Rights of Way Manager

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Stafford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive local authority in Staffordshire is seeking a qualified leader to manage Public Rights of Way services across a 4500km network. The ideal candidate will have expertise inrights of way legislation and excellent leadership, interpersonal, and strategic management skills. Responsibilities include delivering statutory duties, engaging with stakeholders, and leading innovation in improving access provision. This permanent full-time position includes hybrid working and aims to make a significant impact on community accessibility.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Attractive employee benefits

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification or equivalent in an appropriate discipline.
• In-depth knowledge of rights of way and highways legislation.
• Experience in risk assessment and management, including CDM regulations.

Responsibilities

• Deliver statutory duties related to Public Rights of Way
• Lead strategic management of the PROW network.
• Engage stakeholders for evidence-led decision making.

Skills

Leadership skills

Knowledge of rights of way legislation

Interpersonal skills

Budget management

ICT skills

Education

Degree in relevant discipline

Tools

GIS

Job description

Do you want to be instrumental in shaping the future of the Public Rights of Way and access provision for Staffordshire? And are interested in delivering an excellent service? Yes? Then this may be the job for you.

Access to the countryside has never been more important and rights of way are a vital resource for our communities and visitors. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to lead innovative approaches to the development and management of 4500km of Public Rights of Way across Staffordshire. This important role will continue to transform the service ensuring the delivery of statutory functions, championing novel approaches and responding to new challenges.

We are looking for a confident leader with a strong track record delivering at a strategic level. You will have a high level of knowledge and experience in rights of way / highways and access legislation, policy and practice. You will bring innovation and the skills to put it into practice to ensure the ongoing improvement of the service. Your excellent interpersonal skills will ensure positive relationships with elected members, colleagues, partners, stakeholders and volunteers.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a meaningful impact and be part of a team driving positive change in Staffordshire, we would love to hear from you.

This is a permanent full-time role working 37 hours per week Monday to Friday. The work is typically office and depot based with hybrid working.

Main Responsibilities

In this role you will:

• Deliver statutory duties related to Public Rights of Way (PROW), open access, and promoted routes across Staffordshire.
• Lead the strategic management of the PROW network, ensuring accessibility, sustainability, and legal compliance.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and improvement plans to enhance rural access and rights of way.
• Engage and consult with stakeholders, elected members, communities, and forums to support evidence-led decision making.
• Manage staff, budgets, and resources to deliver inspections, enforcement, maintenance, and improvements across the network.
• Integrate rights of way into infrastructure planning, while promoting innovation, volunteer involvement, and digital solutions to expand service capacity.

The Ideal Candidate

You will have:

• Qualified at degree level or equivalent in an appropriate discipline.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of rights of way (highways) and access legislation and practice in England.
• Significant experience of rights of way procedures and management, including experience of enforcement, dispute resolution, analysis of historical evidence and demand prioritisation.
• Significant knowledge and experience of risk assessment and management, safe systems of work and CDM regulations.
• Experience of budget management, procurement and contract management.
• Effective and strategic leadership and management skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills including ability to engage the public, collaborate with partners and constructively resolve disputes.
• Good IT skills including GIS.
• Ability to deal with difficult situations and resolve conflict.
• Current driving licence.

“We’re happy to talk flexible working”

Interviews are expected to be held on 23rd January 2026.

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences and qualifications so consider applying anyway. For an informal discussion, please contact Sarah Bentley, Head of Environment and Countryside, at [e-mail]

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a GoldAward Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.