Job description
Role: Highway Operative
Salary: Grade E £27,694 - £29,540 a year (pay award pending)
Location: Stores Road, Derby
Hours: 37 hours a week
Closing Date: 2nd May 2026
Contract Type: Permanent
We are currently seeking Highway Operatives to join our busy Highways Maintenance Operations team based in central Derby. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys practical, hands on work and takes pride in helping keep our city’s roads safe and well maintained.
In this role, you will carry out both reactive and programmed maintenance on the public highway. We’re looking for candidates with a positive, can do attitude and experience in highway maintenance techniques, civil engineering practices, and the use of tarmac and concrete materials. A basic understanding of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 is also required.
Experience in hand lay and machine lay of bituminous materials is an advantage, along with knowledge of excavation, footway and carriageway repairs, and the installation of signs, street furniture, kerbing, edging, drainage and setting out to line and level. A full driving licence and the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions are essential. An HGV licence is desirable but not essential.
Who We Are
Here at Derby City Council, we’re dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities. Find out more about what it’s like to work for us.
What We Offer
You too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you’ll also receive:
• Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Team Derby Rewards – retail and leisure discounts
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
• Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
• Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Calendar and Support
• Access to our Equality Employee Networks – LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network and Neurodiversity Network
• Support for colleagues who are carers
The Opportunity
In the role of Highway Operative, here’s an example of what you’ll be doing to make an impact:
The role involves carrying out reactive and planned maintenance on the public highway to keep Derby’s roads safe and in good condition. You’ll work with tarmac, concrete and other materials to repair footways and carriageways, install signs and street furniture, and support wider civil engineering tasks. The job includes excavation, drainage work and setting out to line and level. It’s a practical, hands on role that requires working outdoors in all weather, using a range of tools and equipment, and contributing to the smooth running of the city’s highway network.
About You
To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally have
• Experience in highways maintenance or general civil engineering work
• Practical skills in using hand tools, power tools and small plant
• Basic knowledge of tarmac, concrete and bituminous materials
• Understanding of hand lay and machine lay techniques (advantageous)
• Ability to carry out excavation, repairs and general highway reinstatement
• Knowledge of installing signs, street furniture, kerbing, edging and drainage
• Basic understanding of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
• Strong teamwork skills with a positive, can do attitude
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• NRSWA Operative
• Full UK driving licence (essential); HGV entitlement desirable but not require
Next Steps
If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an