managers and change professionals, building capability and creating a high‑performing, inclusive culture
• Drive continuous improvement in project, programme and change delivery practices across your area
• Support effective change adoption by ensuring colleagues and stakeholders are prepared for and engaged in change initiatives
• Partner with business and technology teams to create clear ways of working, aligning people around shared goals and setting programmes up for success

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

• Significant experience leading complex programmes and projects in a large and complex organisation
• Proven ability to build, lead and develop high‑performing teams, with strong people leadership and coaching skills
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence and credibility to work with and challenge senior leaders and executive‑level stakeholders
• Strong understanding of programme governance, risk management and benefits realisation
• Experience balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery to achieve successful outcomes
• A collaborative and adaptable approach, with the ability to lead through ambiguity and drive progress in complex environments
• Strong commercial and financial awareness, with the ability to balance investment, risk and outcomes to deliver value for the business

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At Co-op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Company car or £6,000 car allowance
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co‑op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion