Operational Readiness and Transition (ORT) Group Leader
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.
Package: £87,000 to £97,000
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.
As Operational Readiness and Transition (ORT) Group Leader, you will play an important role in enabling AWE's major programmes and projects to achieve operational capability and transition successfully into service.
Let us introduce the role
This is a senior functional leadership role, responsible for shaping, driving and assuring AWE's enterprise approach to operational readiness and transition. You will continue to develop and embed the ORT approach across the organisation, ensuring operational requirements are identified early, integrated throughout delivery lifecycles, and effectively realised at transition to operations.
You will lead the ORT Group, including AWE's Operational Readiness Managers (ORMs), and act as AWE's functional authority for operational readiness and transition. You will own and maintain the ORT Concept, Policy, Strategy, Plans and Tools - including the Operational Readiness Review (ORR) process - ensuring coherence across Business Units and enabling functions, and alignment with regulatory and corporate policy expectations.
The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on direction and assurance. You will oversee ORT-related risks and issues, provide expert guidance to ORMs and senior stakeholders, and ensure consistent, high-quality application of ORT across a complex programme and project portfolio.
Working closely with senior leaders, you will champion pan-AWE integration, shape organisational performance, and drive continuous improvement in how operational capability is planned, delivered, commissioned and sustained.
This role requires a credible, confident leader with the judgement, technical insight and influence to strengthen operational readiness and transition capability across a demanding, highly regulated environment.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking an experienced, forward-thinking leader to own and lead AWE's ORT function as it continues to mature and embed within the AWE operating model.
You will operate confidently at senior levels, influence across diverse stakeholder groups, and lead a high-performing team within a complex programme, project and operational context.
You will bring strong practical delivery experience from a programme, project, capability management or operational background, with the ability to:
Understand operational requirements in their broadest sense
Integrate them effectively into delivery lifecycles
Maintain a consistent focus on transition into service
Your experience will demonstrate sound judgement, the ability to interpret complex and technical information, and the confidence to make, challenge and inform decisions that improve delivery outcomes.
You will be an engaging and collaborative leader, able to work effectively across Business Units, other Users and enabling functions, and to build productive relationships with external partners and communities of practice. You will be an accomplished communicator, credible advisor, and trusted leader of ORMs operating across the enterprise.
You will be able to assimilate the breadth and scale of AWE's portfolio, plan and prioritise ORT support accordingly, shape doctrine, policy and process, and provide clear direction and assurance to ORMs working at the front line of delivery.
If you thrive in complexity, enjoy working across organisational boundaries, and are motivated by improving how capability is delivered safely and effectively into service, this role offers a unique and rewarding leadership challenge.
We would like you to bring experience of:
Operational Readiness planning and delivery, and/or Transition into Service
Programme, Project or Capability Management in complex delivery environments
Understanding of operational readiness drivers and the ability to provide credible insight that supports high-quality decision-making
Strong, confident leadership - capable of influencing at senior levels and guiding multidisciplinary teams
Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective cross-functional relationships
Experience operating in environments undergoing change and transformation
A proven track record of driving delivery, improving performance, and leading people through change
Clear, confident communication skills - verbal and written
The ability to absorb and assimilate unfamiliar technical information
Financial and commercial awareness
A professional programme, project management or related qualification, or a clear commitment to achieving one
Familiarity with IPA (NISTA) expectations and recognised guidance such as MSP and APM standards
Some reasons we think you'll love it here:
AWE has 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.
The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.
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