Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading

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

Benefits offered by this job

9-day working fortnight

Pension scheme with contributions

Maternity/Paternity leave

Career development funding

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Staff discounts

Volunteer leave

Job summary

AWE plc in Reading, Berkshire, is seeking a Senior Supply Chain Development Manager to lead a new team delivering enterprise-wide supply chain governance and SRM frameworks. You will champion sustainable and inclusive supplier practices while guiding stakeholders across Commercial, Programme and Supply Chain functions through procurement and tender activities tied to the replacement warhead programme.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on delivery of supply chain

Qualifications

• Proven experience in supply chain development and SRM.
• Experience designing and embedding supplier governance frameworks.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders to adopt new methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain supplier governance and SRM across the business.
• Drive supplier segmentation and performance management.
• Create and maintain supply chain policies, templates and tools.
• Lead improvements in supplier relationship maturity.
• Deliver initiatives to enhance Client of Choice positioning.
• Plan and run supplier engagement programmes and forums.
• Embed ESG, supplier diversity and social value into development activities.
• Build strong internal/external stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Supply chain governance

SRM

Stakeholder influence

Sustainability & ESG

Supplier diversity

Governance frameworks

Change management

Communication

Education

Degree in supply chain / business

Tools

ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading

Location: Theale, Berkshire, RG7 5, GB

Job Type: Full-Time

Salary: £63,270 - £85,000 per annum

Package: £63,270 to £85,000 (depending on experience)

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.

Experience and Skills:

While not a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Proven professional experience.
• Developing strategy with specific experience in supply chain development and SRM.
• Development of SME strategies aligned with wider supply development strategies.
• Working collaboratively with and influencing senior business stakeholders.
• Designing and implementing supply chain governance frameworks, policies, procedures, and operating models.
• Incorporating sustainability, ESG, social value, supplier diversity, and SME participation into strategies.
• Developing and implementing enterprise-wide supply chain frameworks, governance models, and improvement strategies aligned to organisational objectives.
• Building credibility and influencing senior leaders, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with experience leading supplier engagement initiatives, workshops, and forums.
• Designing, implementing, and embedding new processes, methodologies, and ways of working.
• Working 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, with 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% of pensionable pay depending on contributions).
• 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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Senior Supply Chain Development Manager - Reading, Berkshire,Rg2 6UA Job Type:Full-TimeSalary: 63270 - 85000 per annum Senior Supply Chain Development Manager 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. 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.