AMS PSR

On behalf of AWE, we are looking for a Commercial Strategy Lead (Inside IR35) for a 18 month duration, hybrid with 2-3 days in the office in Reading with the occasional travel 1-2 days per month to Aldermaston.

What if you could work on something that you can’t test… but cannot afford to fail? Something that could have spent years on a submarine, is launched into outer space (where the temperature is below -250c), comes hurtling through the atmosphere, being heated up and shaken and then must work? Some challenge. That’s exactly what the team of over 6,500 people at AWE do every day delivering important work, in support of the most important mission – keeping the nation safe.

AWE plays a crucial role in national nuclear security. Their role in nuclear deterrence and their specialist technical assistance to nuclear threat reduction is vital in the defence against the most serious threats faced by the UK. Working to support the defence of our country, AWE has a clear mission to keep everyone, the environment, their products and information, sites, and everything around them, safe and secure.

As a Commercial Strategy Lead , your main responsibilities will be:

• Task‑manage a multidisciplinary team to ensure delivery of commercial activities (not line management).
• Lead the development of sourcing strategies across three programme areas, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
• Act as the accountable owner for the creation and quality of all sourcing strategies (the commercial product).
• Define and set the overall commercial strategy, including procurement approach and market positioning.
• Develop appropriate contracting models and associated commercial structures.
• Design and implement performance regimes to ensure supplier accountability and programme success.
• Identify the most suitable commercial solution to take to market, ensuring it meets programme and stakeholder needs.
• Determine the route‑to‑market approach, including market engagement and tendering methodology
• Oversee commercial infrastructure, processes and governance to support effective delivery.
• Provide leadership, direction and support to the commercial team, ensuring clarity of priorities and deliverables.
• Work closely with the procurement team to ensure compliant, efficient and effective sourcing activity.
• Support people management activities within the team, including coaching, capability building and day‑to‑day oversight.
• Serve as the accountable lead for shaping and delivering the external framework commercial strategy

Essential:

• SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance. 
• Strong capability in supporting senior leadership to develop and draft overarching acquisition strategies across complex programmes.
• Proven ability to develop, articulate and deliver high‑quality commercial strategies, informed by Green Book principles and NEC guidance
• Skilled in producing clear, robust strategy documents – able to take an early draft, strengthen it, and steer content in the right strategic direction
• Solid understanding of contracting models, commercial structures and pre‑award processes, with some experience of post‑award delivery.
• Predominantly pre‑award background with extensive experience shaping commercial thinking before contract execution.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to assess options, challenge assumptions and provide commercially sound recommendations
• Essential experience working with NEC contracts (NEC4 preferred, NEC3 also applicable).

Desirable:

• NEC accreditation highly desirable – considered a strong added advantage.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

AWE’s ambition is to create workplaces that recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and where people feel able to be themselves at work. They strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, AWE guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

AWE guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".