Head of Service - Highways Programmes
Chelmsford
Full Time
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country: 5,000 miles of roads and around 5,000 miles of footways. Essex Highways is a successful delivery partnership between Ringway Jacobs and Essex County Council (ECC).
Job Description
As Head of Service – Highways Programmes, you will lead construction teams within the partnership, delivering traditional Capital Maintenance Programmes, Highway Flooding projects, and Major Carriageway Reconstruction. Additionally, you will oversee teams acting as an in-house delivery contractor for other service areas, including Local Highways Panels, Sustainable Transport, and S106 works. You will also be responsible for developing and managing the delivery of third-party works for Essex Highways, such as developer-funded schemes.
A key aspect of your role will be leading a Project Management Office, ensuring effective project oversight across all contract areas while coordinating with external bodies to align and deliver programmes of work.
As Head of Service – Highways Programmes/Contract Manager, you will be a strategic thinker with strong influencing and negotiation skills, adept at building collaborative partnerships with clients, officers, elected members, and external partners, including supply chain contractors. Commercially astute and innovation-driven, you will bring together diverse workstreams and expertise to drive successful outcomes while shaping the Essex Highways and wider Ringway Jacobs service offering.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead teams to ensure industry-leading health and safety standards and high-quality project delivery.
* Oversee programme and construction delivery, including financial forecasting, reporting, and performance management.
* Identify resource gaps and implement strategic solutions to maintain project efficiency.
* Build and manage strong relationships with the Ringway Jacobs supply chain.
* Ensure compliance with CDM 2015 and all technical and legal requirements as the named Principal Contractor.
* Develop the annual service plan, embedding continuous improvement and setting a clear vision.
* Foster collaboration across teams to optimise efficiency, leverage synergies, and promote cross-service working.
Role Specific Responsibilities
Overseeing and leading around 60 staff, the Contract Manager manages the delivery of a wide range of construction programmes and is a member of the Essex Highways Senior Leadership Team.
* Oversee Capital Maintenance programmes for carriageways, footways, cycleways, vehicle restraint systems, and highway flooding.
* Manage flood management scheme construction using Essex Highways supply chain partners.
* Lead the delivery of third-party works, including developer-funded projects.
* Coordinate with commercial and health & safety teams to ensure the supply chain delivers safe, high-quality, on-time, and on-budget work.
* Drive strategic outcomes by fulfilling Essex County Council’s statutory duties and contributing to service development as part of the Essex Highways Senior Leadership Team.
* Engage with client officers, budget holders, County Members, and local councilors as needed.
About You
Qualifications:
* Degree-level education or membership in a relevant professional institution (desirable).
Experience:
* Proven management experience in highways, with a track record of successful project delivery.
* Experience delivering projects/programmes in the private sector, within a profit and loss environment.
* In-depth knowledge of Health and Safety legislation, particularly CDM.
* Strong leadership skills with the ability to build and motivate high-performing teams.
* Experience managing a programme of works delivered by a supply chain of SMEs.
* Financial management experience in both public and private sectors.
* Strong influencing skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships and think strategically for long-term success.