Contract Manager
AWE · Direct employer
Commercial - Contract Management
Location: Reading, with free onsite parking.
Package: £47,760 to £65,000 (depending on your suitability and level of experience).
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight, with every other Friday as a non-working day. This role is eligible for hybrid working, meaning employees typically spend three days on site in a long week and two days on site in a short week. We support flexible working where possible, including part-time and varied working hours, so please let us know if you would like us to consider an alternative working arrangement when you apply.
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. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?
The role
As a Contract Manager, you will manage assigned infrastructure, engineering or service contracts through delivery, helping AWE achieve safe, assured and value-for-money outcomes. Working within an integrated project and commercial team, you will turn contractual commitments into practical delivery while keeping control of performance, risk, change and commercial records.
This hands-on role calls for commercial judgement within delegated authority, ownership of day-to-day contract activity and early escalation when specialist support or additional authority is needed. You will build constructive relationships with suppliers and colleagues, maintaining delivery while protecting AWE's commercial position.
What you will do
Manage assigned NEC contracts across the delivery lifecycle, supporting the Project Manager and ensuring commercial controls are understood and applied.
Administer contracts accurately and on time, including notices, records, work orders, variations, payments, forecasts, change control and governance submissions.
Validate supporting information, challenge gaps constructively, and maintain clear, auditable contract records.
Monitor supplier performance against milestones, service levels, and key performance indicators, using evidence to support constructive conversations.
Identify and manage commercial risks, issues and opportunities, escalating matters proportionately.
Work with project controls, finance, technical, legal and procurement colleagues on mobilisation, amendments, extensions, re-procurement and close-out.
Contribute to assurance reviews, lessons learned and continuous improvement.
The role is focused on post-award commercial and contract management, working alongside procurement colleagues when pre-award or sourcing support is needed.
What success looks like in this role
We welcome applicants of all genders and backgrounds. Success will be demonstrated through behaviours:
Making effective decisions
Uses evidence to support delivery, commercial and wider AWE objectives.
Balances risk, assurance, value and pace, escalating decisions outside their authority or expertise.
Take ownership and follow issues through to practical resolution.
Seeing the big picture
Understands how contracts contribute to project, programme and organisational outcomes.
Considers cost, schedule, quality, risk and supplier behaviour together.
Anticipates emerging issues and acts early.
Communicating and influencing
Explains contractual requirements and commercial issues clearly, using straightforward language and evidence.
Builds credible relationships while maintaining professional challenge.
Handles disagreement constructively and involves senior commercial, legal or technical colleagues when needed.
Working together
Contributes positively within an integrated delivery team and shares relevant information promptly.
Supports consistent contract management standards, seeks input, and learns from experience.
Experience we are looking for
We are interested in your experience, judgement, and approach, not only formal qualifications. You will have practical experience in some of the following:
Quantity Surveying experience in managing or administering infrastructure, engineering, or service contracts.
Managing obligations, performance measures, payments, change, risk, governance, and commercial records.
Using evidence and commercial data to inform decisions, reporting and supplier challenge.
Collaborating with suppliers and multidisciplinary stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain delivery.
Applying structured contract management processes in a regulated, controlled, or safety-critical environment.
Understanding how pre-award commercial activity supports effective post-award delivery.
Transferable contract management experience, sound judgement, and a willingness to learn are equally valued.
Background and qualifications
We are not prescriptive about qualifications. Relevant experience in commercial, quantity surveying, contract management, procurement, project delivery, finance, engineering or law may provide a solid foundation. Professional membership or contract management accreditation is welcomed but is not essential.
Our commitment
We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from women and men, and from people with diverse professional backgrounds and career paths. Selection will be based on the experience, judgement and behaviours needed for the role. If the opportunity interests you, but you are unsure whether you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply.
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.
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