Astrea Delivery Lead (Programme Manager)

Veredus; Aldermaston; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Strong pension provision

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

Veredus is seeking an ASTRAEA Delivery Lead – Programme Manager for AWE in Aldermaston. This role demands an exceptional leader to manage a critical nuclear capability program, ensuring high-quality execution and stakeholder engagement.

The successful candidate will drive strategic initiatives and contribute to national security through effective governance and risk management. A competitive salary and a compelling benefits package, including a 9-day working fortnight, are offered.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leader with comfort in ambiguity and complexity.
• Strong communicator with ability to build trusted relationships.
• Experience leading major programs of work with high standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-profile, high-complexity delivery workstream.
• Translate strategy into delivery, shaping outcomes efficiently.
• Ensure delivery is on time, on budget, and to high standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Oversight

Communication

Stakeholder Management

Education

Experience in highly regulated environments

Experience in defence, nuclear, or aerospace

Job description

ASTRAEA Delivery Lead – Programme Manager

Competitive Salary + Benefits

Location: Aldermaston (primarily site-based)

Veredus is pleased to be partnering with AWE to identify and appoint an exceptional candidate to this critical role within its next-generation programme.

The United Kingdom’s national security depends on a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent. At AWE, we deliver the science, engineering and programme expertise that make this possible, working at the very edge of complexity, where the stakes could not be higher.

AWE Nuclear Security Technologies is at the heart of this mission. With some of the UK’s most advanced facilities and talented people, AWE is responsible for maintaining and evolving the nation’s nuclear capability, ensuring it remains credible for generations to come.

ASTRAEA is one of AWE’s most ambitious and strategically critical programmes. It will shape the future of the UK’s next-generation nuclear capability. Bringing together complex delivery, cutting-edge innovation, and world‑class programme leadership to deliver outcomes of national importance. We are seeking an exceptional ASTRAEA Delivery Lead – Programme Manager to take ownership of a high‑profile, high‑complexity delivery workstream within the programme. This is a role at the centre of major transformation, translating strategy into delivery, shaping outcomes, and ensuring execution at pace and at scale.

You will be a proven senior leader, comfortable operating in ambiguity and complexity, with the credibility to influence at the highest levels. You will lead major programmes of work that directly contribute to the UK’s next‑generation nuclear capability, ensuring delivery is achieved on time, on budget and to the highest standards of safety and quality.

An outstanding communicator, you will build trusted relationships across a wide stakeholder landscape, internally and externally, while leading and developing high‑performing teams. You will bring strong strategic oversight, ensuring governance, risk, financial control and benefits realisation are embedded across the delivery lifecycle.

We are particularly interested in individuals who bring experience from highly regulated, complex environments such as defence, nuclear or aerospace, alongside a collaborative leadership style and a passion for delivering meaningful, national‑impact outcomes. AWE offers a compelling environment in which to build your career, combining mission‑led work with a progressive employee package, including a 9‑day working fortnight, strong pension provision and ongoing professional development. This is a rare opportunity to lead at scale within one of the UK’s most important programmes, a role where your decisions and leadership will have lasting impact on national security.

Applications close: Thursday 11 June 2026 at 11:55pm