At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business resilience initiatives and strengthen crisis management across diverse sectors.
- Company: Join Co-op, a purpose-driven organisation focused on community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, private healthcare, and generous holiday entitlement.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for career development and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing resilience and supporting communities during disruptions.
- Qualifications: Experience in business resilience and crisis management within complex organisations.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Posted: 2026-10-20
Closes: 2026-11-06
Group Business Resilience Lead - £80,000 to £87,000 plus great benefits including a company car or £6,000 car allowance (Work Level 4). In this role, you’ll work in a hybrid way, splitting your time between home and the office.
We're looking for a Group Business Resilience Lead to join Co-op and help shape how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruption across our business. You'll play a key role in strengthening resilience across our Food, Funeralcare, Legal Services, Insurance and Wholesale businesses, helping us continue to support colleagues, customers and communities when it matters most.
Why this job matters
At Co-op, resilience is about more than managing risk. As our Group Business Resilience Lead, you'll work with senior leaders across the organisation to develop and embed our resilience framework, ensuring we're ready to respond to emerging challenges while keeping our purpose at the heart of what we do.
You'll bring together operational resilience, business continuity and crisis management expertise to help safeguard our people, operations and customers. Through your work, you'll influence strategic decisions, strengthen critical services and help build a more resilient Co-op for the future.
What you’ll do
- Own the Group Business Resilience Framework and Policy, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives, risk appetite and regulatory expectations.
- Advance and embed Co-op's Minimum Viable Company model, maintaining the catalogue of critical services and the people, technology, suppliers and assets that support them.
- Lead and continuously improve our crisis management and business continuity programmes, ensuring effective response and recovery capability across the Co-op.
- Take a lead role in responding to major incidents, coordinating post-incident reviews and embedding lessons learned to strengthen resilience.
- Lead and develop a team of resilience experts, championing resilience across the organisation.
- Design, deliver and oversee resilience training and exercising programmes to build capability and embed a culture of preparedness.
- Report on resilience insights, risks and trends to senior leaders, the Group Board and Audit & Risk Committees.
- Build strong relationships across the business as a trusted resilience subject matter expert, driving innovation, simplification and continuous improvement.
What you’ll bring
- Strong experience in business resilience, crisis management, and business continuity, ideally within complex organisations.
- A systems-thinking approach — you’re able to spot risks, patterns, and opportunities others might miss.
- Confidence and charisma - you can influence senior leaders and present ideas with impact.
- Experience with relevant tech.
Benefits
- 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.
- £6,000 car allowance or a company car.
- Private healthcare for you and your family.
- Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ).
- Coaching and training to support your career development.
- Stream app - giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn.
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. Learn more about our recruitment process and our inclusion commitments.
Please note that we may close applications for this role early.
Business Management Lead in Manchester employer: The Co-Operative Group
Co-op Legal Services is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being of its employees and the communities it serves. With a strong focus on professional development, you will have access to coaching and training opportunities, alongside a competitive benefits package including private healthcare and a generous pension scheme. Our inclusive work culture fosters diversity and belonging, making it a rewarding place to build your career in Manchester, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bristol, or Sheffield.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Management Lead in Manchester
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
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✨Engage in Professional Networks
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Management Lead in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to The Co-Operative Group.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of The Co-Operative Group. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Co-Operative Group
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with The Co-Operative Group, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at The Co-Operative Group, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
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Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for The Co-Operative Group could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
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In corporate leadership, team dynamics and organisational culture are everything. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a positive work environment in previous roles. Bring up examples of how you've managed diverse teams effectively—this will resonate well at The Co-Operative Group as they’re likely seeking a candidate who can enhance their workplace culture.
