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AWE

Contract Delivery Lead - Estates & Liabilities

Reading
Posted about 23 hours ago
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Commercial Lead – Major Estates and Infrastructure

Contract Delivery Lead | Senior Leadership Role

Location: Reading, Berkshire

Package: Competitive leadership salary depending on experience, performance-related bonus, flexible benefit scheme.

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.

About the Role

Lead the commercial delivery of one of the UK’s most complex operational estates.

At AWE, our work helps keep the nation safe. We are seeking an experienced commercial leader to oversee contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds annually across estate maintenance, utilities, asset renewal, enabling works, demolition, and infrastructure investment.

Leading four Principal Contract Managers and their wider teams, you will work with executive stakeholders, senior programme leaders, and strategic suppliers to shape delivery, investment, and commercial outcomes across the estate. This is a highly visible role with significant organizational influence and exposure to some of AWE's most important infrastructure decisions.

Why this opportunity is different

Few commercial leadership roles offer the opportunity to:

  • Lead the commercial delivery of a nationally important operational estate supporting the UK’s defence and security mission.
  • Influence major infrastructure, investment, and renewal decisions across the full asset lifecycle.
  • Shape commercial outcomes across a diverse infrastructure and engineering supply chain.
  • Work alongside senior leaders on some of AWE’s most significant infrastructure priorities, providing a strong platform for further leadership progression.

What you’ll be doing

As Contract Delivery Lead, you will:

  • Set the commercial direction, priorities, and performance expectations for a strategically important Estates & Liabilities portfolio.
  • Develop and implement commercial strategies that maximize value, improve performance, and effectively manage risk.
  • Provide robust commercial oversight of contractual obligations, performance measures, change management, claims, disputes, financial mechanisms, and governance requirements.
  • Partner with engineering, operational, and programme leaders to translate investment priorities into deliverable commercial strategies.
  • Lead complex negotiations and provide strategic direction on major commercial and contractual decisions.
  • Lead AWE's commercial relationships with strategic suppliers, strengthening performance, accountability, and long-term value.
  • Develop the capability, performance, and succession strength of a sizeable commercial organization led through four Principal Contract Managers and their wider teams.
  • Champion commercial governance, assurance, and decision-making across a complex and evolving portfolio.

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What we’re looking for

You are likely to bring several of the following:

  • Significant experience leading commercial teams across major infrastructure, estates, utilities, or capital investment portfolios.
  • A track record of developing commercial strategy, leading complex negotiations, and improving outcomes in high-value contracting environments.
  • Experience influencing senior stakeholders and commercial decisions in complex organizations.
  • Strong commercial, contractual, and risk expertise gained in infrastructure, defence, nuclear, energy, or another regulated sector.
  • A relevant degree or equivalent experience; professional membership of RICS, CICES, or a similar body would be advantageous.

We value experience, judgement, and leadership capability above any single career path. If the opportunity excites you but you do not meet every requirement, we would still encourage you to apply.

You must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role.

Our commitment

At AWE, we recognize that exceptional leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries. If you believe you can make a significant contribution to our mission, we would welcome your application.

Work hard, be rewarded; our work truly matters.

In return, we offer:

  • 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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Next steps

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognize 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 recognize 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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Location

Reading, England, United Kingdom

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