Senior Commercial Manager

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)

#LI-RS1

#LI-Hybrid