Technical Lead – Highways Control (S.278 / S.38)

Overview

In this contract role, you will provide technical leadership and operational oversight of the Highway Control function to ensure compliant, maintainable highwayWorks. You’ll shape service delivery, manage a high‑performing team, and drive standards across S278/S38 schemes. You’ll lead technical approvals, govern agreements, and engage with planning authorities and stakeholders to deliver quality highway outcomes. This is a strategic, impact‑driven position in a public‑sector highway authority context.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and management for the Highways Control team to meet service objectives
• Translate corporate priorities into operational delivery plans
• Act as senior professional lead on highways development matters
• Oversee service delivery improvements and efficiencies
• Deputise for the Highways Development Management & Control Manager as required
• Line-manage staff, recruit, supervise, and develop professionals
• Foster a high‑performance culture aligned with values; support workforce resilience
• Lead the technical approval process for highway works under S278 and S38
• Maintain and develop the Council’s Technical Standards and Guidance
• Oversee instruction of legal services on S278 and S38 agreements, including technical inputs
• Ensure governance, records, and audit trails for highway agreements
• Provide technical input to reports and senior management briefings
• Manage end-to-end S278/S38 processes for project delivery
• Offer expert technical advice on major development proposals to authorities, developers and internal teams
• Represent the Highway Authority at meetings and public inquiries
• Manage relationships with elected Members and senior developers
• Oversee budgeted resources; monitor performance; drive improvement, innovation and digital transformation

Key requirements

• Experience with Section 278 and Section 38 agreements
• Strong background in highways development control
• Technical leadership and people management skills
• Expert knowledge of national and local highway standards and regulations
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Proficiency in managing budgets and resources
• Commitment to public accountability and ethical governance

• leadership
• stakeholder management
• communication
• Section 278 and Section 38 knowledge
• highways standards and regulations
• budget and resource management

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