Principal Advisor & Teamm Leader-Structures Del

National Highways; Guildford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

National Highways invites applications for a Principal Advisor / Structures Team Leader in the Safety, Engineering and Standards (SES) Directorate.

Lead a specialist team delivering policies, standards and technical guidance to support asset renewal, maintenance and safety across England's road network.

Based at Guildford, Basingstoke or Maidstone, the role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery and external stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Chartered membership of a relevant professional institution and a relevant degree with substantial experience.
• Deep specialist knowledge within the structures discipline, including design, assessment and development of technical solutions.
• Proven delivery of complex projects or programmes with governance in line with APMP principles.
• Ability to communicate and influence at all organisational levels and across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter leadership and authoritative guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead the development and delivery of activities aligned to the business plan.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to promote SES objectives and best practices.
• Implement project management methodologies to ensure effective planning, risk mitigation and performance.
• Manage external expert and consultancy input as needed; ensure objective achievement.
• Document and communicate technical solutions for audit and implementation.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project governance

Structures design

Communication skills

Team development

Education

Chartered engineer (CEng/MICE/MIStructE)

Tools

APMP principles

Job description

Principal Advisor & Teamm Leader-Structures Del

National Highways have an excellent opportunity for a Principal Advisor / Structures Team Leader to join our team in the Safety, Engineering and Standards (SES) Directorate. The Safety, Engineering and Standards directorate is recognised for developing world leading standards and for providing expert advice and technical assurance in the field of bridge engineering.

As a Structures Team Lead, you will lead a specialist team engaged in the development and implementation of policies, standards, operating procedures and best practices, and the provision of associated technical advice and guidance; to support the development, renewal and maintenance of National Highways assets, ensuring compliance with relevant statutory requirements and external standards, the safety of National Highways staff, contractor staff and the public and delivering best value solutions.

Please note this role will be based at our Guildford, Basingstoke, or Maidstone offices.

Key responsibilities.

• Provide subject matter leadership, leading the development and evaluation of solutions, supporting the team in resolving technical issues, providing authoritative advice and guidance to internal stakeholders, and representing the interests of National Highways with external stakeholders.
• Contribute to the leadership and management of the Group, taking responsibility for the development and delivery of activities in line with the business plan and supporting the Group Manager and Divisional Director in setting overall strategy and direction.
• Engage with senior stakeholders across National Highways and externally to ensure a strong understanding of business needs, to promote and gain commitment to SES objectives and solutions, to identify key areas for improvement and to share best practices.
• Implement appropriate project management methodologies to ensure the effective planning and control of project activities, the identification and mitigation of risks and effective management of project performance.
• Commission and manage external expert and consultancy support as appropriate; and evaluate and act on such advice to ensure objectives are achieved.
• Ensure that technical solutions are appropriately documented and communicated to all stakeholders, to support implementation and to ensure the availability of audit evidence.
• Lead, motivate and develop the team to ensure that they are engaged with and capable of delivering their team and personal objectives.
• Monitor the personal development of team members and ensure that they gain relevant experience to support their professional and career development.

About you.

• Chartered Membership of a relevant professional institution (CEng, MICE, MIStructE, or equivalent) and a relevant degree with substantial relevant experience.
• Deep specific specialist knowledge within the structures discipline , particularly in design, assessment, and development of technical solutions for management of structures, with proven experience of developing solutions and providing specialist advice in the technical discipline.
• Experience of the successful delivery of complex projects or change programmes, including the establishment of project governance in line with APMP principles.
• Ability to communicate and influence effectively at all organisational levels (including Senior Managers) and across all disciplines, with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience of managing and developing small teams of technical specialists or of supporting the development of team members.

About us.

Safety, Engineering and Standards (SES)

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers, and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork, and ownership.

Safety, Engineering and Standards (SES) focuses on supporting outstanding operational delivery and providing expert technical advice for our road network. We also deliver essential services that lead, enable, and drive innovation in the development of the Strategic Road Network, while offering expert guidance on health and safety matters.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.