Wholesale Delivery Lead - DRS

Co-op Group; Scunthorpe; Hybrid; GBP 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10% employer contrib.

30% discount on Co-op products

Stream – early access to pay

Virtual healthcare

Training and development

Job summary

Co-op Wholesale is seeking a Wholesale Delivery Lead to drive the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) rollout across our wholesale operation. You’ll coordinate Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance and Technology workstreams to ensure readiness and a smooth transition to BAU.

The role is hybrid with attendance in Scunthorpe/Manchester two days per week, plus travel to offices or partners as needed. It is a fixed-term contract/secondment until February 2028, with a pro rata salary up to £85,000.

Qualifications

• Experience in wholesale, franchise, or partner-led retail environments.
• Delivery of large-scale business, regulatory, or technology-enabled change.
• Experience managing complex plans, risks, dependencies, and governance processes.
• Strong partner management and influencing skills.
• Ability to engage with senior leaders up to Board level.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of DRS across the Wholesale business.
• Coordinate readiness planning, implementation, and transition into BAU.
• Engage senior leaders, colleagues, and wholesale partners.
• Manage risks, issues, dependencies, and key decisions.
• Oversee partner communications and readiness activities.
• Work with Technology to ensure business requirements are delivered.
• Coordinate business testing, assurance, and governance activities.
• Provide reporting on delivery progress and readiness.
• Support development of future operating models and ownership structures.

Skills

Wholesale environment

Delivery of large-scale change

Managing complex plans & governance

Partner management & influencing

Senior leadership engagement

Translate complex information into行动

Collaborative, pragmatic approach

Job description

Up to £85,000 (pro rata) plus great benefits (Work Level 4)

Fixed-term contract/secondment until February 2028

Scunthorpe/Manchester | hybrid working (you'll spend around two days a week working from one our offices or out visiting our partners, with at least one day each week based in Scunthorpe)

We're looking for a Wholesale Delivery Lead to join Co-op Wholesale on a fixed-term contract until February 2028 to help deliver one of the biggest regulatory changes affecting our industry. You'll lead the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across our wholesale operation, bringing together teams including Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance, and Technology to make sure our business and partners are ready for the change.

Why this role matters

The DRS will play an important role in creating a more sustainable future. In this role, you'll help make sure our Co-op Wholesale business and partners are prepared for this major change. We'll look to you to turn complex project requirements into practical actions while helping to create a smooth transition from delivery to completion.

What you'll do

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of DRS across our Wholesale business
• Co-ordinate readiness planning, implementation activity, and transition into BAU
• Build engagement with senior leaders, colleagues, and wholesale partners
• Manage risks, issues, dependencies, and key business decisions
• Oversee partner communications and readiness activities
• Work closely with our Technology teams to make sure business requirements are delivered effectively
• Co-ordinate business testing, assurance, and governance activities
• Provide clear reporting on delivery progress, readiness, and performance
• Support the development of future operating models and ownership structures

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:

• Experience working within a wholesale, franchise, or partner-led retail environment
• Experience delivering large-scale business, regulatory, or technology-enabled change
• Experience managing complex plans, risks, dependencies, and governance processes
• Strong partner management and influencing skills
• Confidence working with senior leaders and external partners up to Board level
• The ability to translate complex information into clear actions and decisions
• A collaborative, pragmatic, and results-focused approach

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 benefits such as:

• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• 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
• Training and support for your development and career progression

Please note:

If you're a current Co-op colleague applying for this role, you'll receive benefits aligned to your home role.

A place you'll belong

We're building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we'll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We're also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you're disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we'll guarantee you an interview.