Growth Programme Manager
The Recipe
Join the UK’s largest bakery brand as we shape the future of food innovation.
At Warburtons, we’re not just baking bread – we’re driving change. Our Strategic Growth team is at the heart of creating new opportunities, developing breakthrough products, and delivering long-term value for our customers and business.
We’re looking for a Programme Manager to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives that transform ideas into reality. This is a pivotal role for someone who thrives on strategic thinking, collaboration, and delivering measurable impact.
Key Accountabilities and Measures
- Lead and manage programmes that span multiple projects within Commercial, Innovation and Strategic Growth.
- Align initiatives with business strategy, ensuring they deliver tangible benefits and competitive advantage to deliver our exciting 5 year plan.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams, managing dependencies and driving accountability.
- Engage senior stakeholders, providing clear updates on progress, risks, and outcomes.
- Oversee budgets and resources, ensuring efficient delivery and value for investment.
- Champion innovation, fostering a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.
- Responsible for the total Innovation project pipeline/ plan for the Innovation Team to ensure it is being project managed effectively and in line with 5 year plan.
- Lead multi-functional Innovation feasibility studies for medium and large projects to create a combined technical / commercial recommendation
- Responsible for developing realistic Innovation project and quality plans, providing regular and accurate project reports to stakeholders highlighting launch updates, timelines, P&L and risks.
- Responsible for managing risks associated with all Innovation projects, ensuring they are identified, assessed and mitigated.
- Lead all post-launch reviews, ensuring comprehensive review of the project, lessons learned are documented recorded and utilised on subsequent projects.
- Lead and drive continuous improvement across Innovation processes, procedures and compliance, ensuring best practice identified and embedded.
- Lead and manage the Project managers within the innovation team
Essential Ingredients
- Proven experience in programme/ project management within FMCG, food, or innovation-led environments.
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to manage complexity and deliver results in a fast-paced setting.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- A passion for innovation and growth.
- Excellent knowledge of End to End processes (Ideation through to execution and in store)
- Experience of leading cross-functional, medium to large Innovation launches within FMCG or innovation led environments.
- Excellent knowledge of best practice programme management processes.
- Customer focus: understands the underlying business needs and issues associated with a project
Extra Dough
We care about your wellbeing, and we know great benefits matter. In return for your hard work, here’s what you can look forward to:
- Car allowance
- Profit Share – When Warburtons does well, so do you. Our discretionary profit share rewards your commitment based on last year’s company performance.
- Pension – Our award-winning Defined Contribution pension plan comes with generous contributions and flexible investment options.
- Employee Wellbeing Support – From a confidential helpline to Help@Hand’s 24/7 virtual GP, physio, nutrition, life coaching, and mental health support—for you and your family.
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay – Full maternity pay for 6 months and 2 weeks paternity pay, because family comes first.
- Life Assurance – Peace of mind from day one.
- Extra Dough Discount – Enjoy discounts and offers through our dedicated platform.
Other benefits include:
- Holiday entitlement
- Free on-site parking
- Permanent Disability Benefit
- Long Service Awards
- Ride To Work Scheme
- Payroll Giving
- Retirement Gifts
- Fully stocked kitchens with our delicious products
At Warburtons, it’s how we roll—putting people first, looking after each other, and making every day a little better.
