Project Manager - Astraea Programme

Atomic Weapons Establishment; Brentford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense organization in the UK is seeking a Project Manager for the Astraea Programme. This role involves delivering complex projects while leading a team in a regulated environment. The ideal candidate will possess project management experience and a relevant graduate qualification. The position offers a hybrid work model and competitive compensation starting at £49,830.

Benefits

9-day working fortnight

Market leading contributory pension scheme

Family friendly policies

Professional career development opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a project environment within a regulated industry.
• Experience managing projects through the full lifecycle.
• Strong ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Deliver assigned projects within time, cost, and quality constraints.
• Lead and develop the project team.
• Manage project governance, compliance, and reporting.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Communication

Risk management

Budget management

Education

Graduate level qualification or equivalent

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

Project Manager - Astraea Programme page is loaded

Project Manager - Astraea Programme

Apply remote type Hybrid locations Reading area time type Full time posted on Posted 2 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: August 29, 2025 (18 days left to apply) job requisition id R26729

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.

At AWE we are in the process of a once-in-a-generation programme to design and produce a replacement warhead for the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent. As such, we are looking for an adaptable and experienced Project Manager to join the Astraea Programme. This is fantastic opportunity to work within a fast growing team on a highly complex and unique programme of work.

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

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.

Package: Starting from £49,830 depending on experience and suitability.

In this role you will:

• Deliver assigned projects in accordance with requirements, operational constraints, time, cost, and quality.
• Lead, coach and develop a team at a local level to deliver team and personal objectives safely and securely to meet our operational plans.
• Maintain and promote high personal standards in environment, safety, health, security, and quality and be a great team player.

Whilst not to be considered a check list, candidates should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• Demonstrable experience working with a project’s environment within a similar highly regulated environment would be beneficial.
• Graduate level qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience or Project Management practitioner qualification.
• Positive communicator and able to motivate stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrable leadership and the ability to build strong focused teams.
• Ability to effectively prioritise workload, resources, and deadlines within high pressure complex environments.
• Skills to create and update all project documentation, including project management plans and supporting risks, assumptions, actions, issues & dependencies.
• Experience of project management tools and techniques for budgeting, change management and project goal setting.
• A proven record to drive project deliverables forward, working cooperatively with teams who have a broad range of skills.
• Knowledge of methods to track project deliverables including implementing key performance indicators and producing project progress reports.
• Risk techniques to manage project risks and interdependencies with efficient mitigation and contingency plans.
• Experience to manage projects through a lifecycle and the associated governance, including stage gate approvals.
• Ability to solve problems and deliver results through creative solutions and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Desire for continuous improvement through evaluation of both successes and failures.
• Positive attitude and willingness to be hands-on in a fast-paced, growing company.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage projects with focus on Governance (compliance and reporting).
• Management of project resources (people, money).
• Lead the planning of the task/project.
• Lead, support, and initiate change against the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB).
• Lead, initiate and perform risk and opportunity identification and subsequent actions.
• The Company may require you to fulfil any other reasonable duties aligned to your position from time to time in line with business needs.

There may be the opportunity for business travel with this role, approximately up to 6 trips per year both within the UK and overseas (this is subject to change as per business need).

You’ll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.

Some reasons we think you’ll love it here:

AWE has 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'.

This role requires most of the work to be done on site. Working from home will be available when the work allows.

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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.

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About AWE

If you’re looking for a role with excitement, intrigue and something that really makes a difference then now is the time to join AWE. 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. Find out more on ourwebsite .

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