Senior Operations Manager – Highways Local Authority

• Senior Operations Manager – Highways Local Authority
• Location: West Yorkshire (District-Based, Multi-Site)
• Salary: £60k - £75k Target , Exceptional Package and Pension
• Contract: Permanent | Full-Time
• Sector: Highways, Local Authority, Environmental Services, Public Realm, Civil Engineering, Utilities, and Infrastructure Operations

A leading UK public-sector organisation is seeking an experienced Highways Senior Operations Manager to lead large, high-profile frontline highway services across a major district. This is a senior operational leadership role with visibility at corporate, community and political levels—ideal for a proven leader in highways, civils, construction operations, environmental services, or large-scale public realm delivery.

The role oversees a complex portfolio including:

Highway maintenance, Public Rights of Way, Land drainage, Gully maintenance, Winter services, weather response, Operational depots, Fleet & plant with Multi-million-pound assets and budgets

You'll lead c100+ skilled and semi-skilled frontline staff, manage a multi-functional operational depot, and take responsibility for statutory services that keep the district's network safe, open, and resilient.

Key Responsibilities – Senior Operations Manager, Highways – Local Authority

• Lead and manage diverse multi-skilled frontline teams delivering district-wide highway, drainage, and winter maintenance operations.
• Oversee planned, reactive, and emergency works, ensuring safe and efficient operation.s
• Act as Transport Manager under the organisation's Operator's Licence, managing fleet compliance and high-risk operational environments
• Manage capital and revenue delivery through internal teams and contractors
• Ensure full compliance with CDM, Health & Safety legislation and safe systems of work
• Maintain high-profile public-facing services, respond to weather events and highway emergencies
• Develop and manage multi-million-pound operational budgets, assets, and equipment
• Build strong working relationships with stakeholders, elected members, trade unions ns, and contractors
• Drive service improvement, innovation, and workforce development

Key Requirements– Senior Operations Manager, Highways

• Significant senior operational management experience in highways, civil engineering, environmental services, construction, utilities, or large-scale public realm operations
• Strong leadership of large, dispersed frontline teams and unionised workforces
• In-depth understanding of H&S, CDM, risk, compliance, and management of high-risk operational sites
• Proven experience managing complex operational budgets, plant, vehicles, and large-scale assets
• Experience coordinating contractors and delivering large capital/revenue programmes
• Strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to lead in a politically aware environment
• Full driving licence
• Degree in Civil Engineering (or extensive equivalent experience)
• IOSH Managing Safely & to obtain CPC Transport Manager if required
• Experience in Highways in Utilities (Water/Gas/Power/Fibre) and Civil Engineering / Highways Contractors encouraged

Why This Role? Senior Operations Manager, Highways

• Lead one of the region's most high-profile, essential, and visible public services.
• Autonomy to shape service direction, improvement, and operational strategy
• Significant influence across regeneration, infrastructure, and environmental projects
• Manage a major operational team with meaningful community impact
• Senior leadership presence with political, community and multi-agency visibility

All enquiries and applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Contact or

Public Sector / Local Authorities

Highway Operations, Road Maintenance, Winter Services, PROW, Fleet Management, Environmental Services, Highway Inspector, Highway Asset Management

Industry: Government Administration, Civil Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure, Transport / Logistics

Highway Operations, Environmental Services, Transport, Public Works

Job Functions:

Operations / Maintenance

Engineering / Technical Services

Fleet / Transport Management

Civil / Highway Engineering

You are likely to be a Highway Operations Manager, Senior Highway Engineer, Winter Services Manager, Highways Asset Manager, Senior Civil Engineer – Roads.

Principal Consultant – Highways, Construction Manager – Highway Schemes