Operative

Ringway Jacobs; Ardleigh; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick pay

Competitive salary

Extra leave

Job summary

Ringway Jacobs is seeking a Skilled Highways Operative to join the Maintenance team at Ardleigh Depot. The role involves hands-on highway maintenance across the Essex network, working outdoors and prioritising safety and quality.

You will deliver a range of skilled activities, attend briefings, complete records, and support apprentices as needed. A UK driving licence is essential, with additional qualifications such as NHSS12 desirable.

Qualifications

• Experience in highway maintenance operations.
• Ability to work outdoors with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge of traffic management practices, including 12A/B.
• Strong communication with colleagues and the public.
• Valid UK driving licence (essential); LGV2 advantageous.
• Mentor and support apprentices as required.
• Commitment to safety and quality in service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Deliver highway maintenance and improvement activities across the Essex network.
• Undertake skilled tasks including carriageway/footway maintenance, drainage, and minor civil works.
• Ensure work is completed safely and to agreed procedures and standards.
• Attend daily briefings and manage risks and controls.
• Complete site records and paperwork accurately.
• Deliver work to required quality and timescales; report safety concerns.
• Manage materials and waste in line with procedures.
• Participate in winter maintenance and emergency response on a rota.

Skills

Highways experience

Outdoor work

Safety focus

Communication skills

Driving license

Education

NHSS12 desirable

Tools

Handheld devices

Job description

Ringway Jacobs has an exciting opportunity for a Skilled Highways Operative to join our Maintenance team based at Ardleigh Depot. Working as part of a dedicated operational team, you will play a key role in delivering highway maintenance and construction activities that help keep the local road network safe, efficient, and well maintained.

This is a hands‑on position suited to an individual with previous highways experience who enjoys working outdoors, takes pride in delivering high-quality work, and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and customer service.

The Role

As a Skilled Highways Operative, you will support the delivery of a wide range of highway maintenance and improvement activities across the Essex network.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working as part of the highway maintenance operational team to deliver planned and reactive works.
• Undertaking a variety of skilled activities including carriageway maintenance, footway repairs, drainage works, soft estate maintenance, and minor civil engineering projects.
• Ensuring all work is completed safely and in accordance with agreed procedures and standards.
• Attending daily briefings and understanding the risks, controls, and requirements associated with each task.
• Completing daily records, documentation, and associated site paperwork.
• Delivering work to the required quality standards and within agreed timescales.
• Reporting any safety concerns and supporting a positive safety culture.
• Ensuring materials and waste are managed and disposed of correctly.
• Participating in winter maintenance and emergency response activities on a rota basis.
• Supporting the wider team with additional duties as required.

We're looking for a proactive team player with a strong focus on health and safety and a proven background in highway maintenance operations.

You’ll ideally have:

• A good understanding of health, safety, environmental, and quality requirements within highway operations.
• The ability to work safely and productively with minimal supervision.
• Experience or knowledge of traffic management practices, including 12A/B Traffic Management.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with colleagues, clients, and members of the public.
• The ability to take responsibility for your work and maintain high standards of service delivery.
• A current UK driving licence (essential), with an LGV Class 2 licence being advantageous.
• NRSWA or NHSS 12 qualifications (desirable).
• Experience using handheld technology such as tablets, PDAs, or smartphones (advantageous).
• The ability to mentor and support apprentices and trainees where required.

Above all, you'll be someone who demonstrates a positive attitude, embraces safe working practices, and is committed to delivering excellent service for our customers and local communities.

At Ringway Jacobs we recognise that our people make the difference, and in order to do what we do well, particular care is taken in nurturing and investing in our people. That’s why you will always be given the opportunity to utilise your expertise and develop your career.

Ringway Jacobs recognises the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements across many of our roles. We therefore welcome applications from people looking for an alternative working pattern e.g. part‑time hours, job share etc. Please let us know on your CV or cover letter if this is what you are looking for.

In return for your hard work you will receive:

• Sick Pay
• Competitive salary
• Opportunity to purchase up to 5 days extra leave
• A variety of discounts through our “RJ Rewards” app, including restaurants, holidays, days out etc
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension scheme

The Company

We are Ringway Jacobs, a leading highways service provider working with local authorities across the UK. Formed in 2005, specifically to provide road network management solutions to local government, our unique blend of engineering capability, innovation and customer care make us the best in class. We support over 10,000 miles of highways, 10,000 miles of footway, almost 7,800 miles of public rights of way and 242,000 street lights. We excel in delivering safe, sustainable service excellence, through our passion, integrity and collaborative culture.

Ringway Jacobs is an equal opportunities employer. We wish to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and the fair treatment of all our employees. As part of this commitment, we proudly support the Armed Forces Community by identifying roles for which we can offer a guaranteed interview to service leavers, veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and military spouses/partners who meet the essential criteria for the position.

Please click on the following link for more information on this role: Job Description