Group Engineer Highways Contracts ( Design )

Job Description

Job Title: Group Engineer – Highways Contracts (Design)
Salary: PO4 £44,711 – £47,754
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week

About Leeds City Council

Leeds City Council is one of the largest metropolitan local authorities in the UK, serving a vibrant and diverse population of over 800,000 residents. As a values-led organization, we are dedicated to making Leeds the best city council in the UK. The city is experiencing significant economic and housing growth, and we play a vital role in supporting this expansion while ensuring the protection of people, property, and infrastructure.

Leeds City Council benefits from strong political leadership, focused on driving inclusive growth, tackling the climate emergency, and working with partners across the Leeds City Region and Northern Powerhouse to address the city’s future challenges.

In recent years, we’ve delivered an annual highways maintenance program valued at approximately £28M. Our track record includes success in highway inspections and effectively defending claims.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced professional to fill the role of Group Engineer – Highways Contracts (Design) following the promotion of the previous post holder. This is a senior position within the Highways and Transportation team, offering a varied and challenging workload. You will manage a group of professional and technical staff, ensuring the design, delivery, review, and management of all aspects of highways works. This includes engaging with and supervising internal and external partners, in compliance with statutory obligations, council policies, and standards.

You will also support, advise, and assess the work of colleagues within the council as well as external parties, including consultants and contractors, ensuring the delivery of high-quality highways asset management services. With numerous projects underway, this is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic, forward-thinking team.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and manage a team of professional and technical staff in the design and delivery of highways projects, ensuring alignment with statutory and council requirements.

Oversee the coordination and procurement of contractors and consultants for highways infrastructure projects.

Deliver cost-effective, high-quality design services for maintaining highways infrastructure and related projects.

Develop and manage programmes for planned and reactive maintenance, ensuring that internal and external suppliers deliver services within budget.

Manage and monitor design budgets, ensuring payments are made in accordance with contractual terms.

Contribute to policy development that supports efficient service delivery and continuous improvement.

Implement digital solutions to optimize the management of highways assets.

Support the creation of business cases for securing funding for highways infrastructure maintenance.

Provide expert advice on highway design and sustainable maintenance practices for major projects.

Ensure all work complies with health and safety regulations, Construction Design Management (CDM) regulations, and local/national standards.

Lead the development of partnerships and collaborative work across services and with external stakeholders.

Motivate and develop your team, ensuring they meet corporate and service objectives.

Qualifications and Experience:

Incorporated Engineer or extensive equivalent experience, preferably in a local authority highways design or maintenance role.

Knowledge of asset management, highway engineering design, and maintenance practices.

Strong understanding of health and safety regulations, CDM legislation, and street works laws.

Experience of managing external suppliers to deliver high-quality, cost-effective services on time.

Knowledge of procurement procedures and managing contractual relationships.

Proven ability to interpret corporate vision and implement it through policies and strategies.

Experience of managing services to meet customer needs within a politically sensitive environment.

Strong communication and relationship-building skills, both internally and externally.

Essential Skills:

Ability to manage and monitor performance effectively, setting clear objectives for staff and service delivery.

Excellent coaching and mentoring skills, fostering a high-performance culture.

Strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to manage competing priorities.

Ability to represent the service and Council effectively at internal and external meetings.

Proficiency in standard office software applications and the ability to produce comprehensive reports.

Understanding and promotion of equal opportunities, diversity, and health and safety policies.

Desirable Skills:

Experience of contributing to change programmes and improving service quality.

Understanding of sustainability in service delivery.

Experience in the public sector and its relationships with private and third-sector organizations.

Additional Information:

This position is based at Merrion House in Leeds City Centre, with the option for hybrid working where demand allows. The role offers flexible working hours and is full-time (37 hours per week).

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this role and meet the necessary qualifications and experience, please submit your application by 23:59 on 25 March 2025. Your application should demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria, and ideally, the desirable criteria.

You will need a valid driver’s license or the ability to travel around Leeds effectively, as travel is a required part of the job.

For more information or to arrange an informal discussion, please contact James Cockburn, Principal Engineer – Highways Contracts, at james.cockburn@leeds.gov.uk or call 0113 378 7409.

Leeds City Council’s Commitment:

Leeds City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We promote diversity and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are recognized in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024 and are an Age-friendly Employer, Mindful Employer, and Disability Confident Leader.

Please note that all new appointments to Leeds City Council are subject to a six-month probationary period.

Right to Work in the UK:
This role is based in the UK. Candidates must provide evidence of their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment. If you require a visa, please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker route before applying. For more information on eligibility, please visit the government website.

Equal Opportunities:

Leeds City Council is committed to promoting equality and diversity. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of background, and we actively support diversity in the workplace.