Workforce Capability Specialist

On behalf of AWE, we are looking for a Workforce Capability Specialist (Inside IR35) for a 12‑month hybrid contract based out of Burghfield. The successful candidate must be able to attend the office three days per week and work from home the remainder of the time.

What if you could work on something that you can’t test… but cannot afford to fail? Something that could have spent years on a submarine, is launched into outer space (where the temperature is below –250 °C), comes hurtling through the atmosphere, being heated up and shaken and then must work? Some challenge. That’s exactly what the team of over 6,500 people at AWE does every day: delivering important work in support of the most important mission – keeping the nation safe.

AWE plays a crucial role in national nuclear security. Its role in nuclear deterrence and specialist technical assistance to nuclear threat reduction is vital in the defence against the most serious threats faced by the UK. Working to support the defence of our country, AWE has a clear mission to keep everyone, the environment, their products and information, sites, and everything around them safe and secure.

SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short‑term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.

• Lead delivery of capability and governance requirements across assigned sub‑functions and control accounts, aligned to the business rhythm.
• Analyse, interpret and report management information and governance metrics, identifying trends, driving actions and tracking progress.
• Produce and agree weekly and monthly performance reports for sub‑functions and control accounts.
• Develop, maintain and manage capability plans to support business and programme requirements.
• Lead capability management and corporate projects, ensuring clear engagement, communication and delivery on behalf of the function.
• Embed site value‑stream thinking through consistent processes and standard ways of working.
• Provide stakeholder leadership for capability and business governance across site sub‑functions and control accounts.

• You must be able and willing to undergo DV clearance.
• Proven expertise in capability management and business governance within complex environments.
• Confident stakeholder manager, able to engage, challenge and influence at all levels, including Senior Leadership Teams.
• Strong, credible communicator.
• Resilient and composed when working with demanding or conflicting stakeholder agendas.
• Highly analytical, with strong capability in people data, MI and insight generation.
• Able to interpret complex data and present clear, actionable insights to senior audiences.
• Proficient in Excel.
• Sound GDPR knowledge and experience handling sensitive people data.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple, diverse workloads simultaneously.
• Proactive, can‑do mindset with a solutions‑focused approach.

• Power BI experience highly desirable.

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, AWE guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.

In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

AWE guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex‑military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential PSR1JP Workforce Capability Specialist Printed:  Page: 2 of 3 criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance. In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs.

As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different"