Job Description

If you'd like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.
Package: Starting from 64,780 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.
We are looking for an experienced and adaptable individual to head up the Trials Programme Office (TPO) which is a subdivision of the Trials and Test Technology Centre. The Trials Programme Office, comprising a multidisciplinary team of professional engineers, scientists, project managers, and other SMEs who collectively deliver Hydrodynamics, Engineering, Environmental, and Capability Trials.
Accountable to the Tech Centre Head as a member of the Tech Centre Senior Leadership Team (SLT), this senior leadership position is pivotal in providing strategic leadership, driving change to meet increasing customer programme demands.
Key Accountabilities:

• Leadership and Team Management: Provide direction, mentorship, and support to the multidisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Strategic Planning: Working with the Trials Planning Team develop and implement an integrated and strategic trials plan.
• Change Leadership: Lead efforts to adapt and evolve the trials programme to meet the growing demands of customer programmes.
• Stakeholder Management: Engage with key stakeholders to ensure alignment with strategic objectives and customer needs.
• Financial Oversight: Manage the budget and financial resources of the trials programme, ensuring cost-effective operations.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify and address risks to ensure the successful execution of trials.
• Performance Metrics: Establish and monitor key performance indicators to track the progress and success of trials projects.
• Innovation and Improvement: Promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the trials programme.

Key Responsibilities:

• Portfolio Management & Delivery: Oversee a complex trials project portfolio of projects company programmes to underwriting the safety and performance of both existing and new weapons systems, delivering trials across the UK, France, and in collaboration with US Labs.
• Strategic Leadership: Working with the Trials Planning Team drive the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan for trials.
• Change Management: Drive transformational change to the TPO to meet the rapidly increasing demands of emerging weapons programmes and existing weapon systems.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring their needs and expectations are met.
• Supply Chain Engagement: Manage a current portfolio of component and subsystems that dominate the orderbook.
• Budget Management: Oversee the financial aspects of the trials programme, including input to the IBP, ensuring efficient use of resources and adherence to budgetary constraints.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure the successful delivery of trials.
• Performance Monitoring: Track and report on the progress of trials, ensuring they meet established goals and timelines.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the trials programme, incorporating feedback and lessons learned.

Whilst not to be considered a check list, candidates should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• A dynamic and supportive approach to team management, encouraging and empowering team members to quickly adapt and respond to change.
• Ability to effectively prioritise workload, resources, and deadlines within high pressure complex environments.
• Experience in facilitating effective allocation of resources within portfolio, programme, or project, including personnel, budget, and materials, to maximise efficiency and project success.
• A proven record to drive project deliverables forward through a complex environment and leadership of a high performing and successful integrated project organisation.
• Robust stakeholder management skills, able to work closely with key stakeholders to understand their needs, expectations, and concerns, fostering collaboration and effective communication.
• Ability to oversee risk management activities across projects, ensuring that risks are identified, assessed, and managed consistently at the organisational level.
• Comfortable in developing and maintaining reporting mechanisms to track KPIs and project metrics, offering insights for decision-making at various organisational levels.
• Ability to solve problems, with proven delivery of results through creative solutions and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Experience in identifying opportunities for continuous improvement in processes and practises, and tracking evaluating the actual benefits derived from completed projects, ensuring that the intended outcomes are achieved.
• Demonstrable experience in establishing project governance structures and ensure compliance with organisational policies and standards, promoting accountability and transparency.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:
AWE has 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.
• 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.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.
There will be the opportunity for business travel with this role, approximately 3 international trips per year (this is subject to change as per business need).
The majority of work for this role will require you to be onsite.
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Next steps:
Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise 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 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.