Assistant Head of Highways Delivery

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About the role

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The Highways team provides statutory services that all residents of North Northamptonshire use. The team is responsible for providing a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively, providing strategic direction for the future development of highways assets, public transport, active travel and all road users, being mindful of budget constraints, legislation and the sustainability agenda.

The postholder will be responsible for meeting the statutory duties and responsibilities of the Council related to the Highways Act, Traffic Management Act and the New Roads and Street Works Act. They will manage three teams; Highways Network Management, Highways Searches, Investigation and Regulation and Highway Improvement and Community Liaison.

The Highways Network Management team are responsible for controlling works on and the use of the highway network. The Highways Searches, Investigation and Regulation team manage highway enforcement, regulation, upkeep of the statutory Definitive Map and highway records plus the management of Highway Orders such as public rights of way diversions and Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders. The Highway Improvement and Community Liaison team aims to builds effective relationships with customers and Councillors by providing high quality highway advice to enquiries and delivery of small-scale improvement works. They also process and respond to highway insurance claims made against the Council.

The postholder manages the conflicting demands of highways users such as vehicular traffic, pedestrians, public transport, cyclists, etc and must consider the need to maintain and improve the network, incorporate new developments, reduce road casualties and maintain and improve public utility apparatus within the highway.

As part of the Highways senior management team, they also have input to the management of the highway maintenance contract, implementation of highway strategies and policies as well as reviewing any proposed Departures from Standard on highway schemes and signing of delegated decision reports in relation to Traffic Regulation Orders.

For further information or to discuss the post please contact Philip Beecroft, Head of Highways Delivery at philip.beecroft@northnorthants.gov.uk

What will you be doing?

Carry out the statutory role of Traffic Manager to meet the requirements of the Traffic Management Act within North Northamptonshire. This will also include working with the Department for Transport as well as neighbouring authorities on cross boundary and regional network management issues. As Traffic Manager you will also review Traffic Regulation Orders where consultation has not determined a conclusive outcome and requires a delegated decision to be made to uphold or override objections.

Develop, implement and keep under review the North Northamptonshire Network Management Plan and other relevant plans, strategies and procedures for the management of access to the highway network by statutory undertakers and developers.

Direct, monitor and review the provision of statutory regulatory services related to the co-ordination of street works and the enforcement of the New Roads and Street Works Act and Traffic Management Act to minimise disruption to the travelling public and in accordance with the strategic objectives of the Council.

Direct the work related to Highway Regulations to ensure all activity on the highway is correctly licenced by issuing Traffic Regulation Orders, Notices, Permits and Licences. This also includes the management of applications for vehicle crossings to ensure they are installed safely and to the correct standard of construction. Ensure any necessary highways enforcement action is taken against any organisations or individuals under the duties imposed on the Council by the various highway legislation currently in force.

Contribute to the overall management of the highways maintenance term service contract as required as part of the Highways Management Team.

Direct, monitor and review the land searches and investigations work of the team to protect the legal integrity of the Definitive Map and Statement of Rights of Way to ensure that the authority meets its statutory obligations in this area of work.

Develop and review the Highway Register and associated datasets in accordance with the Highways Act 1980 in order that the Council and third-party organisations can carry out their statutory duties and deliver the highways aspects of Local Land Charge searches in relation to land and property sales and purchases.

Manage the Highway Improvement and Community Liaison Team's work with stakeholders and identification of required works to be delivered through the highway maintenance contractor through these interactions and to manage public contact with the service through the public reporting system to manage responses, press enquiries, Freedom of Information requests and insurance claims.

Manage the overall team budget, ensuring that systems are in place to manage costs and the effective recovery of income from third parties using the service.

Support the management team in Highways and Transport, ensuring issues are addressed in an integrated 'one team' approach and to deputise for the Head of Highways Delivery as appropriate.

About you

You will be an experienced highway engineer with specific knowledge of highway network management issues and the associated legislation such as New Roads and Street Works Act, Highways Act, Traffic Management Act etc; highways maintenance and design techniques; network coordination solutions as well as the regulation, licencing and Definitive Map and highway searches and records functions.

Working with Councillors, Parish and Town Councils will be part of your experience to facilitate working with them via the Community Liaison team to develop and deliver local improvement schemes.

Your management skills will enable you to develop services in this area along with excellent budget control and general financial management skills.

You will also possess a customer focussed outlook to meet the needs and demands of the residents of North Northamptonshire as well as experience of dealing with Councillors and external organisations at a high level.

Experienced in preparing and presenting reports on all aspects of the service to Councillors, senior officers and in public meetings.

Our benefits

We offer:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

About us

We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.

Our priorities are:

• helping people live active fulfilled lives
• caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
• enabling a thriving and successful economy
• leading on a green and sustainable environment
• ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
• providing modern public services

Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.

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