Researcher – Senior and Executive Hiring

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 looking for a Researcher to join the Senior and Executive Hires team.

Location: Reading, with free onsite parking.

Package: Starting from £37,300 - £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. Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically, 3 days per 5 day week and 2 days per 2 day 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?

The Executive Hiring Researcher plays a critical role in enabling high quality senior leadership hiring across AWE. The role combines deep market insight, rigorous research capability, and strong stakeholder partnership to ensure AWE can identify, attract, and engage exceptional executive level talent. This position supports the Executive Hiring Manager in shaping and executing search and attraction strategies for the organisation’s most business-critical roles.

In the role you will be required to:

• Deliver high quality executive search research, talent mapping and market intelligence to support the successful attraction and hiring of senior leaders and critical talent across AWE.
• Build and maintain robust external talent pipelines, ensuring AWE has access to high calibre candidates for current vacancies and future leadership requirements.
• Provide insight into talent markets, competitor activity and leadership movements, enabling hiring managers and the Executive Hiring Manager to make informed recruitment decisions.
• Identify, assess and engage prospective executive-level candidates, presenting evidence-based recommendations on suitability, capability and market positioning.
• Produce accurate, insightful and commercially relevant research outputs, including talent maps, candidate reports, market analysis and search progress updates.
• Maintain a strong understanding of industry sectors, organisational structures and executive talent pools to ensure the quality and relevance of search activity.

Responsibilities in the role include:

Strategic Research and Market Intelligence

• Deliver high‑quality longlists, talent maps, and market intelligence to support senior leadership hiring, with a particular focus on executive‑level talent.
• Translate business senior hiring priorities into structured, insight‑driven research plans in partnership with the Executive Hiring Manager.
• Provide ongoing intelligence on external senior talent dynamics, competitor activity, leadership movements, and broader market trends to inform search strategy and organisational workforce planning.
• Maintain a deep understanding of relevant industries, leadership archetypes, and evolving executive talent pools.

Talent Identification and Engagement

• Identify, assess, and discreetly engage senior‑level candidates, offering informed perspectives on candidate suitability, interest levels, availability, and market positioning.
• Build, nurture, and maintain high‑quality talent pipelines for current and future leadership needs.
• Conduct initial candidate screening and assessment to evaluate experience, leadership capability, and cultural alignment.

Search Execution and Stakeholder Partnership

• Work closely with the Executive Hiring Manager and senior stakeholders to refine role requirements, calibrate candidate profiles, and shape search strategies.
• Prepare high‑quality reports, briefing notes, and talent intelligence summaries to support decision‑making.
• Track search progress, maintain accurate and compliant records, and ensure a disciplined approach to research documentation and data integrity.

Continuous Market Monitoring

• Proactively monitor industry developments, leadership transitions, and competitor movements to keep AWE informed of shifts in the external senior and leadership talent landscape.
• Act as a trusted adviser on executive talent markets, providing insight‑led recommendations and perspectives

Whilst not to be considered a check list, candidates should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• Outstanding communication skills with proven ability to operate at all levels.
• A strong lateral thinker with a solution/challenger mindset.
• Problem solving skills.
• Previous experience in executive research.
• Experience of working in a corporate environment.
• Stakeholder management.

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'.

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.