Head of Sustainability

time left to apply End Date: August 15, 2025 (11 days left to apply)

job requisition id R28546

If you'd like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

Head of Sustainability

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.

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. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

Shape the future of sustainability where it matters

At AWE our mission is nationally significant and how we do it matters just as much as what we do. Sustainability is an essential part of how we operate now and how we plan for the future.

We are looking to appoint experienced and forward-thinking leaders to join our sustainability team as Heads of Sustainability with responsibility for shaping and supporting our approach across capital infrastructure projects, operations and enabling services.

These are influential roles at the heart of our organisation. Whether you are working with programme teams, operational leaders or corporate functions you will be enabling others to embed sustainability into planning, decision making and day to day operations, aligning our ambition with action and helping to turn intent into meaningful and measurable outcomes.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in sustainability leadership - ideally in infrastructure, operations or corporate environments
• A strong understanding of sustainability risk, regulatory expectations and best practice in sustainability
• The ability to work with senior stakeholders to influence decisions and align priorities
• A collaborative enabling leadership style with a focus on impact and progress
• Experience building capability and guiding teams through change

This is a pivotal time for sustainability at AWE. We are investing in our capability, evolving how we work and embedding sustainability more deeply into every part of our organisation.

By joining us you will have the opportunity to:

• Shape how sustainability is understood and applied across a nationally important and technically complex organisation
• Influence decisions and priorities across construction, operations and enabling services with the backing of a committed leadership team
• Be part of a growing multidisciplinary sustainability function with the scope to lead, collaborate and innovate
• Develop your leadership and technical skills in a setting where long term thinking and responsible practice are essential
• Work in a supportive, flexible environment that values integrity and continual improvement.

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.

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

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis.

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.

If you're looking for a role with excitement, intrigue and something that really makes a difference then now is the time to join AWE. We are at the start of a once in a generation - possibly two generations - programme to design and produce a replacement warhead for the UK's continuous at sea deterrent. We will do this while continuing to deliver the Trident programme as well as managing ambitious state-of-the-art capital and construction projects - some of which have never been done before. Find out more on ourwebsite .

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