Principal Contract Manager - Complex Systems

AWE; England; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in the UK is seeking a Principal Contract Manager to oversee large infrastructure contracts. Responsibilities include providing commercial leadership, managing client relationships, and mentoring contract administration teams. Ideal candidates will have experience in NEC contracts, strong negotiation skills, and relevant degree or qualifications. The role offers a market-leading salary with benefits like a 9-day working fortnight, professional development opportunities, and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

9-day working fortnight

Market leading contributory pension scheme

Family friendly policies

Opportunities for Professional Career Development

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance (4 x annual salary)

Discounts for everyday spending

Special Leave Policy for volunteering

Qualifications

• Experience in managing large complex infrastructure contracts.
• Ability to draft, review, and negotiate contractual arrangements.
• Experience working in the MOD, Nuclear, Defence, or Regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage client contracts for infrastructure projects.
• Provide commercial and performance leadership to the project team.
• Support procurement team on contract options management.

Skills

Commercial contract management experience

Drafting and negotiating complex contracts

Managing multiple stakeholders

Knowledge of NEC contracts

Contract management tools knowledge (CEMAR)

Education

Bachelor's degree in economics, business, law, or similar

CIPS or RICS membership (preferred)

Job description

AWE is currently recruiting for a Principal Contract Manager for the Commercial team.

Location: Green Park, Reading, with free onsite parking.

Package: £63,270 to £90,000 (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.

Ready to play your part?

At AWE, it's not just a job, it's far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

As the Principal Contract Manager, you will be the Client Contract Manager for large and complex infrastructure projects. Providing commercial and contract performance leadership to the project team to enable effective management of project and commercial risk.

You will lead strategic planning and governance. Manage, develop and mentor a team that administer the contracts, and get involved in contract disputes. You will support the procurement team, advising on contract options management, working with tier 1 Suppliers and managing KPI reviews / planning.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking individuals with commercial contract management experience, ideally with knowledge of NEC contracts and contract management tools such as CEMAR. We do need you to have the following:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex contractual arrangements.
• Managing large complex infrastructure contracts to ensure they deliver value and objectives.
• Managing multiple stakeholders and priorities.
• Working at a similar level within a comparable organisation or industry, such as MOD, Nuclear, Defence or Regulated.

We do need you to have the following:

• A bachelor's degree in economics, business, law, or a similar discipline or equivalent experience.
• A member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is preferred.

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

• Pricing arrangements e.g. target cost incentive fee.
• Intellectual Property Rights, Trade Controls and Earned Value Management.
• Preparing tender packages, conducting tender conferences, developing evaluation criteria, analysing and evaluating proposals, negotiating subcontract provisions, subcontractor selection.
• Managing, motivating and developing people/teams in a matrix team.
• Creating integrated delivery teams and Intelligent Client functions.
• Working in a Procurement and/or Commercial Function.

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.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 2 day onsite per week.