Head of Independent Oversight Surveillance in Reading

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

Package: Competitive leadership salary depending on experience, performance related bonus, flexible benefit scheme.

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.

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?

We are looking for someone to play a pivotal role in leading Independent Oversight Surveillance, ensuring robust assurance over the effectiveness of controls that manage security, environmental, safety, health, and quality risks. You will shape the organisation’s strategic direction by providing high‐value insights into performance, strengthening accountability, and influencing enterprise‐wide risk, compliance, and governance frameworks.

In this role, you will work closely with the Corporate Assurance leadership team to support and influence all aspects of assurance activity. Working with the Director of Independent Oversight to shape and deliver the Independent Oversight (IO) strategy, ensuring it aligns with organisational priorities and meets regulatory expectations.

You will take ownership of IO Surveillance delivery and governance policies, ensuring they remain robust, effective, and fit for purpose. A key part of your role will be leading, coaching, and developing a multi‐disciplined team, creating an environment where people are engaged, supported, and able to perform at their best. You will also guide and develop leaders across the organisation, holding them to account and influencing decision‐making at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the delivery of the Corporate Assurance plan and the IO integrated programme
• Ensure team capabilities align with function and sub function goals
• Ensure insights are available to aid learning, identify trends and support improvements
• Inspire colleagues by fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture
• Encourage continuous improvement and learning from experience (LFE) both internal and external to IO
• Provide oversight of business change and transformation programmes ensuring expectations and requirements are reinforced and become embedded into business as usual
• Ensure IO Surveillance has the capability to deliver tailored reports to different audiences and that activities are fair, proportionate and value adding
• Work with external organisations to remain updated with industry trends and technological advancements to drive and implement innovation and best practice within IO and wider business

To be considered for this opportunity, you’ll need the following:

• Degree in a science or engineering based subject or vocational qualification (HND or equivalent) and/or extensive practical experience
• Relevant experience in a highly regulated environment
• Experience of influencing and negotiating to achieve successful outcomes
• Experience of mentoring and coaching
• Investigation and analysis of complex information to derive key messages
• Effective at communicating key outcomes/findings both verbally and in formal reports
• Great stakeholder management and able to engage and disarm when needed

Knowledge of the below regulatory requirements:

• Health and Safety at Work Act and subordinate Regulations
• Relevant Company Management System Standards and Procedures
• Risk Assessment Methodologies
• Principles of Emergency Response
• Regulatory Licence or Authorisation Conditions

Some reasons we think you will love it here:

• 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.

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

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.