Highways Licensing Inspector

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave (29 days pro rata)

LGPS

Travel benefits

Pay progression

Training opportunities

Career development

Flexible working

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a Highway Licensing Inspector to join the Licensing and Enforcement team. This role balances on‑street inspections with office assessments of applications affecting the county’s highway network, ensuring safety, design and regulatory compliance.

You’ll liaise with residents, businesses and authorities to deliver practical, safe outcomes. The role involves on‑site visits across Suffolk, opportunities for flexible working, and a strong emphasis on collaboration

Qualifications

• Autonomy in day‑to‑day countywide work and site visits.
• Knowledge of Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Traffic Signs Regulations 2016.
• Experience with Highway Act licensing/enforcement activities.
• Ability to provide comprehensive advice to customers and works teams.
• Ability to work safely on live carriageways.

Responsibilities

• Assess and inspect applications affecting the highway network.
• Investigate proposals, inspect completed works and ensure safety and compliance.
• Advise residents, businesses, developers and utility providers; balance needs with safety.
• Support enforcement activities and educate customers to ensure compliance.

Skills

Autonomy

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Highway Act licensing/enforcement

Customer enquiries advisory

Live carriageways safety

Job description

Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Phoenix House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5NP or Halesworth Service Delivery Centre, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8EN or Rougham Highways Depot, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP30 9ND. Hybrid working
• Salary: £34,434 per annum with 3.3% agreed pay rise (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 37 hours per week, flexible working options available
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council we’re focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things.

As a Highways Licensing Inspector in the Licensing and Enforcement team, you’ll be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your Role And Responsibilities

This is a diverse and hands-on role that puts you at the heart of managing and protecting Suffolk's highway network. As a Highway Licensing Inspector, you'll spend time both in the office and out on site, assessing and inspecting a wide range of applications that affect the highway, from skips, scaffolding and pavement cafés to vehicle accesses, utility cabinets and specialist highway signage. Working across Suffolk, you'll investigate proposals, inspect completed works and ensure that activities on the highway meet the required safety, design and legislative standards.

You’ll work closely with residents, businesses, developers, utility providers, district and borough councils, providing expert advice and finding practical solutions that balance the needs of customers with the safe and efficient operation of the highway network. Whether you're assessing a new vehicle access, inspecting a pavement licence, reviewing signage proposals or helping resolve licensing infringements, you'll play an important role in keeping Suffolk's roads and public spaces safe, accessible and well managed.

Alongside your inspection and assessment duties, you'll support enforcement activities, using your communication and negotiation skills to educate customers, resolve issues and ensure compliance with highway legislation. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys a varied workload, independent decision making and seeing the direct impact of your work on local communities every day.

You will need

• A high level of autonomy during the normal day to day working around the county and carrying out various site visits and inspections
• Good knowledge and experience in the application of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016
• Good knowledge and experience in the application of relevant legislation, including the Highway Act, particularly in a licensing or enforcement capacity
• Experience and ability to provide comprehensive advice to a range of customer enquiries and advise on works
• Knowledge, experience and ability to work safely on live carriageways.

You can view a full list of requirements in theJob and Person Profile, which you can find in the ‘How to apply’ section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

We are a small, friendly team which comprises of both Highway Licensing Officers and Highway Licensing Inspectors. The Highway Licensing Team forms part of the wider Highway Regulation team, consisting of 30 colleagues, and we work together to support each other and provide the best service possible for both internal and external partners.

Empowering Everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Ralph Butcher for a casual conversation. You can reach them by either calling 01473 341458 or emailing [e-mail]

Closing date:11.30 pm, 20 September 2026.

Interview date: 6 October 2026.

Promoted as SPJ (Standard Plus Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

About Us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).