We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as applications are high and the role may close before the closing date.
Operational Delivery Lead
Location: RG7 4PR between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.
Package: £61,670 - £80,000 (depending on suitability, qualifications, and level of experience).
Working pattern: 9-day working fortnight.
AWE is recruiting for an Operational Delivery Lead for the Operations Group to provide leadership and supervision of operations delivery and support team. The role is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of operational outputs—such as production and trials—within the Business Unit. Acting as the key point of escalation, this role makes critical prioritisation decisions to achieve the efficient delivery of the order book to time, cost and quality, in full compliance with AWE ESH and Security requirements. The position requires strong coordination across functions and a focus on continuous improvement, driving operational excellence and embedding best practices throughout the organisation.
In addition to overseeing day‑to‑day operational delivery, the role involves leading and developing a large, diverse and high‑performing team, ensuring resources are effectively managed and suitably qualified. The Operational Delivery Lead will analyse performance data, identify trends, and implement strategies to enhance efficiency and capability. Building positive stakeholder relationships, including with international partners, and fostering a culture of agility and resilience are key to success.
This role is ideally suited to a candidate that has a proactive attitude towards safety, continuous improvement, problem solving and ability to adapt to changing team and delivery demands.
Who are we looking for?
Please note that this is an onsite based role rather than hybrid.
- Leadership & Team Management: Proven experience leading large, diverse, multi‑disciplinary teams; ability to coach, develop, and retain talent.
- Operational Expertise: Demonstrable experience managing complex delivery operations (e.g., production outputs, trials); skilled in interpreting operational performance data and making risk‑based decisions.
- Regulatory & Compliance: Experience working within a regulatory environment; understanding of environmental and nuclear operations management (where relevant).
- Qualifications: Degree educated or equivalent experience.
- Skills: Ability to manage a wide portfolio of complex, interrelated activities; strong decision‑making and problem‑solving skills; effective communication and stakeholder management; agility and resilience in changing circumstances.
- Other: Willing and able to obtain and maintain required security clearance.
While not a tick list, we’d like you to have experience in some of the following:
- Professional Recognition: Membership of a relevant professional body.
- Additional Expertise: Experience in implementing manufacturing best practices; exposure to international collaboration (e.g., US or other partners).
- Continuous Improvement: Proven track record in driving business change and transformation programs.
You’ll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority‑changed environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.
Key Accountabilities
- Accountable for managing, leading, coaching and developing a large and diverse/multi‑disciplinary team and holding them accountable for the engagement, development, performance and retention of their teams.
- Work on behalf of the Head of Operations to achieve the safe delivery of operational task outputs (e.g. production outputs / trials delivery) aligned to the Business Unit order book, acting as the escalation point for key tactical decisions and ensuring coordination and execution of these tasks in line with SQCDP (safety, quality, cost, delivery, people).
- Lead and contribute to projects directly related to process and enduring capability.
- Deliver improvements in performance in all aspects of operations and implement manufacturing best practice.
- Accountable for effective resource management of operations delivery staff within the Business Unit (e.g., apprentices, operatives, technicians, team leaders) ensuring that resources are SQEP (suitably qualified experienced person) as required and allocated effectively to meet operational demands.
- Accountable for ensuring robust data is available to report, analyse and monitor performance, identifying trends and variances and areas for improvement.
- Deliver operational output within the Business Unit which meets quality standards and complies with defined conditions and regulations.
- Utilise in‑depth understanding of operations to deliver risk‑based decision making and prioritisation in line with customer needs.
- Maintain and improve relationships with US and other international partners.
- Additional accountabilities may be identified over time and will be discussed with the role holder in line with the business need.
Key Responsibilities
- Responsible for safe delivery of operational requirements in line with the Business Unit order book.
- Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimise impact.
- Promote adoption of continuous improvement, business change and transformation programmes into operations delivery – ensuring expectations and requirements are reinforced and become embedded into business as usual.
- Promote and sponsor operational excellence and drive all actions aimed at continuous process improvement.
- The company may require you to fulfil any other reasonable duties aligned to your position from time to time in line with the business needs.
Some Reasons We Think You’ll Love It Here
AWE offers a wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:
- 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.
- 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.
The Working at AWE page on our website is where you can find full details in the AWE Benefits Guide.
Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston.
Next Steps
Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. 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. 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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