Senior Project Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

270 hours annual leave

Pension scheme (9-13%)

Family friendly policies

Professional career development

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Discounts

Special Leave Policy

Job summary

AWE in the Reading area is seeking a Senior Project Manager to assure delivery across a portfolio of complex Projects and Programmes. You will act as a PM subject matter expert, guiding and mentoring others to improve delivery on time, cost and quality.

In a highly regulated environment you will develop PM capability, champion best practices and drive continuous improvement, coaching teams and influencing decisions at all levels while ensuring safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Significant experience operating within complex Project or Programme environments.
• Strong understanding of governance, controls, assurance and performance management.
• Experience coaching, mentoring or leading Project Managers and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to provide credible challenge and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, translating strategic objectives into practical delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert Project Management guidance, assurance and leadership across multiple projects and programmes.
• Coach, mentor and support Project Management to develop capability and deliver improved outcomes.
• Promote consistency and excellence in Project Management practices, governance and reporting.
• Review project performance and provide constructive challenge to ensure baselines and objectives are met.
• Support Project Managers with risk, opportunity, resource and stakeholder management.
• Ensure activities comply with AWE's Project Management framework and regulatory requirements.
• Influence senior stakeholders to drive continuous improvement across delivery practices.
• Champion highest standards of environment, safety, health, security and quality.
• Support strategic decision-making through analysis, reporting and performance oversight.

Skills

Project governance

Coaching/mentoring

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Budget management

Risk management

Resource management

Programme management

Job description

Drive Excellence Across a Portfolio of Critical Projects!

AWE is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to utilise their Project Management expertise to provide assurance of successful delivery across a diverse portfolio of complex Projects and Programmes.

This is not a traditional project delivery role. Instead, you'll act as a Project Management subject matter expert, using your extensive project delivery experience to guide, mentor and support other Project Management professionals in successfully delivering. Through undertaking assurance reviews you’ll ensure Projects and Programmes remain aligned with organisational standards whilst also agreeing corrective actions that will improve confidence in delivery to time, cost and quality.

Working within a highly regulated environment, you will play a key role in developing Project Management capability, promoting best practice and driving continuous improvement across the project community. Through coaching, constructive challenge and knowledge sharing, you will help build confidence that Projects are being managed effectively, safely and compliantly.

This opportunity is ideally suited to a highly experienced Senior Project Manager or Programme Manager who has spent many years leading complex projects and is looking to transition away from hands-on delivery. Rather than being accountable for the day-to-day management of individual projects, you will use your experience to influence outcomes through others, shaping project delivery standards, coaching Project Managers and strengthening Project Management excellence across the organisation.

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

Package: Competitive. While we are open to discussing remuneration based on experience, we would typically expect candidates for this role to be positioned from £64,780 upwards.

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.

Closing Date: 15th September 2026

Let us introduce the role

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for assuring that Projects and Programmes deliver safely, on time, within budget and to the required quality standards. Key responsibilities include:

• Provide expert Project Management guidance, assurance and leadership across multiple projects and programmes.
• Coach, mentor and support Project Management, helping them develop capability and deliver improved project outcomes.
• Promote consistency and excellence in Project Management practices, governance and reporting.
• Review project performance and provide constructive challenge to ensure delivery remains aligned to agreed baselines and objectives.
• Support Project Managers with risk, opportunity, resource and stakeholder management activities.
• Ensure project activities are compliant with AWE's Project Management framework, governance processes and regulatory requirements.
• Influence senior stakeholders and project teams to drive continuous improvement across project delivery practices.
• Champion the highest standards of environment, safety, health, security and quality.
• Support strategic decision-making through effective analysis, reporting and performance oversight.

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

• Significant experience operating within complex Project or Programme environments.
• A strong understanding of Project governance, controls, assurance and performance management.
• Experience coaching, mentoring or leading Project Managers and multidisciplinary teams.
• The ability to provide credible challenge and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate strategic objectives into practical delivery approaches.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to review schedules, performance data, reports and project documentation.
• Experience supporting effective resource management, budget oversight and risk management activities.
• A collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing capability and fostering high-performing teams.

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'.

Important Things You Need To Know

• 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.