Job Description:

Project Manager - Highways Capital Projects

We're working with our client to appoint a Project Manager into their Highways Division, supporting the delivery of a varied programme of highways capital schemes. This is a fantastic opportunity for a well-rounded highways/transport project professional who enjoys taking projects from inception through consultation and early design, while also supporting senior colleagues on larger, high-profile programmes.

The Role

You'll manage the early stages of highways capital projects, including feasibility, stakeholder engagement, consultation, preliminary / outline design and securing the necessary approvals. You'll also contribute to larger schemes alongside the Principal Project Manager, producing high-quality reports and briefings for senior officers and elected members.

Key Responsibilities

• Project manage highways capital projects from feasibility through community engagement and outline design.
• Support the Principal Project Manager on larger projects with the same early-phase activity.
• Provide expert advice on community engagement and street design to senior stakeholders.
• Draft and present complex documentation including committee reports, briefings, funding bids, project briefs and tender documentation.
• Manage a portfolio of schemes with a total value of up to £1m, ensuring spend, performance and quality are controlled and evidenced.
• Manage capital funding applications and prepare detailed financial returns for internal and external funding bodies.
• Lead and coordinate consultants and contractors delivering technical inputs, design work and supporting material.
• Drive continuous improvement in consultation activity, supporting the council's wider smarter travel agenda.
• Represent the council with external agencies, community groups and stakeholders, including occasional out-of-hours attendance at meetings / consultation events.

What We're Looking For

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Transport or Project Management - or significant relevant experience in lieu.
• Strong knowledge of local authority procedures and funding structures (or proven experience operating in a similar public-sector delivery environment).
• Demonstrable experience delivering complex capital projects to time, cost and quality.
• Solid financial skills: estimating, budgeting, monitoring expenditure, cash flow awareness and accurate reporting.
• Background in highways or transport, with experience managing consultants/contractors through design development.
• Proven success leading community engagement and consultation as part of project delivery.
• Confident communicator, comfortable explaining technical issues to the public, senior officers, members, and delivery teams.
• Well organised, able to manage a varied workload and steer your own programme with minimal supervision.
• Strong report-writing and IT skills (able to produce clear, structured, decision-ready documents).

Why Apply?

• Visible portfolio of highways projects with genuine community impact
• Autonomy to run your own programme, with support on larger schemes
• Excellent stakeholder exposure across senior leadership and elected members