Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading

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

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

270 hours annual leave

Pension scheme (9–13%)

Maternity/Paternity leave

Professional development funding

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance (4x salary)

Discounts on everyday spending

Special Leave Policy

Job summary

AWE plc in Reading is seeking a Senior Supply Chain Development Manager to lead a new team focused on enabling the Commercial function with a strategic, enterprise-wide approach to supply chain development. The role supports procurement and tendering activities for the replacement warhead programme, establishing governance and capability frameworks.

Reporting to the Principal SCM Development Manager, you will build supplier relationships, embed ESG and social value, and drive improvements across

Qualifications

• Proven experience in developing strategy with supply chain development and SRM.
• Experience designing SME strategies aligned with wider supply chain plans.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and work collaboratively.
• Experience creating governance frameworks, policies, and operating models.
• Experience embedding sustainability, ESG, and social value in procurement.
• Ability to implement enterprise-wide supply chain frameworks and improvement strategies.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to lead engagement initiatives.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a robust supplier governance methodology and SRM framework.
• Ensure consistent supplier segmentation and performance management across AWE.
• Create and maintain supply chain policies, procedures, standards, tools, and templates.
• Drive improvements in supplier relationship maturity and embed best-practice principles.
• Deliver initiatives to strengthen Client of Choice position in key supply markets.
• Plan and deliver supplier engagement programmes, forums, and communications.
• Embed ESG, supplier diversity, SME participation, and social value into development activities.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders across Commercial, Programme, and Supply Chain.
• Develop a high performing Supply Chain Development Team.

Job description

Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading

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.

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.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following: Proven professional experience. Proven experience in developing strategy with specific experience in supply chain development and SRM. Experience in development of SME strategies that work cohesively with wider supply development strategies. Experience of 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 and supply chain 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, with the ability to lead supplier engagement initiatives, workshops, forums. Proven capability to design, implement, and embed new processes, methodologies, and ways of working that enhance supply chain performance and organisational maturity. Ability to work effectively in a complex and ambiguous environment. Role model for innovation and continuous improvement.

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.