Culina Group is a leading UK 3rd party food & drinks logistics provider offering dedicated and shared user warehousing and distribution solutions.
At Culina we have a winning culture, we believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive… A place where you're valued, challenged, and inspired!
Job DescriptionWe have a brand new opportunity to join the team as Group Head of Learning and Development. We are looking for a candidate to be preferably based in the Midlands or North West.
This role will be vital in establishing the learning strategy for organisational training and accelerated management and leadership development pathways to ensure the skills, knowledge, and development opportunities needed to perform effectively, grow professionally, and support the organisation’s strategic goals and promote our culture to generate high performance outcomes for our customers.
Key responsibilities of the Group Head of Learning & Development:
Strategic Leadership:
Working with ODR peers (Head of Talent, Head of Reward) and guidance from HR Directors, develop and lead the Group-wide Learning & Development strategy aligned to business priorities and future skills needs.
Collaborate with senior leaders across Chilled & Fresh Logistics, Contract Logistics, Networked Transport, CoPacking, Specialist Operations, and Central Support to identify capability gaps.
Champion a learning culture that supports cultural alignment, continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.
Translate organisational goals into clear annual and multi‑year learning priorities and roadmaps.
Talent Development Strategy:
In collaboration with the Head of Talent and Director of Centre of Excellence, develop and implement strategies to develop new talent into key pipeline and critical‑skills roles.
Gaining insight from the Head of Talent to understand talent mobility frameworks, design appropriate learning strategies to support progression and movement of internal talent across all levels of the organisation.
Align external talent attraction, apprenticeships, early careers, and internal talent development into an integrated Group-wide learning strategy to support Talent across the Group.
Learning Program Design & Delivery:
Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of learning programs including onboarding, compliance, leadership development, technical and operational skills.
Ensure learning solutions are scalable and accessible across multi‑site, shift‑based, and deskless workforce environments.
Lead blended learning design, using digital, classroom, on‑the‑job and coaching approaches.
Partner with internal SMEs and external providers to deliver high‑impact, learner‑centred training programs.
Working in collaboration with the Head of Talent and EHRBPs, design and oversee specific training programs, performance review processes, and career development initiatives that support the internal progression of professional and managerial employees.
Operational Capability & Compliance:
Work closely with Health & Safety, Compliance and CI teams to embed mandatory training requirements across all business units.
Ensure all training programs meet regulatory and audit requirements for operational sites.
Monitor training completion, training currency, and audit readiness, ensuring robust governance processes are in place.
Use data to identify compliance risks and implement corrective actions where training gaps exist.
Enabling Organisational Adaptability & Growth:
Ensure the organisation is equipped with the skills, capabilities, and leadership required to respond effectively to change.
Promote a culture of continuous professional development, high performance, and employee engagement.
Provide insight and data to support strategic decision-making on workforce capability and future skill requirements.
Diversity and inclusion: Promote a diverse and inclusive workplace through targeted initiatives
Leadership & Career Development:
Co-design and deliver leadership development pathways with the Head of Talent emerging leaders and accelerated leaders.
Support internal mobility and career progression through structured development plans, coaching, and capability frameworks.
Ensure alignment between L&D, Talent Management, Succession Planning, and performance processes.
Embed leadership behaviours that reinforce the organisation’s culture and strategic priorities.
Team & Budget Management:
Lead, develop, and performance‑manage a team of L&D professionals.
Manage the L&D budget and optimise use of the company’s Apprenticeship Levy to maximise ROI.
Oversee selection, management, and quality assurance of external training providers.
Ensure efficient resource deployment and cost‑effective delivery of all learning initiatives.
Collaboration Across Departments:
Work closely with HR, Operations, H&S, CI, Compliance, Finance and other key stakeholders to ensure L&D activities are aligned with organisational goals.
Integrate learning support into organisational change initiatives, new systems deployment, and process improvement activities.
Act as an advisor and strategic partner to senior leaders on capability building, workforce development, and leadership effectiveness.
As part of our drive to make Culina Group a great place to work. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation where we are committed to employee development and recognising success for hard working performers.
Our dedicated learning and development programmes are open to every employee to give you the opportunity to shape your own future within logistics and continue to work in an environment where team culture thrives.
Our People are the driving force behind our success, which is why we offer a wide range of benefits which include:
If you meet the requirements for the above role and are looking for your next career opportunity please apply now and become a part of our #WinningTeam!