Programme Manager

Allied Bakeries are owned by Associated British Foods. ABF is a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group with sales of £20.1bn and 138,000 employees in 56 countries. It has significant businesses in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia. Our sister companies in ABF UK Grocery produce products under many market-leading household brands, including Jordans, Ryvita, Pataks, Blue Dragon & Silver Spoon.

We are proud of our brands: we make top 10 UK grocery brand Kingsmill as well as Allinson’s and Sunblest. You’ll know us best through our white, wholemeal and seeded market-leading loaves, as well as Kingsmill 50/50, the nation’s favourite Healthier White, and our delicious pancakes, crumpets, hot cross buns and other bakery products.

The success of our business depends on us having the right people on the team. We are incredibly passionate about our business, but it isn’t for the faint-hearted – it’s pacey and demanding so our people need to have a positive attitude and to want to work inclusively. We take massive pride in what we do, not least in how colleagues based in our bakeries and depots have one of the best safety performance records in the industry.

Our Grocery Service Centre, based near Liverpool, is a hub for transactional activity across multiple ABF companies within the ABF Grocery division. Supporting some of our well-known brands such as Kingsmill, Pataks, Blue Dragon, Jordans, Ryvita and Silver Spoon, amongst others. We deliver Shared Service activities across a wide range of disciplines including Customer Services, Consumer Care, Finance, Payroll, HR and IS.

If you’re looking to join a business that is passionate, encourages you to be the best you can be, and values its people, we’d love to hear from you.

Overview Of Role 📍 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside

💰 Salary: Competitive.

🏢 Full time , Hybrid - working in the office 2 days a week and 3 days from home (subject to business needs).

📆 Fixed Term for 12 Months The Programme Manager is a key member of the Project Vesper leadership team, partnering with Business Leads to deliver the successful integration of Allied Bakeries and Hovis.

This role will lead the technical integration across commercial, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, finance and technology functions, ensuring business continuity in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Responsible for delivering agreed programme outcomes, timelines and budgets, the Programme Manager will define the delivery approach, lead day-to-day decisions with Business Leads, manage risks and issues, and drive effective collaboration across all workstreams.

✨ Why Join Us? We believe in rewarding our employees and providing a supportive work environment. Here’s what you’ll get:

✅ Competitive Benefits Package Including 💼 Competitive Salary 🌴 Generous Leave – 25 days holiday + bank holidays

🚗 Free Onsite Parking 💙 Employee Assistance Programme 🩺 Healthcare Scheme 💰 Pension Scheme (4%) 🛒 Onsite Shop 👓 Eyecare Vouchers 👥 Employee Referral Scheme 🍕 Grocery and holiday Discounts Key Accountabilities ✔️ Deliver the technical integration programme plan and budget across the merger roadmap.✔️ Manage programme scope, dependencies and critical path activities across both businesses.

✔️ Establish effective governance, reporting and project controls appropriate for a fast-moving FMCG environment.

✔️ Drive informed decision-making through governance forums, escalating risks that may impact customers, supply continuity, costs or operational performance.

✔️ Lead programme resources, capability planning and team performance.

✔️ Build and lead a high-performing project team and positive delivery culture.

✔️ Identify and mitigate risks and issues, implementing solutions that protect business continuity.

✔️ Work closely with business, technology and functional teams to deliver integration milestones across processes, data, systems, organisation design and ways of working.

✔️ Coordinate activity across workstreams and lead programme delivery meetings.

✔️ Resolve escalated issues relating to design, testing, cutover, operational readiness and deployment.

✔️ Support transition planning, cutover, hypercare and stabilisation activities.

✔️ Ensure solutions meet operational requirements across service, manufacturing, distribution and commercial functions.

✔️ Manage relationships with suppliers, technology teams and stakeholders across both organisations.

✔️ Balance scope, timeline and budget while maintaining operational stability throughout integration.

✔️ Ensure business readiness, communication, training and adoption plans are implemented effectively.

✔️ Monitor and manage risks affecting customer service, production, logistics, financial control, compliance and trading performance.

✔️ Support practical, sustainable integration decisions aligned to the needs of a high-volume FMCG business.

The Right Person ✔️ Strong programme and project management expertise, including governance, methodologies, tools and delivery controls.✔️ Experience leading merger integrations, acquisitions, carve-outs or business separation programmes.

✔️ Proven delivery of ERP and complex technology integration programmes across finance, supply chain, manufacturing, logistics or customer-facing functions.

✔️ FMCG, food manufacturing, distribution or high-volume consumer goods experience is highly desirable.

✔️ Strong leadership experience across multidisciplinary business, technology and supplier teams.

✔️ Financial and budget management expertise.

✔️ Skilled in risk and issue management, particularly where business continuity, customer service or supply chain performance are critical.

✔️ Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, influencing senior leaders, operational teams, sites and external partners.

✔️ Experience managing third-party suppliers and vendors.

✔️ Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in fast-paced, complex and operationally sensitive environments.