Head of Master Planning

awepeople; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day fortnight

270 hours annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Professional development support

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

AWE is seeking a strategic Head of Master Planning to lead the development and delivery of the Establishment Master Plan and Infrastructure Capability Plan, driving the long-term site strategy and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

You will lead cross-site infrastructure planning, engage senior stakeholders, and oversee governance and GIS capabilities to support future delivery and investment decisions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in estate planning, master planning, infrastructure strategy or a related discipline.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver long-term strategic plans aligned to organisational objectives.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure investment planning, capital programmes and asset development.
• Experience engaging with senior stakeholders and influencing decision-making at executive level.
• Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities and translate business requirements into deliverable plans.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience leading high-performing teams.
• Experience managing budgets, resources, risks and governance processes within a complex organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to identify strategic risks and opportunities, driving effective solutions and continuous improvement.
• Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline such as Estate Management, Planning, Engineering, Infrastructure, Property, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, maintenance and approval of AWE’s Establishment Master Plan and Infrastructure Capability Plan, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term estate strategy.
• Shape and coordinate future infrastructure and land use requirements across AWE locations, balancing competing priorities to optimise investment and capability outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to understand business needs and develop integrated plans that support organisational growth and operational delivery.
• Provide strategic advice and assurance to senior leaders on estate planning, capability risks, opportunities and investment priorities.
• Oversee estate planning governance, including chairing land and property forums and supporting decision-making processes.
• Ensure effective management of estate capability risks, maintaining accurate and up-to-date planning information to support future delivery.
• Lead the provision and development of AWE’s Geographical Information System (GIS) capabilities.
• Manage investment planning and budget oversight, providing scrutiny, challenge and recommendations to support effective resource allocation.
• Champion AWE’s values, mission and regulatory compliance requirements, ensuring robust governance across estate planning activities.

Skills

Estate planning

Master planning

Infrastructure strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

Degree in Estate Management, Planning, Engineering, Infrastructure, Property, or related field

Job description

Head of Master Planning

Location: RG7 4PR , located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking .

Package: A competitive salary aligned with the seniority and impact of this role.

Working Pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight, with every other Friday as a non-working day. For this role, employees are required to work fully onsite. We support flexible working arrangements where possible, including part-time and varied working hours, while maintaining an onsite presence. Please let us know if you would like us to consider an alternative working pattern as part of your application.

Ready to play your part?

As Head of Master Planning, you will lead the development and delivery of AWE’s Establishment Master Plan and Infrastructure Capability Plan, ensuring a clear and coherent strategy for the evolution of our sites. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for defining and driving the long-term vision for AWE’s estate, enabling the infrastructure and facilities required to support our mission for decades to come.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities include:

• Lead the development, maintenance and approval of AWE’s Establishment Master Plan and Infrastructure Capability Plan, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term estate strategy.
• Shape and coordinate future infrastructure and land use requirements across AWE locations, balancing competing priorities to optimise investment and capability outcomes.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to understand business needs and develop integrated plans that support organisational growth and operational delivery.
• Provide strategic advice and assurance to senior leaders on estate planning, capability risks, opportunities and investment priorities.
• Oversee estate planning governance, including chairing land and property forums and supporting decision-making processes.
• Ensure effective management of estate capability risks, maintaining accurate and up-to-date planning information to support future delivery.
• Lead the provision and development of AWE’s Geographical Information System (GIS) capabilities.
• Manage investment planning and budget oversight, providing scrutiny, challenge and recommendations to support effective resource allocation.
• Champion AWE’s values, mission and regulatory compliance requirements, ensuring robust governance across estate planning activities.

Who are we looking for?

We’re seeking a strategic and influential leader with the ability to shape the long-term development of a complex estate and infrastructure portfolio.

Essential skills and experience:

• Significant experience in estate planning, master planning, infrastructure strategy or a related discipline.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver long-term strategic plans aligned to organisational objectives.
• Strong understanding of infrastructure investment planning, capital programmes and asset development.
• Experience engaging with senior stakeholders and influencing decision-making at executive level.
• Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities and translate business requirements into deliverable plans.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience leading high-performing teams.
• Experience managing budgets, resources, risks and governance processes within a complex organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to identify strategic risks and opportunities, driving effective solutions and continuous improvement.
• Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline such as Estate Management, Planning, Engineering, Infrastructure, Property, or a related field.

Work hard, be rewarded:

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:

• 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.