Early Careers Operations Lead

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.

AWE is seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Early Careers Operations Lead to oversee the seamless execution of our high volume,early careers candidate pipeline into AWE.

Please note, this is a 12-month fixed term contract, ideally starting in July 2025.

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. Plan to relocate to Green Park from October 2025.

Package: £37,300 to £47,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience).

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.

Let us introduce the role

As the Early Careers Operations Lead, you will play a critical role, responsible for management of AWE’s entire candidate funnel for 4 early careers programmes to achieve high quality diverse applicants into the into 9 business functions.

You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the journey of future talent within our organisation, ensuring that every stage of the process reflects our values and commitment to excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Assessment and selection campaign management: Plan, execute, and monitor and land for 4 mainrecruitment programmes - Graduate, Year in Industry, Apprentice and the Nuclear Defence STEM Undergraduate (DSUS) scholarshipprogramme, through the movement of high quality diverse candidates  into the key selection stages of application, testing, assessment centre, managing the full offer processto offer and monitoring acceptance. Your role will partner at offer with our onboarding team to ensure full national security clearance is monitored and achieved.

Operational Oversight: Manage high volumes application to offer lifecycle, ensuring processes are efficient and compliantand including delivery of candidate experience programme.

Reporting and Analytics: Track key metrics, generate reports, and providedaily live insights to optimise recruitment strategies and measure success providing timelyreports to theprogramme recruitment leads, internal stakeholder audience as necessary and to our external attraction/assessment and schools' partners.

Task Management of 2 senior early careers coordinators: to ensure they effectively delegate responsibilities across their assessment teams and ensure the early careersco-ordinatorsof 6 areon trackwith delivery of the 4 recruitment programmes.

**Assessment Centres:**Working with our external partners to coordinate and execute final stage virtual and face to face mix of assessment centres, including the setup of logistics, virtual delivery platforms, assessor scheduling.

Candidate Experience: Develop and implement initiatives to enhance candidate communication and experience, ensuring all touchpoints reflect a positive and inclusive employer brandand one that drives continual improvement in reduction of reneges post offer.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams, hiring managers, and external partners to deliver consistent and high-quality outcomes. Carry out operations preparation timeline and hold stakeholders to account for deliverables and requirements during campaign set up.

Process Improvement and Innovation: Continuously identify opportunities to streamline processes, leveragingnew technology and innovation to improve efficiency. Collaborating with wider teams across HR to problem solve and provide sufficient training or updates to the Early Careers team ahead of or during campaign periods.

Post Campaign Review: Conduct and oversee post campaign review sessions internally and with external partners.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a Early Careers Operations Lead with the following skills and qualifications:

• Proven experience in high volume recruitment up to 13,000 applications and familiarity with trends in early careers hiring to achieve business demand in apprenticeships, graduate schemes, or internships.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in high pressured environments.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a high focus on candidate engagementand brand excellence
• Proficiency, (intermediate in excel and data analysis is a must) and reporting tools to track and present performance metrics and aid data driven decision making to deliver campaign progress against recruitment and diversity objectives.
• Familiarity with Workday Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and other recruitment technologies such as ServiceNow.
• Proven track record in delivery diverse and inclusive hiring processes.
• Proven experience in leadership and team co-ordination. This role involves supervisory responsibilities to 2 senior co-ordinators and 4 further co-ordinators.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure campaign environment, to navigate and implement changes effectively in tight timescales.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for delivering exceptional services to our stakeholders.

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'.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 2-3 days onsite per week.

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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.