Developments Manager - Highways
Location: Flexible / Regional (site, office & home-based)
Salary: £45,000-£55,000
Type: Full-time, Permanent
A growing and well-established infrastructure and engineering consultancy is seeking a Developments Manager to lead highways development design and approvals work. This is a leadership role within a supportive, positive team environment, ideal for someone with strong highways development experience (not maintenance-focused) who enjoys responsibility, client interaction, and team development.
About the Role
You will lead a team of engineers responsible for reviewing, approving, and overseeing the design and construction of new roads and modifications to the public highway, ensuring schemes meet adoptable standards. The role includes managing agreements under Section 38 and Section 278 and working closely with developers, consultants, and stakeholders. You will have a Project Engineer and wider technical team reporting into you.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the technical evaluation and approval of externally designed highway schemes to ensure compliance with national and regional standards
Oversee inspection and authorisation of works to confirm adoptable construction standards are achieved
Manage Section 38 and Section 278 processes with developers and stakeholders
Monitor budgets, fee income, and project expenditure across programmes of work
Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary technical team
Ensure compliance with statutory duties, internal procedures, and quality standards
Act as Principal Designer and promote strong Health & Safety performance in line with CDM regulations
Maintain strong working relationships with clients, developers, internal teams, and public stakeholders
Support wider engineering project delivery across the service where required
Requirements
Degree in Civil Engineering (or related discipline) or equivalent practical experience
Experience in highways development design and approvals (not routine maintenance)
Detailed knowledge of highway and civil engineering design standards and specifications
Experience with S38/S278 schemes and adoptable highways processes
Proven project and financial management experience across multiple schemes
Strong working knowledge of relevant health & safety and traffic management legislation
Experience using technical software such as CAD and highway/drainage design tools
Confident leadership and team management capability
Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills in a busy design environment
High level of personal drive and commitment to service quality
Full UK driving licence
What's on Offer
- Senior leadership responsibility
- Direct team management
- Positive and supportive working culture
- Varied, technically interesting development schemes
- Flexible, hybrid-working approach