About Us
At North Somerset Council, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of our residents. We are committed to creating a fairer, greener, and more inclusive environment, where everyone benefits from sustainable growth and innovative solutions. If you're looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to join us.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and inspirational highways professional to lead our Highways Service. This is a pivotal role in ensuring our network remains high-performing, responsive, and safe while supporting sustainable transport choices, minimising disruption, and delivering excellent value for money.
Following a recent restructure, we have created a new Head of Service role to provide additional senior management capacity. As part of the Environment, Assets, and Transport Directorate, you will report to the Director and sit on the Directorate Leadership Team, playing a key role in shaping the future of North Somerset’s infrastructure.
You will lead teams responsible for managing, maintaining, and improving our highways network. As the Council’s principal technical advisor on highways, you will develop strategies and policies while ensuring our construction, maintenance, and improvement programmes are delivered efficiently. Your role will also involve identifying opportunities for innovation and leading them from business case development through to delivery.
In addition to overseeing a team of circa 100 staff, you will manage a gross service budget of approximately £14.8m (including £7.7m gross revenue and £7.1m capital). Your remit will span diverse projects, from town centre regeneration and active travel infrastructure to EV charging expansion and routine maintenance activities such as gully cleaning and pothole repairs.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of highway management, ensuring high standards of performance, safety, and service delivery.
Develop and implement policies and strategies to support sustainable transport, infrastructure resilience, and environmental goals.
Oversee the effective management of highways assets, including roads, footways, structures, parking services, street lighting, and streetworks.
Manage complex capital and revenue programmes, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Engage with key stakeholders, including local, regional, and national partners, to influence and deliver ambitious transport and infrastructure plans.
Act as the Council’s principal advisor on highways matters, ensuring technical excellence and compliance with regulations.
Oversee the commissioning and performance of our highways delivery model, including working with our arms-length company, NSEC.
Work Style
We offer a hybrid working environment tailored to the role and personal circumstances. As a Flexible Worker, you can expect to:
Work 2-3 days in the office, balancing remote and in-office work as needed.
Receive support and training to manage your time effectively and collaborate with your team.
Have the option to spend additional time in the office if preferred.
About You
We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a proven track record in delivering operational highways services, including construction and maintenance programmes. You will be passionate about improving transport infrastructure and have the skills to lead large-scale projects and drive strategic change.
Essential Skills and Experience:
Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Civil Engineering, Transport Planning) and Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional qualification.
Extensive experience in managing large and complex highways and infrastructure projects, including budget and financial oversight.
Strong leadership skills, with experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment.
A strategic thinker with the ability to influence and build strong relationships across political, regional, and national levels.
In-depth knowledge of highways legislation, best practices, and health and safety regulations.
Experience of delivering high-profile transport infrastructure projects that support economic growth and sustainability.
For further details, please refer to the job description and person specification.
Join us and shape the future of North Somerset’s highways network!
What We Offer
At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment.
We offer:
Competitive salary and benefits
Flexible working arrangements
Local Government Pension
Opportunities for professional development
Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes
Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.
Contact Information
For further information about the role, please contact Lucy Shomali, Director of Environment, Assets and Transport Services, at lucy.shomali@n-somerset.gov.uk.
Important Information
As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.
Interview Date: Week commencing 03rd March 2025.
Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .