Head of Highways Contracts

Job Title:
Head of Highways Contracts & Network

Starting Salary:
£84,421 progressing to £93,565 per annum - pay award pending

Hours:
37

Location:
Stevenage with hybrid working opportunities available

Contract Type:
Permanent

Directorate:
Growth & Environment

About The Team
As soon as people go out their front door to go to the shops, visit a friend, have something delivered or travel to work they all rely on the highway service. As a consequence, our elected members, residents and customers are at the centre of everything we do.

The postholder leads a large and successful team which affects all the work of the Highways Service. The team has four main functions including:

• Highways Network Management – Delivering the authorities responsibilities and duties under the Traffic Management Act, New Roads and Streetworks Act, enforcement under the Highways Act and Road Traffic Regulations Act.
• Contract Management and Procurement- Managing the full suite of our Highway Contracts with an annual throughput of circa £100million.
• Service Development – Working across the service identifying opportunities for innovation and continual service evolution, including in technology, sustainability, social value and efficiency.
• Customer Engagement – Leading on the engagement with all our customers and members, setting service standards and delivering positive interactions.

The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people and further embedded resource provided by our professional services contract with Jacobs.

This role is fundamental to the success of the Highways Service, and the postholder will need to develop positive relationships across numerous internal teams, with Members, and with our partners, Jacobs and Ringway.

As a Head of Service, the postholder reports to the Director Highways and Strategic Operations and will be part of the Senior Management Board, responsible for the effective leadership, management and performance of the service.

Required at an exciting time where we have recently procured our two main highway contracts, you will play a significant role in shaping the future Highway and Transport services in Hertfordshire, especially the areas you are responsible for. You will be the nominated Service Manager within our main contracts and will be accountable for the contract and performance management of the suite of highway contracts, directing provider resource to ensure value for money across the circa £100million per annum highway service.

The successful candidate will also fulfil the role of the council's Traffic Manager, acting independently to ensure we fulfil our responsibilities under the Traffic Management Act 2004, in particular demonstrating parity amongst all works promoters.

About The Role

• Exercise positive, creative leadership to the Highways Service, as part of the Highways Senior Management Board, contributing to the governance of services procured by contract or delivered through partnerships with other public bodies.
• Take the leading role in evolving and reviewing the Service and in managing future transformation.
• You will support, develop, train and motivate four individuals in your direct line management, and oversee the work of over 60 people with a diverse range of skills working in different disciplines.
• As Service Manager ensure all works and services procured through the contracts and deployment of funding deliver service outcomes, demonstrating due diligence, transparency and value for money, whilst identifying, promoting and delivering savings.
• Develop, implement and maintain financial controls across all highways' contracts. Ensure financial management and payment disciplines are maintained for works, services and staff under the post-holder's direct and indirect line management control
• Translate policies, strategies and service levels into services and programmes of work, and secure their delivery to meet HCC objectives, whilst providing value for money and customer service.
• Keep contracts for works, services and supplies under review and determine the selection of contractors within framework arrangements. Lead the management and amendment of existing contracts and the development, testing and procurement of replacement contracts as necessary. Lead for Hertfordshire in joint contracting arrangements with other bodies including the Eastern Highways Alliance.
• Keep policies, service levels and technical standards under review so that they comply with the law. Recommend service levels to Members which will meet HCC objectives, as far as resources allow, and having regard to codes of practice and developing best practice

About You
Essential

• Significant demonstratable experience in highways including a thorough understanding of relevant legislation including (but not limited to) the Highways Act, New Roads and Streetworks Act, Traffic Management Act and Road Traffic Regulations Act.
• Comprehensive understanding of current local and national highways and transport issues and associated legislation and practice and the roles and responsibilities of local authorities.
• Demonstrable personnel management and leadership skills, including leading specialist technical functions, multi-disciplinary and collaborative teams and operational units.
• Thorough understanding of contract procurement and management as well as project management processes, including the means to achieve effective and advantageous terms for HCC.
• Familiarity with and proven competence for operating within a political environment.
• Highly developed financial / budget management skills.
• Excellent communications skills, demonstrable in a variety of media and a range of audiences

Desirable

• Recognised degree-level qualification in Highways, Transportation or related discipline or a relevant equivalent, membership of a recognised and relevant professional body

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is within the Organisational Leadership, level 16 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Organisational Leadership

To hear more about this opportunity please contact for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date
: Week commencing 8th December 2025

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.