Senior Commercial Manager
AWE is an organisation with a unique and vital purpose: protecting the UK through world‑class nuclear science and technology. The role of Senior Commercial Manager sits within the Commercial function and is responsible for the management of complex infrastructure and utilities contracts, ensuring 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. Hybrid working is available on a non‑contractual basis (typically 2–3 days onsite per week).
Key Responsibilities
- 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
Making Effective Decisions
- Applies sound commercial judgement in complex and sometimes ambiguous situations
- Makes informed decisions within 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
- 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.
Benefits
- 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 (pay 9% to 13% of pensionable pay depending on 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 × 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.
Eligibility
- You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE.
- The role requires British citizenship and residency: at least 5 years in the UK for SC clearance and 10 years for DV clearance.
We appreciate that great people don’t always tick every box. We focus on your potential, fit with our values and transferable skills. If you feel this role and AWE are a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply.
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.
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