Operational Delivery Lead

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: £61,670 - £80,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight.

Let us introduce the role

AWE is currently recruiting foran Operational Delivery Lead for the Operations Group to provide leadership and supervision of operations delivery and support team.

The Operational Delivery Lead is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of operational outputs-such as production and trials-within the Business Unit. Acting as the key point of escalation, this role makes critical prioritisation decisions to achieve the efficient delivery of the order book to time, cost and quality, in full compliance with AWE ESH and Security requirements. The position requires strong coordination across functions and a focus on continuous improvement, driving operational excellence and embedding best practices throughout the organisation.

In addition to overseeing day-to-day operational delivery, the role involves leading and developing a large, diverse and high performing team, ensuring resources are effectively managed and suitably qualified. The Operational Delivery Lead will analyse performance data, identify trends, and implement strategies to enhance efficiency and capability. Building positive stakeholder relationships, including with international partners, and fostering a culture of agility and resilience are key to success.

This role is ideally suited to a candidate that has a proactive attitude towards safety, continuous improvements, problem solving and ability to adapt to changing team and delivery demands.

Who are we looking for?

Please note that this is an on site based role rather than hybrid.

We do need you to have the following:

Leadership & Team Management; Proven experience leading large, diverse, multi-disciplinary teams, with the ability to coach, develop and retain talent. Demonstrable experience of leading through change and delivering results through others.

Operational & Delivery Leadership Experience; Significant experience leading operational delivery within a complex environment, with responsibility for prioritisation, resource management and performance outcomes. For external candidates, this is likely to include Production Management experience within a manufacturing, operational or regulated setting. For internal candidates, comparable experience in Operational Delivery, Project Delivery or Programme Delivery leadership roles will also be considered.

Production and Operational Management; Proven track record of managing operational outputs and delivering against customer, business and performance requirements. Experience of balancing safety, quality, cost, delivery and people objectives within a complex organisation.

Operational Expertise; Demonstrable experience managing complex delivery operations (e.g. production outputs, trials, programmes or major projects). Skilled in interpreting operational performance data and making timely, risk-based decisions.

Regulatory & Compliance; Experience working within a regulatory environment, understanding of environmental and nuclear operations management (where relevant).

Qualifications; Degree educated or equivalent experience.

Skills; Ability to manage a wide portfolio of complex, interrelated activities, strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, effective communication and stakeholder management, agility and resilience in changing circumstances.

Other; Willing and able to obtain and maintain required security clearance.

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

Experience as a Production Manager or in a senior operational leadership role within a manufacturing, engineering or highly regulated environment.

Experience leading Operational Delivery Teams, including responsibility for resource planning, operational performance and continuous improvement.

Experience delivering complex projects and/or programmes, including managing competing priorities, cross-functional stakeholders and business change initiatives.

Proven track record of driving operational excellence, continuous improvement and business transformation programmes.

You'll need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.

Key Accountabilities:

Accountable for managing, leading, coaching and developing a large and diverse / multi-disciplinary team and holding them accountable for the engagement, development, performance and retention of their teams.

Work, on behalf of the Head of Operations, to achieve the safe delivery of operational task outputs (e.g. production outputs / trials delivery) aligned to the Business Unit order book, acting as the escalation point for key tactical decisions and ensuring seamless coordination and execution of these tasks in line with SQCDP (safety, quality, cost, delivery and people).

Lead and contribute to projects directly related to process and enduring capability.

Deliver improvements in performance in all aspects of operations and implement manufacturing best practice.

Accountable for effective resource management of operations delivery staff within the Business Unit (e.g. apprentices, operatives, technicians, team leaders) ensuring that resources are SQEP (suitably qualified experienced person) as required and allocated effectively to meet operational demands.

Accountable for ensuring robust data is available to report, analyse and monitor performance, identifying trends and variances and areas for improvement.

Delivers operational output within the Business Unit which meets quality standards and complies with defined conditions and regulations.

Utilises in-depth understanding of operations to deliver risk-based decision making and prioritisation in line with customer needs.

Maintain and improve relationships with US and other international partners.

Additional accountabilities may be identified over time and will be discussed with the role holder in line with the business need.

Key Responsibilities:

Responsible for safe delivery of operational requirements in line with the Business Unit order book.

Identifies potential risks and develops mitigation strategies to minimise impact.

Promotes the adoption of continuous improvement, business change and transformation programmes into the operations delivery - ensuring expectations and requirements are reinforced and become embedded into business as usual.

Promote and sponsor operational excellence and drive all actions aimed at continuous process improvement.

The company may require you to fulfil any other reasonable duties aligned to your position from time to time in line with the business needs

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

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.

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.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston.

AWE Plc

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