Location: Reading, with free onsite parking.
Package: £63,270 to £95,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience).
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.
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. Our work underpins national safety and security.
Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?
The role
As a Principal Commercial Manager, you will operate as the client side commercial authority for large, complex infrastructure contracts, playing a critical role in enabling safe, assured and value for money delivery. Providing commercial and contract performance leadership to the project team to enable effective management of project and commercial risk.
This is a senior commercial management role, requiring sound judgement, confidence operating in ambiguity, and the ability to lead others through complex commercial challenges. You will be trusted to take decisions, manage risk proportionately, and provide clear direction in high stakes environments.
You will lead strategic planning and governance. Manage, develop and mentor a team that administer the contracts, and get involved in contract disputes. You will support the procurement team, advising on contract options management, working with tier 1 Suppliers and managing KPI reviews / planning. Integration and cross functional relationship management is key.
What you will do
Act as Client Commercial Manager for large, complex infrastructure contracts across their full lifecycle ensuring they deliver value for money and achieve the objectives
Provide commercial management leadership, ensuring risk, change and performance are managed effectively and proportionately
Lead a team that manages supplier payments and analysis of contract and subcontract agreements
Set and maintain contract governance, reporting, assurance and standards, aligned to organisational objectives
Lead engagement with Tier 1 suppliers, including the management of complex issues and disputes
Influence and advise senior internal stakeholders, bringing clarity to complex commercial decisions
Lead, develop and mentor commercial management professionals, building capability and confidence across teams
Draft, review and negotiate complex contractual arrangements
Support the wider business through shared learning for continuous improvement
Support the organisation with future business planning of capital spend
This role is focused on commercial management and client side leadership, working alongside procurement colleagues where required.
What success looks like in this role
We are looking for people who can consistently demonstrate the following:
Making effective decisions
Exercises strong commercial judgement in complex, uncertain and high‑risk situations
Balances assurance, risk and pace to support delivery rather than defaulting to process
Takes ownership of decisions and is comfortable being accountable for outcomes
Seeing the big picture
Understands how individual contracts contribute to wider programme and organisational objectives
Anticipates future risks and issues rather than reacting when they crystallise
Thinks strategically about contract structure, incentives and behaviours, not just compliance
Communicating and influencing
Influences senior stakeholders and suppliers with credibility and confidence
Explains complex contractual issues clearly, pragmatically and without unnecessary jargon
Handles challenge, disagreement and dispute constructively and professionally
Leadership
Sets clear expectations and standards for commercial management practice
Develops others through coaching, mentoring and role modelling good judgement
Creates a culture of trust, accountability and continuous improvement
Experience we are looking for
We are interested in what you have done and how you operate, not just your formal qualifications.
You are likely to have significant experience in areas such as:
Managing large, complex infrastructure or engineering contracts through delivery
Acting as the client‑side commercial lead in regulated or safety‑critical environments
Managing contractual change, performance, risk and disputes
Working with senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries
Leading and developing people in matrix or multi‑disciplinary teams
Pricing arrangements and commercial models e.g. target cost incentive fee
Earned value management
Supporting the development of tender packages
Support the drafting and review of contract scope
Experience of NEC contracts, target cost / incentive mechanisms, or tools such as CEMAR is helpful, but not essential. Transferable experience and sound judgement are more important than familiarity with specific forms or systems.
Background and qualifications
If you have the experience, judgement and behaviours needed to operate at this level, Principal Commercial Manager, we want to hear from you - regardless of your formal qualifications.
We would be particularly interested to hear from you if you have any of the following:
10 years relevant commercial management experience
A bachelor's degree in commercial management, quantity surveying, economics, business, law, or a similar discipline or equivalent experience.
A member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), or similar
If you have any other experience, qualifications or professional membership that you consider makes you a great fit for AWE, please share as they will be considered as part of the selection process.
Our commitment
We actively encourage applications from people with diverse professional backgrounds and career paths. If this role excites you but you are unsure whether you meet every requirement, we would still strongly encourage you to apply.
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.
Hybrid working is available on a non‑contractual basis (typically 3 days onsite or in the office per week).
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Salary description
£63270.00 - £95000.00 per year