Principal Category Manager - Site Services

Atomic Weapons Establishment; Aldermaston; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Excellent pension

Family friendly policies

Professional development

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Discounts

Volunteer leave

Job summary

Atomic Weapons Establishment is seeking a Principal Category Manager to lead category strategies across Site Services and to drive high-value, complex procurements. The role oversees end-to-end sourcing, contract negotiation and supplier collaboration, with a focus on safety, compliance and strategic impact.

The successful candidate will lead a team of Category Managers, work with senior stakeholders, and deliver measurable savings while aligning with regulatory and business objectives.

Qualifications

• Leadership and development of high-performing teams.
• End-to-end category management and delivering public regulated procurements.
• Senior stakeholder management and commercial governance.
• Cross-functional working across multiple programmes.
• Experience with tendering, evaluation, negotiation and contract award.
• Understanding of markets, supplier analysis and commercial drivers.
• Support the delivery of procurement change and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of category strategies aligned with business objectives, delivering measurable savings, benefits and value for AWE.
• Ensure alignment with organisational priorities, Category Management objectives, regulatory requirements and market developments.
• Oversee end-to-end sourcing activities for high-value and complex procurements, including the review and approval of key documents such as sourcing strategies and contract award recommendations.
• Inform strategic decision-making through market, commercial and supplier analysis.
• Apply appropriate forms of contract to support contracts.
• Develop and manage relationships with key suppliers to promote collaboration and innovation, acting as a senior escalation point.

Skills

Leadership

Category management

Stakeholder management

Sourcing strategy

Supplier analysis

Education

MCIPS qualification

Job description

Principal Category Manager

Site Services is seeking an experienced and dynamic Principal Category Manager to lead the team, shape and deliver category strategies, and take on complex, high-impact sourcing activity.

You’ll set the direction across the Site Services categories and help deliver the commercial solutions that keep AWE’s sites safe and operational. You will manage the end-to-end Category Management process for a diverse and exciting portfolio which includes Hard and Soft Facilities Management, Fleet and Transport, Logistical Services, Utilities, Waste Management Services, Strategic Goods & Services, Off Site Leasing Arrangements and Security & Minor Works.

Location: Reading, with free onsite parking.

Package: £60,000 to £90,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight, with every other Friday as a non-working day. This role is eligible for hybrid working, meaning employees typically spend three days on site in a long week and two days on site in a short week. We support flexible working where possible, including part-time and varied working hours.

At AWE, it’s not just a job, it’s far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of category strategies aligned with business objectives, delivering measurable savings, benefits and value for AWE.
• Ensure alignment with organisational priorities, Category Management objectives, regulatory requirements and market developments.
• Oversee end-to-end sourcing activities for high-value and complex procurements, including the review and approval of key documents such as sourcing strategies and contract award recommendations.
• Inform strategic decision-making through comprehensive market, commercial and supplier analysis.
• Apply appropriate forms of contract, including NEC, GCA agreements and AWE Standard Terms, to support the preparation, negotiation, award and delivery of contracts.
• Develop and manage effective relationships with key suppliers to promote collaboration, performance and innovation, acting as a senior escalation point where required.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Category Managers, while influencing stakeholders across specialist and functional areas to deliver agreed objectives and priorities.

About the role

We are seeking a motivated category management and procurement professional with effective leadership, management, stakeholder and technical skills.

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

• Leadership and development of high-performing teams.
• End-to-end category management and delivering public regulated procurements.
• Senior stakeholder management and commercial governance.
• Cross-functional working across multiple programmes.
• Demonstratable experience and understanding of tendering, evaluation, negotiation and contract award, including drafting and negotiating complex contracts and frameworks.
• Understanding of markets, supplier analysis and commercial drivers.
• Support the delivery of procurement change and continuous improvement.
• MCIPS qualified or planning to work towards accreditation.

Benefits

• 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.

#LI-ZB1

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.

Important information

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.

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.

We are at the start of a once in a generation – possibly two generations – programme to design and produce a replacement warhead for the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent. We will do this while continuing to deliver the Trident programme as well as managing ambitious state-of-the art capital and construction projects – some of which have never been done before.

Service Leavers, Veterans and Reservists

We are an Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award Employer.