Network Permit Officer

West Sussex County Council; Chichester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

West Sussex County Council is recruiting for a Network Permit Officer within the TRELIS Team. The role supports the Network Management Service to plan, coordinate, monitor and inspect street and road works by public utilities and other contractors.

The post involves handling sensitive information, liaising with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring works comply with regulations. Opportunities for progression across three grades are described.

Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating street works or public works processes is advantageous.
• Ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders clearly and professionally.
• Awareness of regulatory frameworks governing highways and street works.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and process applications for street and road works.
• Provide technical and operational support to customers and teams.
• Attend site visits and assist with plans and drawings.
• Produce reports from GIS/CAD data and maintain records in SAP.
• Issue information and respond to queries from contractors and the public.

Skills

Customer liaison

Problem solving

Communication

Data handling

Tools

GIS

SAP

CAD

Confirm

Job description

We have a fantastic opportunity to join our growing service within the TRELIS (Temporary restrictions, Events, Licencing and Support)Team. As a Network Permit Officer, you will be part of a team within our Network Management Service, who oversee all street works and road work activity. The Network Management Service guarantees the work is planned, inspected, processed, and carried out in accordance with regulations. Your role is vital in the planning, coordinating, monitoring, and inspecting of the street and road work activity of public utility companies, the County Council, and other contractors. This ensures all road works are carried out within the boundaries of a strict legal framework and with a view of ensuring any disruption caused by the works is kept to a minimum. This is a customer focussed role, where you will also work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, keeping them up to date of street work activity, any changes to schedules, fines, and extensions. You will be handling sensitive information, where confidentiality and knowing how to handle data is key. This role provides an excellent opportunity for career progression, spanning three grades with increasing responsibilities, as shown below.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

Grade 6

• Working with customers and communities to find solutions to problems.
• Providing technical and operational support to a wide range of customers.
• Answering queries, ranging from contractors undertaking works to members of the public.
• Coordinating and processing applications such as small-scale utility works, roadspace booking forms, and licencing applications.
• Participate in joint meetings and site visits, supporting with checking sites and preparing plans and drawings.
• Reconciling financial payments to keep records up to date.

Grade 7

• Providing technical support for the team and customers.
• Creating reports and maintaining records in the Geographical Information System (GIS) database.
• Coordinate and process applications such as medium scale utility projects, roadspace booking forms, and licencing applications.
• Undertaking regular site surveys, such as checking sites, technical interpretations, and preparation of plans and drawings.
• Issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.
• Carrying out computer-based designs using Computer Aided Design (CAD) or GIS.

Grade 8

• Traveling independently to various meeting venues and attending site visits across the county, including roadside visits, sometimes in unfavourable weather.
• Being the main contact point for street work activity, such as requests being planned, scheduled, and carried out.
• Identifying, investigating, and resolving short- and long-term issues that arise from inspection reports.
• Influencing and persuading third parties to complete information on time, using tact and diplomacy when advising others.
• Using databases such as Confirm (Highways Asset Management database) and SAP (financial system).
• Producing regular reports, estimates, and forecasts, and raising and chasing invoices/payments., For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Isabelle Hughes or Christine Logan

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to 3 years referencing and a health check. Equity, inclusion, accessibility and diversity is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all cultures, ethnicities, identities, backgrounds and lived experiences, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our page.

We are looking for people who know how to motivate themselves with flexible approach to work and a "can do" attitude. You will be a team player, liaising and collaborating with colleagues and customers on a regular basis, and providing an excellent Highways service. If you have integrity, openness, and an awareness of others, we would love to hear from you.

The Traffic Management Act 2004 places a duty on the County Council as the local highway authority to manage the road network. The Network Management Service is responsible for meeting the Council's network management duty to keep traffic flowing. Making sure the road network operates as smoothly and efficiently as possible is a key service for the Council. We know that works must take place on our roads, whether by the highway authority, utility companies or developers. It is important that these works are properly planned, managed and carried out in a way that creates the least impact on other road users.

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.