Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading

AWE plc; Mapledurham; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Pension scheme (9% to 13%)

Family-friendly policies

Career development funding

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Discounts on everyday spending

Special Leave for volunteering

Job summary

AWE plc seeks a Senior Supply Chain Development Manager in Reading to lead the new Supply Chain Development team and shape enterprise-wide governance, supplier engagement, and ESG-driven initiatives.

This role delivers risk-managed supplier performance, SRM frameworks, and SME participation across major procurement programs, with a hybrid pattern and a 9-day fortnight. You will partner with Commercial, Programme and Supply Chain teams to drive supplier relationships and value creation.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing strategy within supply chain development and SRM.
• Experience designing and implementing supply chain governance frameworks, policies, procedures, and operating models.
• Ability to drive sustainability, ESG, and supplier diversity into procurement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a robust SRM framework.
• Drive supplier segmentation and performance management across AWE.
• Develop supply chain policies, procedures, standards, and templates.
• Improve supplier relationship maturity and embed best-practice principles.
• Lead supplier engagement programmes and communications.
• Embed ESG, supplier diversity, and SME participation into activities.
• Build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships across teams.
• Develop a high performing Supply Chain Development Team.

Skills

Supply chain development

SRM (Supplier Relationship Management)

Stakeholder influence

ESG & sustainability

SME participation

Governance frameworks

Job description

Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading

2026-09-26T00:00:00

Mapledurham

Oxfordshire

GB

RG4 7

Any

2026-12-26T19:01:40.82

Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading, Berkshire, Rg2 6UA

Job Type: Full-Time

Salary: 63,270 - 85,000 per annum

Package

63,270 to 85,000 (depending on experience)

Location

Reading, with free onsite parking. 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, so please let us know if you would like us to consider an alternative working arrangement when you apply.

Overview

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?

The Senior Supply Chain Development Manager plays a pivotal role within a newly established Supply Chain Development team, responsible for enabling the Commercial function to deliver a coherent, strategic, and enterprise-wide approach to supply chain development across AWE. The role supports the organisation through a significant period of procurement and tendering activity associated with the replacement warhead programme, ensuring that supply chain capability frameworks are established and embedded across the business.

Reporting to the Principal Supply Chain Development Manager, the role is accountable for developing supply chain management frameworks, methodologies, standards, tools, and best practices that strengthen supplier relationships, improve supply chain performance, and position AWE as a Client of Choice. The role also leads the team in advancing sustainability, social value, and supplier inclusion objectives.

Key Accountabilities

• Accountable for establishing and maintaining a robust supplier governance methodology and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) framework that supports strategic business objectives.
• Accountable for ensuring consistent supplier segmentation and performance management approaches are adopted across AWE.
• Accountable for the creation and maintenance of supply chain policies, procedures, standards, tools, and templates.
• Accountable for driving improvements in supplier relationship maturity and embedding best-practice supplier management principles.
• Accountable for delivering initiatives that enhance AWE's position as a preferred customer within key supply markets through the Client of Choice strategy.
• Accountable for the successful planning and delivery of supplier engagement programmes, forums, and communication activities.
• Accountable for embedding ESG, supplier diversity, SME participation, and social value considerations into supply chain development activities.
• Accountable for building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring effective collaboration across Commercial, Programme, and Supply Chain communities.
• Accountable for development of a high performing Supply Chain Development Team.

Candidate Experience and Skills

While not an exhaustive list, we would like you to have experience in some of the following areas:

• Proven professional experience in developing strategy within supply chain development and SRM.
• Experience in developing SME strategies that align with broader supply development strategies.
• Experience working collaboratively with and influencing senior business stakeholders.
• Experience designing and implementing supply chain governance frameworks, policies, procedures, and operating models.
• Experience incorporating sustainability, ESG, social value, supplier diversity, and SME participation objectives into procurement strategies.
• Ability to develop and implement enterprise-wide supply chain frameworks, governance models, and improvement strategies aligned to organisational objectives.
• Strong ability to build credibility and influence senior leaders, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, capable of leading supplier engagement initiatives, workshops, and forums.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and embed new processes, methodologies, and ways of working to enhance supply chain performance and organisational maturity.
• Ability to work effectively in complex and ambiguous environments.
• Role model for innovation and continuous improvement.

Benefits

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return, we offer balance and award-winning benefits including:

• 9-day working fortnight - every other Friday off, plus 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market-leading contributory pension scheme (9% to 13%).
• Family-friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 weeks full pay; Paternity Leave - 4 weeks full pay.
• Opportunities for professional career development, including funding for relevant professional memberships.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4x annual salary).
• Discounts on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy for volunteering, public service, and caring responsibilities.

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