Senior Engineer - Development Management
Contract: Essex Highways
Location: Chelmsford
Contract Type: Permanent
As a Senior Engineer within the Development Management team, you will take on a pivotal leadership role in delivering the Essex Highways Integrated Services contract. Working in close partnership with Essex County Council, you will drive the successful delivery of developer-funded highway infrastructure - ensuring schemes are technically robust, legally compliant, and fully adoptable, while actively supporting wider planning, growth, and regeneration ambitions across the county.
This is a strategic position that combines technical authority with stakeholder leadership. You will oversee complex, high-value and high-risk development projects from initial technical approval through construction to final highway adoption. Alongside project oversight, you will mentor and support junior engineers, fostering professional growth and maintaining high performance standards within the team.
Acting as a key point of contact for internal teams, developers, consultants, strategic partners, and external providers, you will build strong working relationships and represent the team with confidence and credibility. You will also deputise for the Team Leader when required, contributing to operational decision-making and ensuring continuity of leadership.
The Role
1. Provide line management and professional development support to a team of engineers and technicians.
2. Oversee all aspects of technical assurance for new development highways, including legal and statutory compliance.
3. Lead negotiations and instruct legal agreements (e.g., S38/S278) for highway adoption.
4. Ensure policies, design standards, and planning obligations are rigorously upheld.
5. Manage stakeholder relationships at senior levels (e.g., county council, district councils, developers).
About You
6. Degree, HNC, or equivalent high-level qualification, or significant experience in highways.
7. Proven experience in handling major and complex development schemes
8. Be able to demonstrate good project management experience
9. Demonstrable knowledge of national guidance, legislation and regulations relating to design and implementation of highway schemes. In particular, expertise in the Highway Act 1980 and CDM 2015 is required
10. Knowledge and application of Health and Safety legislation
Benefits
At Ringway Jacobs we recognise that our people make the difference, and in order to do what we do well, particular care is taken in nurturing and investing in our people. That’s why you will always be given the opportunity to utilise your expertise and develop your career.
Ringway Jacobs recognises the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements across many of our roles. We therefore welcome applications from people looking for an alternative working pattern e.g. part-time hours, job share etc. Please let us know on your CV or cover letter if this is what you are looking for.
In return for your hard work you will receive:
11. Sick Pay
12. Competitive salary
13. Opportunity to purchase up to 5 days extra leave
14. A variety of discounts through our “RJ Rewards” app, including restaurants, holidays, days out etc
15. Life Assurance
16. Employee Assistance Programme
17. Pension scheme
The Company
We are Ringway Jacobs, a leading highways service provider working with local authorities across the UK. Formed in 2005, specifically to provide road network management solutions to local government, our unique blend of engineering capability, innovation and customer care make us the best in class. We support over 10,000 miles of highways, 10,000 miles of footway, almost 7,800 miles of public rights of way and 242,000 street lights. We excel in delivering safe, sustainable service excellence, through our passion, integrity and collaborative culture.
Ringway Jacobs is an equal opportunities employer. We wish to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and the fair treatment of all our employees.