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.
Independent Oversight Lead
Closing date: 1st December 2025
Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.
Package: £60,400 - £75,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)
Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically, 3 days onsite per week.
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?
As Independent Oversight Lead, your day revolves around driving strategic impact and operational integrity. You own and lead the IO Integrated Programme, ensuring its seamless implementation and alignment with organisational goals. Mornings may involve analysing outcomes from IO activities, distilling insights that strengthen governance and fuel continuous improvement.
You collaborate with senior stakeholders, challenge assumptions, and deliver informed recommendations that uphold regulatory excellence. Whether drafting board-level reports or mentoring colleagues, your proactive evaluation enhances oversight effectiveness and fosters a culture rooted in safety, transparency, and accountability.
Key Accountabilities:
- Support the Independent Oversight (IO) Leadership Team in establishing and delivering the IO strategy.
- Owns and has oversight of the IO integrated programme on behalf of the Director of Independent Oversight.
- Lead, coach and develop the IO team to create and deliver the IO integrated programme.
- Support the Head of IO Surveillance and the Head of Independent Nuclear Safety Assessment in the professional development of the integrated IO teams ensuring they have the capability to deliver proportionate and risk-based activities.
- Undertake strategic level activities that enable delivery of key insights to the IO Leadership Team and Corporate Assurance function.
- Provide comprehensive feedback and reports for IO, offering constructive challenge and recognising achievements.
- Lead and manage the Independent Oversight Support Practitioner, ensuring that IO data is up to date and is in a format that can be presented to the business.
Key Responsibilities:
- Create and maintain an environment that encourages team members to propose innovative frameworks and processes, supporting the effective implementation of the IO strategy and plans.
- Provide mentorship and guidance to the multi disciplined teams, fostering their growth and enabling them to deliver impactful IO plans and reports.
- Liaise with key stakeholders to improve integration of assurance at AWE and to ensure IO activities are fair, proportionate and value adding.
- Maintain a professional link into the wider nuclear industry to benchmark and share information/learning.
- Prepare and deliver reports for IO, tailored to different audiences.
- Ensure the adoption and integration of both internal and external best practices within IO, aligning processes with industry standards and organisational objectives.
- Support and positively influence continuous improvement and learning from experience (LFE) within the business.
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'.
#LI-AH
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.