Senior Commercial Manager

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

AWE is an organisation with a unique and vital purpose: protecting the UK through world-class nuclear science and technology. Acting as a senior leader within the Commercial function,  in the role of Senior Commercial Manager, you will play a key role in the management of complex infrastructure and utilities contracts, supporting the safe, assured and value-for-money delivery of critical programmes.

Location: Reading (with occasional travel to Aldermaston and Burghfield)
Salary: £63,000 – £85,000 (dependent on experience)
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight with flexible working options

Ready to play your part?

At AWE, it’s not just a job, it’s far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Our work underpins national safety and security.

As a Senior Commercial Manager, you will operate with a high degree of autonomy, applying sound commercial judgement to manage risk, performance and contractual relationships in complex environments.

You will also lead and develop a team of contract management professionals, ensuring contracts are effectively administered and managed, and that consistent standards are applied across delivery.

What you will do

• Act as Senior Commercial Manager for complex infrastructure / utilities contracts across delivery

• Lead the management of contract performance, risk, change and compliance, ensuring delivery of value and objectives

• Manage, develop and support a team responsible for contract administration and delivery

• Support the development and implementation of contract management frameworks, governance and standards

• Manage supplier relationships, including performance reviews, issue resolution and contract change

• Contribute to the resolution of contractual issues and disputes, working with stakeholders and suppliers

• Provide commercial advice and guidance to stakeholders across the business

• Work collaboratively with procurement and project teams to ensure continuity across the commercial lifecycle

What success looks like in this role

We are looking for people who demonstrate:

Making effective decisions

• Applies sound commercial judgement in complex and sometimes ambiguous situations

• Makes informed decisions within their delegated authority, escalating where appropriate

• Balances risk, assurance and delivery pace to support programme outcomes

Seeing the big picture

• Understands how contracts contribute to wider programme and organisational objectives

• Considers risk, value and delivery outcomes when making decisions

• Recognises emerging issues early and takes action to manage them

Communicating and influencing

• Builds effective relationships with stakeholders and suppliers

• Communicates contractual issues clearly and with confidence

• Supports the resolution of challenging or contentious commercial situations

Leadership

• Leads and supports a team to deliver contract management activity effectively

• Provides coaching, guidance and day-to-day leadership to others

• Promotes consistent standards and ways of working across contract management

Experience we are looking for

We are interested in your experience and how you apply it, not specific qualifications.

You are likely to have experience in:

• Managing complex infrastructure, utilities or engineering contracts through delivery

• Leading or supporting contract management teams

• Managing supplier performance, contract change and commercial risk

• Working within complex or regulated environments

• Applying structured contract management approaches and governance

Experience of NEC contracts, contract administration tools such as CEMAR, or similar environments is beneficial, but not essential.

Background and qualifications

We are not prescriptive about qualifications.

If you have the experience, judgement and behaviours needed to succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply regardless of your formal background.

Work hard, be rewarded:

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.

• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

Hybrid working is available on a non-contractual basis (typically 2–3 days onsite per week)

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Next steps:

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know:

• We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. 
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.