We are seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Highways Engineer to join our Highways Development Management team at West Northamptonshire Council. This is a senior role leading on the assessment, negotiation, and delivery of highway works linked to new developments, with a strong focus on Section 38 and Section 278 agreements, design reviews, and the adoption of new infrastructure into the public highway network.
Knowledge of the planning process would be highly beneficial, as there may be a need to assist colleagues in responding to planning applications from a highways perspective. This could include reviewing transport assessments, travel plans, and layout designs, providing technical advice, and working with developers to help secure suitable mitigation and infrastructure improvements.
You will take highway agreements through the full lifecycle—from pre‑application advice and technical review of designs, through to approval, construction oversight, inspection, and final adoption. This will involve scrutinising detailed submissions to ensure they meet required standards, protecting the council’s interests and ensuring long‑term maintainable assets for the public.
As a senior member of the team, you will also provide expert technical advice on complex or high‑profile schemes, lead negotiations with developers and consultants, and mentor junior engineers. Collaboration across planning, legal, and highways colleagues will be central to your success in ensuring that growth in West Northamptonshire delivers safe, high‑quality, and sustainable highway infrastructure.
Responsibilities
* Lead on the technical review and approval of Section 38 and Section 278 agreements, guiding schemes through design, construction, inspection, and adoption into the public highway.
* Carry out detailed design reviews to ensure proposed layouts and works meet both local and national standards, protecting the council’s interests and securing long‑term, maintainable assets.
* Work closely with developers, consultants, contractors, and planning colleagues to negotiate suitable solutions and mitigation measures that support growth and protect the highway network.
* Provide expert technical advice on more complex or high‑profile schemes and assist colleagues in responding to planning applications where highways input is required.
* Mentor and support junior engineers, sharing expertise and helping to build capability within the team.
Qualifications
* Strong understanding of highways engineering principles, standards, and design guidance.
* Experience managing and progressing highway agreements through the full lifecycle—from initial negotiation and technical approval to inspection and adoption.
* Ability to provide clear, pragmatic technical advice on development proposals and infrastructure design.
* Excellent relationship‑building skills with developers, consultants, contractors, and internal colleagues to negotiate positive outcomes for the council and community.
* Strong communication skills in writing and verbally.
* Experience mentoring and supporting junior colleagues, helping to develop the wider team’s skills and capability.
Knowledge of the planning process would be beneficial, as you may be required to assist in providing highways input into planning applications and related discussions.
This role is suited to someone who is proactive, organised, and solutions‑focused, with the ability to balance technical detail with the bigger picture of supporting sustainable growth across West Northamptonshire.
We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximise their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner.
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