HGV Recovery Operative - M25

Balfour Beatty plc; Dartford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working with flexibility

25 days paid annual leave

Family friendly policies

Pension and share incentive plan

Job summary

A leading construction firm is seeking an HGV Recovery Driver in Dartford to respond to incidents and vehicle breakdowns on the M25 network. The role includes a structured shift pattern and duties like conducting safety inspections and recovery operations. Candidates must hold a C+E driving licence and have experience with recovery equipment. This position offers stability and the chance to contribute to critical infrastructure management.

Qualifications

• Experience recovering light and heavy vehicles on motorways.
• Proficiency in using recovery equipment safely.
• Previous work in highways or vehicle recovery environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Respond to incidents and vehicle breakdowns across the M25 network.
• Carry out safety inspections and maintenance tasks.
• Lead recovery operations to restore normal traffic flow.

Skills

Reliability

Safety-focused

Hands-on operational skills

Incident response confidence

Education

Full UK driving licence (Category C+E)

IVR 1, 2, and 3 qualifications

Tools

Recovery equipment (underlifts, winches, cranes)

Job description

About the Role

Join Connect Plus Services and be part of a once‑in‑a‑generation infrastructure project. The M25 is one of the busiest and most important motorway networks in the UK, and with more than 15 years remaining on the contract, this is a unique opportunity to build a stable, long‑term career while helping to keep the country moving. Working alongside Balfour Beatty Highways, you’ll be part of a team responsible for maintaining and operating this critical transport network safely, efficiently and sustainably.

As an HGV Recovery Driver based in Dartford

This role offers a structured shift pattern of four shifts on and four shifts off, including days, nights, weekends and bank holidays, providing a clear and consistent schedule so you can plan your time with confidence. You may also be required to travel across the M25 network and between depots where operationally necessary, along with occasional attendance at training, meetings or works outside your normal operational area. As part of the operational team you will also support winter maintenance activities when required.

What you’ll be doing

As an HGV Recovery Driver, you will respond to incidents, hazards and vehicle breakdowns across the network, providing recovery support and ensuring affected areas are made safe as quickly and efficiently as possible. You will attend live motorway incidents and carry out recovery operations in line with CPS procedures and risk assessments, helping to restore normal traffic flow and maintain a safe environment for road users and colleagues.

The role also involves carrying out a variety of operational and maintenance tasks that support the safe running of the motorway network. This includes undertaking debris and safety inspections, assisting with carriageway repairs, graffiti removal, soft estate maintenance such as grass cutting, litter picking and general cleansing activities, as well as maintaining roadside signs and other highway assets.

You will lead or assist with the recovery of both heavy and light vehicles using specialist equipment such as underlifts, winches and cranes, ensuring all recoveries are carried out safely and professionally. Accurate reporting will form an important part of the role, using mobile devices to record operational information and support effective communication across the network team. You will also carry out routine vehicle and equipment checks, maintain records and ensure all recovery equipment is kept in safe working order.

Working closely with the wider operational team, you will report any issues that may impact road safety or network performance, support sustainability initiatives and contribute to Balfour Beatty’s commitment to Zero Harm and its core values.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for a reliable and safety‑focused individual who enjoys working in a hands‑on operational environment and is confident responding to live incidents on a busy motorway network.

You will hold a full UK driving licence with a minimum category C+E (LGV Class 1) and the IVR 1, 2 and 3 qualifications. You should have experience recovering both heavy and light vehicles on live motorway or All Purpose Trunk Road networks and be proficient in the safe use of recovery equipment including underlift systems, winches and cranes. Experience working in a highways, traffic, transport or vehicle recovery environment would be highly beneficial.

If you are looking for a practical role where you can make a genuine impact every day while building a stable and rewarding career on one of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects, we would love to hear from you.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Benefits

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partner’s leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more.

About Us

Connect Plus Services (CPS) brings together the collective strength of our parent companies – Balfour Beatty, Atkins and Egis Road Operation UK. With around 600 people, based at eight locations across the M25 network, we work on behalf of Connect Plus and National Highways to manage the operation of the M25 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from routine maintenance to managing the whole‑life requirement of thousands of assets across the network.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background.

To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

We are members of WISE, ENEI, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail]