At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial management for large infrastructure contracts and mentor a dynamic team.
- Company: AWE, a leader in national safety and security.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 9-day working fortnight, competitive salary, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Diverse backgrounds encouraged; hybrid working options available.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: 10 years of relevant experience and strong commercial judgement required.
The predicted salary is between 63270 - 95000 € per year.
AWE is currently recruiting for a Principal Commercial Manager for the Commercial team. 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.
The role involves operating as the client side commercial authority for large, complex infrastructure contracts, playing a critical role in enabling safe, assured and value for money delivery. You will provide 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 administers 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:
- Making effective decisions and exercising strong commercial judgement in complex, uncertain and high-risk situations.
- Balancing assurance, risk and pace to support delivery rather than defaulting to process.
- Taking ownership of decisions and being comfortable being accountable for outcomes.
- Seeing the big picture and understanding how individual contracts contribute to wider programme and organisational objectives.
- Anticipating future risks and issues rather than reacting when they crystallise.
- Thinking strategically about contract structure, incentives and behaviours, not just compliance.
- Communicating and influencing senior stakeholders and suppliers with credibility and confidence.
- Explaining complex contractual issues clearly, pragmatically and without unnecessary jargon.
- Handling challenge, disagreement and dispute constructively and professionally.
Leadership:
- Setting clear expectations and standards for commercial management practice.
- Developing others through coaching, mentoring and role modelling good judgement.
- Creating 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 multidisciplinary teams.
- Pricing arrangements and commercial models e.g. target cost incentive fee.
- Earned value management.
- Supporting the development of tender packages.
- Supporting 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, 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).
Principal Commercial Manager - Reading in Wokingham employer: What Jobs
AWE is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to national safety and security while enjoying a supportive work culture in Reading. With a 9-day working fortnight, flexible working options, and a commitment to professional development, employees benefit from a balanced lifestyle and generous perks, including a market-leading pension scheme and family-friendly policies. Join us to be part of a team that values trust, accountability, and continuous improvement, all while making a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Commercial Manager - Reading in Wokingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience and how it relates to the Principal Commercial Manager role. Keep it concise but impactful, highlighting your leadership skills and commercial judgement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love hearing from candidates who are excited about joining our mission at AWE.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Commercial Manager - Reading in Wokingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Commercial Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in managing large contracts and leading teams, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've led teams and managed complex commercial challenges in the past. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to influence stakeholders and make effective decisions under pressure.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Avoid jargon and focus on clearly explaining your experience and how it aligns with our needs. We appreciate clarity and directness!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures we receive all your details correctly and helps us process your application smoothly. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at What Jobs
✨Know Your Contracts Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the types of contracts you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with NEC contracts and target cost models, even if you're not an expert. This will help you speak confidently about your experience and how it relates to the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Commercial Manager, you'll need to lead and mentor a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully developed others in previous roles. Think about specific situations where your leadership made a difference, and be ready to discuss them.
✨Prepare for Complex Scenarios
Expect questions that test your judgement in high-risk situations. Think of past experiences where you had to make tough decisions under pressure. Be ready to explain your thought process and how you balanced risk with delivery.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex contractual issues in simple terms. The interviewers will want to see how well you can communicate with senior stakeholders. Use clear examples from your experience to demonstrate your ability to influence and negotiate effectively.
