Contract Manager

As a Contract Manager, you will manage assigned infrastructure, engineering or service contracts through delivery, helping AWE achieve safe, assured and value-for-money outcomes. Working within an integrated project and commercial team, you will turn contractual commitments into practical delivery while keeping control of performance, risk, change and commercial records.

This hands-on role calls for commercial judgement within delegated authority, ownership of day-to-day contract activity and early escalation when specialist support or additional authority is needed. You will build constructive relationships with suppliers and colleagues, maintaining delivery while protecting AWE's commercial position.

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  Manage assigned NEC contracts across the delivery lifecycle, supporting the Project Manager and ensuring commercial controls are understood and applied.

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  Administer contracts accurately and on time, including notices, records, work orders, variations, payments, forecasts, change control and governance submissions.

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  Validate supporting information, challenge gaps constructively, and maintain clear, auditable contract records.

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  Monitor supplier performance against milestones, service levels, and key performance indicators, using evidence to support constructive conversations.

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  Identify and manage commercial risks, issues and opportunities, escalating matters proportionately.

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  Work with project controls, finance, technical, legal and procurement colleagues on mobilisation, amendments, extensions, re-procurement and close-out.

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  Contribute to assurance reviews, lessons learned and continuous improvement.

The role is focused on post-award commercial and contract management, working alongside procurement colleagues when pre-award or sourcing support is needed.

We welcome applicants of all genders and backgrounds. Success will be demonstrated through behaviours:

• Uses evidence to support delivery, commercial and wider AWE objectives.

• Balances risk, assurance, value and pace, escalating decisions outside their authority or expertise.

• Take ownership and follow issues through to practical resolution.

• Understands how contracts contribute to project, programme and organisational outcomes.

• Considers cost, schedule, quality, risk and supplier behaviour together.

• Anticipates emerging issues and acts early.

• Explains contractual requirements and commercial issues clearly, using straightforward language and evidence.

• Builds credible relationships while maintaining professional challenge.

• Handles disagreement constructively and involves senior commercial, legal or technical colleagues when needed.

• Contributes positively within an integrated delivery team and shares relevant information promptly.

• Supports consistent contract management standards, seeks input, and learns from experience.

We are interested in your experience, judgement, and approach, not only formal qualifications. You will have practical experience in some of the following:

• Quantity Surveying experience in managing or administering infrastructure, engineering, or service contracts.

• Managing obligations, performance measures, payments, change, risk, governance, and commercial records.

• Using evidence and commercial data to inform decisions, reporting and supplier challenge.

• Collaborating with suppliers and multidisciplinary stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain delivery.

• Applying structured contract management processes in a regulated, controlled, or safety-critical environment.

• Understanding how pre-award commercial activity supports effective post-award delivery.

Transferable contract management experience, sound judgement, and a willingness to learn are equally valued.

We are not prescriptive about qualifications. Relevant experience in commercial, quantity surveying, contract management, procurement, project delivery, finance, engineering or law may provide a solid foundation. Professional membership or contract management accreditation is welcomed but is not essential.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from women and men, and from people with diverse professional backgrounds and career paths. Selection will be based on the experience, judgement and behaviours needed for the role. If the opportunity interests you, but you are unsure whether you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply.

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.

• 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.