Highways Operations Manager

Staffline Group; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK public-sector organization is seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to oversee frontline highway services. The role entails leading diverse teams and managing complex budgets, with an emphasis on compliance and safety. Ideal candidates should possess significant experience in highways or civil engineering, demonstrate strong leadership skills, and have effective stakeholder engagement abilities. The position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to shape service direction in a high-profile environment.

Benefits

Exceptional package and pension

Autonomy to shape service direction

Qualifications

• Significant experience in highways, civil engineering or public realm operations.
• Experience managing large frontline teams and unionised workforces.
• Strong understanding of H&S and CDM compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multi-skilled frontline teams delivering highway maintenance operations.
• Oversee planned and emergency works ensuring safety.
• Manage operational budgets and assets effectively.

Skills

Senior operational management

Leadership of frontline teams

Stakeholder engagement

Health & Safety compliance

Managing operational budgets

Civil engineering knowledge

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent experience

Job description

• Senior Operations Manager - Highways Local Authority
• Salary: £60k - £75k Target , Exceptional Package and Pension
• Contract: Permanent | Full-Time
• Sector: Highways, Local Authority, Environmental Services, Public Realm, Civil Engineering, Utilities, and Infrastructure Operations

A leading UK public-sector organisation is seeking an experienced Highways Senior Operations Manager to lead large, high-profile frontline highway services across a major district. This is a senior operational leadership role with visibility at corporate, community and political levels-ideal for a proven leader in highways, civils, construction operations, environmental services, or large-scale public realm delivery.

The role oversees a complex portfolio including:

Highway maintenance, Public Rights of Way, Land drainage, Gully maintenance, Winter services, weather response, Operational depots, Fleet & plant with Multi-million-pound assets and budgets

You’ll lead c100+ skilled and semi-skilled frontline staff, manage a multi-functional operational depot, and take responsibility for statutory services that keep the district's network safe, open, and resilient.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage diverse multi-skilled frontline teams delivering district-wide highway, drainage, and winter maintenance operations.
• Oversee planned, reactive, and emergency works, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
• Act as Transport Manager under the organisation's Operator’s Licence, managing fleet compliance and high-risk operational environments
• Manage capital and revenue delivery through internal teams and contractors
• Ensure full compliance with CDM, Health & Safety legislation and safe systems of work
• Maintain high-profile public-facing services, respond to weather events and highway emergencies
• Develop and manage multi-million-pound operational budgets, assets, and equipment
• Build strong working relationships with stakeholders, elected members, trade unions ns, and contractors
• Drive service improvement, innovation, and workforce development

Key Requirements

• Significant senior operational management experience in highways, civil engineering, environmental services, construction, utilities, or large-scale public realm operations
• Strong leadership of large, dispersed frontline teams and unionised workforces
• In-depth understanding of H&S, CDM, risk, compliance, and management of high-risk operational sites
• Proven experience managing complex operational budgets, plant, vehicles, and large-scale assets
• Experience coordinating contractors and delivering large capital/revenue programmes
• Strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to lead in a politically aware environment
• Full driving licence
• Degree in Civil Engineering (or extensive equivalent experience)
• IOSH Managing Safely & to obtain CPC Transport Manager if required
• Experience in Highways in Utilities (Water/Gas/Power/Fibre) and Civil Engineering / Highways Contractors encouraged

Why This Role

• Lead one of the region's most high-profile, essential, and visible public services.
• Autonomy to shape service direction, improvement, and operational strategy
• Significant influence across regeneration, infrastructure, and environmental projects
• Manage a major operational team with meaningful community impact
• Senior leadership presence with political, community and multi-agency visibility

All enquiries and applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Contact [e-mail] or 0113 2123519