At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and deliver complex projects that shape the future.
- Company: AWE, a leader in innovative project management.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 9-day working fortnight, competitive salary, and extensive benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on mission-critical projects that matter.
- Qualifications: Project Management qualification and strong stakeholder management skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 54700 - 68200 £ per year.
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.
AWE has a wide range of opportunities across multiple projects for Senior Project Managers. We are looking for individuals who thrive on solving complex challenges in fast-paced environments, and who can lead and deliver on AWE’s mission-critical objectives. Join us and make an impact on projects that shape the future. We’re recruiting talented Project and Programme Professionals to work on a diverse range of exciting and critical programmes, including Infrastructure and Estates Projects, delivering new, complex, safe working environments; and Warhead Projects, supporting some of the most technically challenging and nationally significant work in the UK. If you’re ready to contribute to projects that matter, we’d love to hear from you.
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.
Package: Salary from £64,780 (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.
Closing Date: 16th February 2026.
Let us introduce the role. A Senior Project Manager will lead and deliver complex projects in alignment with AWE’s project delivery framework whilst commercially managing delivery partners, and delivering to cost, quality, and safety. A Senior Project Manager will come with an APM (Association of Project Management) or similar background and strive towards high performance within a matrix team to ensure project success.
As a Senior Project Manager at AWE, you’ll have the opportunity to take ownership of diverse, mission-critical project/programmes. Depending on the role, your responsibilities may include:
- Driving end-to-end delivery of complex projects, programmes, or portfolios — from business case development through to completion and transition into operation.
- Leading and inspiring project teams, embedding a culture of accountability, high performance, and continuous improvement.
- Championing health, safety, and environmental practices, ensuring best practice standards are achieved and supporting AWE’s carbon reduction targets.
- Defining scope and delivery plans, while managing cost, schedule, and quality to meet objectives.
- Providing strong governance, producing clear decision packs, maintaining performance baselines, and leading risk and opportunity management.
- Managing commercial engagement, securing value-for-money delivery partners and suppliers, and ensuring contracts drive compliance and successful outcomes.
- Acting as a senior stakeholder manager, aligning leadership, regulators, and operations teams both within AWE and externally.
- Coaching and developing project teams, supporting early careers and fostering a culture of learning and growth.
Whilst not to be considered a checklist, a Senior Project Manager should be able to demonstrate some of the following:
- Project Management qualification/membership (APM, PMP, PRINCE2) or equivalent experience.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
- Proven experience delivering multiple, complex, high-value, cross-functional projects.
- Competence in creating and maintaining project documentation, plans, and RAIDs (risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies).
- Ability to track deliverables using KPIs and produce clear progress reports.
- Expertise in risk management, governance, and change control, including stage gate approvals.
- Commercial awareness with a focus on value, compliance, and successful delivery.
- Dynamic leadership style that empowers teams to adapt, perform, and align with AWE’s vision.
Some reasons we think you’ll love it here: AWE has a 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.
- 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 for these roles on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically, 2-3 days onsite per week.
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. If you’re looking for a role with excitement, intrigue and something that really makes a difference then now is the time to join AWE. We are at the start of a once in a generation – possibly two generations – programme to design and produce a replacement warhead for the UK’s continuous at sea deterrent. We will do this while continuing to deliver the Trident programme as well as managing ambitious state-of-the-art capital and construction projects – some of which have never been done before.
Senior Project Manager in Basingstoke employer: Atomic Weapons Establishment
Contact Detail:
Atomic Weapons Establishment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Project Manager in Basingstoke
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research AWE's projects and values so you can tailor your conversations during interviews. This shows you're genuinely interested and helps you connect your experience to their mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. It’s a great way to get insider info!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to project management and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Manager in Basingstoke
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get to Know Us: Before you dive into your application, take a moment to explore our website and get familiar with AWE's mission and values. This will help you tailor your application to show how you fit into our culture and objectives.
Showcase Your Experience: When writing your application, highlight your relevant experience in project management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead complex projects and manage stakeholders effectively. We want to see how you've made an impact in your previous roles!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and achievements. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Early: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application! We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment, especially since roles can close early if we receive a high volume of applications. Get your application in through our website as soon as you can!
How to prepare for a job interview at Atomic Weapons Establishment
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into AWE's recent projects and initiatives. Familiarise yourself with their mission-critical objectives, especially in Infrastructure and Estates Projects and Warhead Projects. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Project Manager, your leadership style is crucial. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've inspired teams and fostered a culture of accountability and high performance. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills
AWE values strong stakeholder management. Prepare to share experiences where you've successfully built relationships at various levels. Highlight how you’ve navigated complex stakeholder environments and ensured alignment on project goals.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in fast-paced environments. Think about past challenges you've faced in project management and how you overcame them. This will showcase your critical thinking and adaptability, which are key for this role.