Rights of Way Manager

Carrington West; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is seeking an interim Rights of Way Manager for a West Midlands local authority to shape sustainable access to rural landscapes for future generations. This hybrid role combines strategic leadership with hands-on programme delivery across PROW, open access and promoted routes.

You will lead a team, manage budgets and procurement, coordinate with elected members and stakeholders, and ensure compliance with England's rights of way legislation and best practice.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of rights of way (highways) and England legislation and practice.
• Experience leading teams and managing staff performance.
• Experience in budget management, procurement and contract management.
• Experience coordinating with public, volunteers, contractors and elected members.

Responsibilities

• Deliver statutory PROW functions, open access and promoted routes.
• Strategic management of the PROW network ensuring compliance and sustainability.
• Develop and monitor policies for PROW and rural access.
• Consult, inform and engage stakeholders and communities as required.
• Support forums and committees to enable evidence-led decisions.
• Allocate and manage staff, finances and resources safely and compliantly.

Skills

Rights of way knowledge

Leadership

Budget management

Risk assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Contract management

Job description

Rights of Way Manager

Are you a Public Rights of Way Manager looking for your next career move?

I am working with a local authority in the West Midlands who are looking to appoint an interim Public Rights of Way Manager to help shape sustainable access to the county's rural landscapes for future generations.

This role requires a hybrid working set up and has an initial contract length to 04/12/2026

Key Responsibilities

• To deliver the councils statutory functions in relation to the management of Public Rights of Way (PROW), open access and promoted routes
• Strategic management of the PROW network ensuring compliance, accessibility and sustainability
• Develop, implement and monitor policies, working practices and procedures to ensure the continuous management and improvement of the PROW / rural access function
• Work proactively to ensure that appropriate stakeholders, elected members and communities are consulted, informed and engaged as required
• Support relevant forums and committees as required to facilitate evidence-led decision making
• Allocate, mobilise and manage staff, financial and other resources to address demands and prioritise actions, ensuring activities are conducted safely and in compliance with relevant regulations

Key Requirements

• 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
• Experience of leading teams and line management including performance management and staff development
• Significant knowledge and experience of risk assessment and management, safe systems of work and CDM regulations
• Experience of budget management, procurement and contract management
• Significant experience of working with the public, volunteers, contractors, elected members and external organisations