Technical Officer Design

Dorset Council; Dorchester; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset Council in Dorchester is seeking a Technical Officer Design to join the Highways Service. You will support design across maintenance schemes, collaborating with a range of partners to deliver projects safely, on time and within budget.

Based in Dorchester with hybrid working, you will be educated to HNC/HND level (or working towards) and bring strong communication and Excel data skills to drive project success and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data management and reporting.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities across teams and stakeholders.
• Interest in highways industry and willingness to learn new techniques and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Support the design of maintenance schemes from concept through to post-completion administration.
• Collaborate with the highways asset design team and partners to deliver high-quality schemes on time and within budget.
• Utilise project management and communication skills to coordinate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Adapt to a hybrid working culture and engage in training and development opportunities.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Education

HNC/HND in relevant discipline

Job description

About the role

We are looking for a Technical Officer Design to join our Highways Service. The main purpose of the Structural Maintenance team is to maintain the public highway network in support of Dorset Council’s aims for sustainability, safety, quality of life and economic growth. This is achieved through the design and delivery of Major Highway schemes covering various types of treatments, pedestrian and cycle route schemes, preventative Maintenance Schemes and drainage schemes.

Our key customers are:

• Elected members and the local community

The key priorities for the team are:

• Progressing projects in accordance with standards, regulations, procedures and best practice
• Ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time and to budget
• Maintaining a safe and effective highway network

The key people the team work with are:

• Elected members and the local community
• Construction colleagues
• National Highways, the Environment Agency and other stakeholder organisations

What you will be doing

Based in Dorchester, close to the beautiful coast and countryside, this role provides an exciting opportunity to deliver highway maintenance schemes for the communities of Dorset.

You will be responsible for supporting the design of a range of maintenance schemes from initial concept through all stages of design, construction, to post completion administration. You will work collaboratively within the highways asset design team, supporting members of the team managers where required with administration tasks and completing small programmes of work. You will utilise your strong communication and project management skills, working closely with a range of both internal and external partners, stakeholders, and the client team, to ensure high-quality schemes are delivered both on time and budget.

Dorset Council offer a wide range of training and support, and are embracing a hybrid working culture that allows a mix of home and office working where possible.

About you

You will be educated to, or working towards, a minimum of HNC/HND level in a relevant discipline. With a keen interest in the highways industry, you will be actively engaged in developments within the sector and be enthusiastic about learning new techniques, technologies and innovations in highways maintenance.

You will possess excellent communication skills and be confident working collaboratively as part of a team, building positive relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders. A proactive problem-solver, you will be able to analyse challenges, identify practical solutions and contribute to the successful delivery of projects and maintenance activities.

You will also be proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel, with the ability to manage, analyse and present data effectively to support decision‑making and operational performance. Above all, you will be motivated, adaptable and committed to continuous professional development within a dynamic highways environment.

Further Information

This role will include a requirement to travel on an irregular basis and so a valid, current driving licence is considered essential.

Dorset Council uses generic job descriptions and person specifications and therefore the job title in the attachments on the right may differ from the job title in the advert. Further specific information may be provided in a context statement where relevant.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video.

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.