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.
Head of Government Delivery Agreements
Package: A competitive salary aligned with the seniority and impact of this role
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 Head of Government Delivery Agreements is accountable the contracting of AWE provided services that support National Security and Counter Terrorism activity that sits outside AWE’s principal accountability to design, manufacture and support of warheads for UK’s nuclear weapons.
The role shall be accountable for delivering the end-to-end contracting process to include opportunity identification, solution development, proposal / bid development (with suitable support from P3M & Technical), contracting, contract and relationship management ensuring compliance with Treasury (Managing Public Money) and applicable MOD & AWE policy in accordance with AWE’s principal agreement with HMG.
They shall be responsible for working closely with the applicable AWE business unit leadership team(s) on agreeing the scope and applicable pricing, as well as developing and nurturing relationships with customers who include MOD, Government Departments and key MOD industry partners.
The Head of Government Delivery Agreements shall report to the Commercial Operations Director.
Key Accountabilities:
- Accountable for the contracting and contract management of services outside of the principal contract between HMG and AWE.
- Develops strong relationships with key customers such as MOD, Government Departments such as Home Office and key industry partners to demonstrate the breadth the scope of services AWE can deliver to support National Security and Counter Terrorism activity.
- Works collaboratively with senior stakeholders to evaluate customer requirements, develop proposals (incorporating scope of service, commercial proposal) and seek necessary approval submit.
- Implements corporate Non-M&O (Management & Operations contract) contractual strategies, including the customer relationship and pricing strategies and managing the sub-function to achieve its strategic goals or other contractual strategies as may be required.
- Maintains relationships and awareness with key internal stakeholders, including communicating current and projected performance against contract.
- Manages and maintains contracts from bid and negotiation through to contract close / handover, managing key stakeholders’ expectations on contract baseline performance.
- Manages dispute resolution and accountable for ensuring actions / plans are implemented wherever a gap occurs between contractual requirements and performance (actual or projected), where appropriate as agreed with the customer.
- Implements the established set of Government Delivery Agreements processes and governance arrangements for delivering contracts and demonstrating that the AWE work being undertaken is necessary and sufficient to contractual deliverables.
- Implements and maintains compliance against the AWE Delegation of Authority at AWE plc.
- Maintains and promotes high personal standards in environment, safety, health, security and quality and be a great team player.
Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we’d like you to have experience in some of the following:
- Compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
- Must have proven professional experience.
- Experience in a senior commercial and/or senior financial or compliance role in a large organisation.
- Significant experience in leading contractual performance management on complex commercial contracts
- Experience of Stakeholder management and relationship development at Senior Management and Customer level.
- Experienced use of benchmarking techniques and analysis of financial and business data as part of a Senior Commercial role
- Experience in contracting for the provision of services with specific experience in bid writing, contracting of services and relationship management
- Experience of successfully leading, motivating and managing integrated multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience of negotiating and handling contracts in a secure Government environment.
- Experience in designing, implementing and integrating processes with robust controls to enable delivery against audits.
- Commercial experience in Government or in a highly regulated business environment is essential.
- Excellent communication skills with ability to relate commercial information to a non-specialist audience.
- Strong relationship management skills across internal stakeholders and external customers.
- Resilience and emotional maturity to thrive on ambiguity in highly stressful situations.
- Able to exercise commercial judgment and apply strategic risk mindset to problems.
- Ability to manage conflicting priorities in a multitask role delivering to challenging timescales in an ambiguous environment.
- Ability to work effectively in a complex and ambiguous environment.
- Ability to understand a wide range of technical issues and their commercial implications.
- Significant experience to identify use and monitor the key controls to manage performance and compliance ensuring the effective monitoring and application of key controls and exception reporting.
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.
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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.
