Head of Commercial Policy & Governance

On behalf of AWE, we are looking for a Head of Commercial Policy & Governance - (Inside IR35) for a 12-month contract working on a hybrid basis with an expectation of 2-3 days attendance in the Reading office.

AWE plays a crucial role in national nuclear security. Their role in nuclear deterrence and their specialist technical assistance to nuclear threat reduction is vital in the defence against the most serious threats faced by the UK. Working to support the defence of our country, AWE has a clear mission to keep everyone, the environment, their products and information, sites, and everything around them, safe and secure.

The Head of Commercial Policy & Governance is responsible for defining and leading AWE's Commercial Policy, Governance & Assurance and Risk Management strategy, ensuring the Commercial Function operates with the highest standards of compliance, integrity and effectiveness. As a senior leadership role, the postholder provides strategic oversight of commercial governance frameworks, policies, assurance processes, trade and export controls and risk management, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives, regulatory requirements and government expectations.

The role acts as the primary interface with external governing bodies and regulatory stakeholders, including MOD and other government departments, building influential relationships that provide visibility of emerging policy and governance requirements while representing AWE across external forums. The Head of Commercial Policy & Governance is accountable for developing and maintaining robust commercial assurance, governance and audit frameworks, driving continuous improvement and compliance across the Commercial Function, and providing senior leadership with insight, assurance and guidance to support effective decision-making and risk management.

Leading a specialist team, the role ensures commercial policies, governance processes and management arrangements remain effective, proportionate and future-focused, safeguarding AWE's commercial obligations while enabling the successful delivery of strategic business outcomes.

Key Accountabilities

• Defines the Commercial Function’s Policy and Governance Strategy, aligning with wider AWE strategy and external governing body requirements and leads the team to ensure the Commercial Function’s compliance with internal and external policies.
• Accountable for managing and fostering effective relationships with external governing bodies providing visibility and influence of any change (i.e. MOD, DNO, CO) and identifying opportunities for collaboration.
• Leads the team to ensure effective commercial governance, assurance and compliance across commercial governance stages, owning and developing the Commercial Assurance Framework (CAF) and driving engagement with the Commercial Process & Tools Team to ensure processes are up to date and enable its digitisation within commercial systems.
• Leads the team to develop effective commercial policies, including ESG and PA23, ensuring alignment with the wider AWE business and external government departments and ensuring integration and alignment of policy with wider Commercial Strategy.
• Leads the team to manage effective assurance boards with high quality and compliant documents and action management.
• Leads the team to ensure internal and external audit compliance with AWE Audit, and to manage effective internal Commercial audit.
• Accountable for representing the AWE Commercial Function externally across policy, governance and risk forums.
• Directs the delivery of Commercial’s risk management strategy.
• Custodian of AWE Trade and Export and Controls Framework and Management Arrangements with a view to maintaining compliance with UK & International Trade Controls, liaising with other government bodies as required to fulfil these obligations.

As a Head of Commercial Policy & Governance - (Inside IR35) your main responsibilities will be:

• Lead engagement with senior commercial leadership and external governing bodies to strengthen relationships, drive commercial standards, and represent AWE with key stakeholders including MOD, DNO and DNE.
• Own the development and effective implementation of the Commercial Assurance Framework (CAF) ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, wider AWE strategy and best practice, and lead alignment with the Commercial Process & Tools Team to drive integration with commercial process & systems.
• Assure the accuracy and integrity of commercial governance, including commercial strategies, award recommendations and board governance submissions, ensuring high-quality outputs and effective secretariat management for the Commercial Assurance Review Board (CARB).
• Oversee the development, implementation and continuous improvement of commercial policies, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and regulatory requirements. Lead policy risk assessment and mitigation activities, integrating policy governance within wider enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Ensure comprehensive and accessible guidance documentation for policies, governance activities and risk management processes.
• Collaborate across AWE stakeholders, legal, regulatory, audit, compliance and risk teams to ensure policies are effective, compliant, and meet organisational needs.
• Provide expert oversight on UK and International Trade and Export Controls, escalating and mitigating associated risks while engaging with relevant government bodies.
• Establish and maintain robust compliance monitoring, audit, and assessment processes, addressing gaps, violations and remediation activities as required.
• Drive delivery of the Commercial ESG Strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and external requirements, while supporting Delivery Towers to achieve Social Value targets.

PLEASE NOTE: SC/DV Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks.

Essential:

• Exceptional Governance knowledge and experience.
• Policy experience.
• Leadership background with strong team leadership experience.
• Exceptional stakeholder communication skills.
• Public Sector experience.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

AWE’s ambition is to create workplaces that recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and where people feel able to be themselves at work. They strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

Disability Confident: As a Disability Confident employer, AWE encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates. Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review.

Armed Forces Covenant: As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, AWE welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review.