Portfolio Manager

AWE; Reading; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Pension scheme (9–13%)

Family friendly policies

Professional development funding

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Discounts

Special Leave Policy

Job summary

AWE is seeking a Portfolio Lead (WUT) to manage a portfolio of programmes and projects supporting our warhead capability. You will lead teams, prioritise work, govern delivery and ensure resources align with strategic objectives.

You will translate technical innovation and strategic goals into tangible capability benefits, oversee portfolio performance across delivery, risk, budgets and dependencies, and coach others while navigating competing priorities to drive successful delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience leading within projects, programmes or portfolios.
• Ability to coach, develop and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Experience in portfolio governance, planning and scheduling.
• Management of risk, opportunities and benefits.
• Working in a complex or highly regulated environment.
• Clear communication with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead portfolios of programmes and projects to achieve delivery excellence.
• Oversee performance across delivery, risk, budgets, benefits, dependencies and resources.
• Coach and develop others, build relationships and promote inclusion.
• Turn strategy and portfolio information into clear plans and priorities.
• Influence senior stakeholders and ensure governance and prioritisation.

Skills

Portfolio management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Risk management

Programme governance

Change management

Communication at all levels

Regulated environment

Education

GCSE English & Maths

APM membership

MP/MoR qualifications (MSP/MoP)

APM PMQ qualification

Relevant professional accreditation

Job description

Portfolio Manager

Closing date: 24th November 2026

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.

Let us introduce the role

AWE is currently recruiting for a WUT Portfolio Lead, reporting to the Warhead Portfolio Director. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced P3M professional to lead a portfolio of programmes and projects that support our warhead capability.

You’ll lead teams through transformation, ensuring programmes and projects are effectively prioritised, governed and resourced while maintaining high-quality delivery.

You’ll bring strong project and portfolio management expertise, alongside a pragmatic and innovative approach, helping translate technical innovation and strategic objectives into tangible capability benefits.

Working with technical leads, specialist teams and senior stakeholders, you’ll oversee portfolio performance across delivery, risk, budgets, benefits, dependencies and resources, providing clear insight to support effective decision-making.

As a leader, you’ll coach and develop others, build strong relationships and create an inclusive environment, while managing competing priorities and driving successful delivery.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an individual with a proven track record in leading within complex projects, programmes or portfolios; someone who can build strong relationships, inspire teams, navigate ambiguity, and drive positive change. The ability to tailor P3M approaches to suit the needs of the portfolio and maximise value will be critical to success in this role.

If you are passionate about leadership, delivery excellence, and enabling technical innovation to achieve meaningful outcomes, we would be delighted to hear from you.

We do need you to have the following:

• Experience in Project, Programme or Portfolio delivery.

• Experience leading cross-functional teams, including coaching, developing and motivating others.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Portfolio governance, planning and scheduling.

• Risk, opportunity and benefits management.

• Managing people, budgets and competing priorities.

• Building relationships and influencing senior stakeholders.

• Turning strategy and portfolio information into clear plans and priorities.

• Business cases, assurance and change management.

• Working in a complex or highly regulated environment.

• Confident communication at all levels.

• Managing ambiguity and changing priorities.

• GCSE English and Maths, or equivalent.

• Relevant professional accreditation, or willingness to achieve this within 12 months.

• A recognised Project, Programme or Portfolio Management qualification.

• Membership of APM, CaSA or an equivalent professional body.

• Qualifications such as MSP, MoR, MoP, APM Project Planning, Monitoring & Control or APM PMQ would be beneficial.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

• AWE has a 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'.

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