Programme Director

awepeople; Reading; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

AWE is seeking a Programme Delivery Director to lead a mega capital infrastructure programme critical to the UK's national security mission, reporting to the senior programme leadership team. You will steer strategy, governance, risk management and performance across a large, multi‑disciplinary structure to deliver on schedule, cost and benefits.

You will build strategic partnerships with government and industry, ensure safety and quality, and develop leadership across the enterprise to achieve

Qualifications

• Leadership of large, high‑value infrastructure programmes across complex, regulated environments.
• Proven ability to manage executive stakeholders including government and industry partners.
• Experience shaping strategy and translating it into delivery plans with measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead mega capital infrastructure delivery with focus on objectives and benefits.
• Provide visible leadership across large, multi‑disciplinary organisations to drive accountability and high performance.
• Own programme performance: cost, schedule, risk, delivery outcomes and value for money.
• Shape strategy and translate into delivery plans with measurable results.
• Build partnerships with senior stakeholders across AWE, Government and industry.
• Establish governance, assurance and control frameworks for programme delivery.
• Manage interdependencies and risks in a complex operating environment.
• Develop organisational capability and coach senior leaders to create high‑performing teams.
• Champion safety, security, health, environment and quality standards.

Skills

Leadership

Executive stakeholder management

Cost, schedule, risk management

Governance & assurance

Education

Government Project Delivery Accreditation – Senior Practitioner

Degree-level qualification or equivalent

MSP / MoR / Managing Portfolios / APM PMQ

Job description

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

Programme Delivery Director – Mega Capital Infrastructure Programme

Lead the delivery of one of the UK's most significant infrastructure investments

AWE is seeking an exceptional Programme Delivery Director to play a pivotal leadership role in the delivery of a mega capital infrastructure programme that is critical to the UK's national security mission.

Reporting to the overall Programme Director and working as part of the senior programme leadership team, you will be responsible for leading a substantial and complex programme environment, providing strategic direction across multidisciplinary teams and ensuring the successful delivery of programme outcomes, benefits, schedule, cost and performance objectives.

This is a rare opportunity for an accomplished infrastructure leader to influence and shape the delivery of a multi‑billion‑pound, multi‑year construction programme within one of the UK's most complex and highly regulated environments.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the delivery of a mega capital infrastructure programme, ensuring successful execution and achievement of strategic objectives and benefits.

• Providing visible leadership across large, multi‑disciplinary and matrix organisations, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and high performance.

• Taking responsibility for programme performance, including cost, schedule, risk management and delivery outcomes.

• Shaping programme strategy and translating it into effective delivery plans and measurable results.

• Building strong partnerships with senior stakeholders across AWE, Government, industry partners and the wider enterprise.

• Establishing effective governance, assurance and control frameworks to support successful programme delivery.

• Managing programme and project interdependencies, priorities, risks and opportunities within a highly complex operating environment.

• Developing organisational capability, coaching senior leaders and fostering high‑performing teams.

• Championing the highest standards of safety, security, health, environmental stewardship and quality.

Who we're looking for

We are seeking an experienced senior programme leader with a proven track record of delivering large‑scale capital infrastructure and construction programmes in complex, highly regulated environments.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading high‑value, multi‑year capital infrastructure programmes.

• A successful track record within major engineering, construction or infrastructure delivery organisations:

  • Nuclear

  • Defence

  • Energy

  • Major transportation infrastructure

  • Other high‑hazard, safety‑critical or highly regulated environments

• Experience managing large programme budgets, schedules, resources and complex stakeholder landscapes.

• The ability to lead through influence across large matrix organisations and multiple delivery partners.

• Strong commercial awareness and an ability to balance delivery, risk and value‑for‑money considerations.

• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging executive‑level, government and industry stakeholders.

• The ability to drive performance and deliver outcomes in challenging and evolving environments.

• Knowledge of nuclear licence conditions and experience delivering programmes within regulated nuclear environments would be advantageous.

Qualifications

• Government Project Delivery Accreditation at Senior Practitioner level (or willingness to achieve within 12 months).

• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience.

• Relevant programme management qualifications such as MSP, MoR, Managing Portfolios, APM PMQ or equivalent.

Security Requirements

Due to the nature of our work, applicants must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role.

Why AWE?

This is an opportunity to help deliver infrastructure of national importance, working at a scale and level of complexity rarely found elsewhere in the UK. You'll join a highly capable leadership team and play a key role in shaping programmes that will support the nation's security for decades to come.

#LI-TW1

Next steps:

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. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know:

• We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
• 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. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the 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.