Principal Advisor/Team Leader

Job Description

The roleAs a Principal Advisor and Team Leader (Vehicle Restraints) you will support the Group Manager and the Head of Technical Service for Highway Structures and Vehicle Restraints. You will have a team of direct reports to manage, motivate and develop to assistthem in achieving both business and personal objectives. You will provide specialist and complex technical advice and guidance to support the safe and efficient operation, maintenance and modernisation of the Strategic Road Network (SRN). You will contributeto Highways Englands asset management transformation / change programme as well as take a lead on best practice in development, design, construction, operation and management of our vehicle restraint assets.This is a great opportunity to develop your career within the technical management of Vehicle Restraints, working with industry leading experts who are dedicated to quality, safety and making a meaningful contribution to the users of the SRN.Highways England is open to flexible working.What youll be leading on

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of vehicle restraint specialists to ensure that they are engaged with and capable of delivering their team and personal objectives.
• Apply your authoritative vehicle restraint knowledge to provide technical leadership, leading the development and evaluation of standards and solutions, supporting the team in resolving technical issues, providing authoritative advice and guidance to internalstakeholders and representing the interests of National Highways on international committees and with external stakeholders.
• Responsibility for ensuring application of technical governance to vehicle restraints standards including advising / processing on the acceptability of departures from standards.
• Ensure technical solutions are appropriately documented, overseeing the effective management of vehicle restraint risks while undertaking the role of Technical Approval Authority.
• Development and management of vehicle restraint policy/guidance and the development of standards.
• Delivery and management of allocated research and technical project(s) to meet National Highways objectives.

To be successful

• You will need to be an experienced Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (or with substantial work experience relevant to the role), with a sound academic background
• Demonstrate the ability to lead a small team.
• You should have substantial experience relevant to the role, preferably covering one or more of the following areas: - research, policy, design, management / maintenance / testing / incident investigation of VRS assets. A strong technical and analyticalability is desired.
• You should have proven experience of leading the development of VRS standards (CD 377 and BS EN 1317) and providing solutions and provision of specialist advice using VRS standards, DMRB and MCHW.
• You should be able to demonstrate proven experience of the successful management and delivery of technically complex projects, including the establishment/application of technical governance procedures
• Have experience of managing senior stakeholder relationships to achieve desired outcomes.
• Have experience communicating technical information effectively to a range of audiences

A bit about usThe Safety, Engineering and Standards teams key priorities are to support world class operational delivery and technical advice for our road network, provide support services to lead, enable and innovate in the development of the Strategic Road Network andprovide expert advice on matters relating to health and safety.Why you should join usAt Highways England we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected and know that their wellbeing is valued. Were proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to do better and activelyencourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.So, if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it, then youll be a great fit for our organisation.Our vision is that everyone who uses our roads, as well as those who work for us, get home, safe and well. Our Home Safe and Well approach sets out our commitments and how our employees can contribute. Working for us, youll recognise the behaviours requiredto achieve our vision, and help create a fair and just culture for us all. You should be able to fully understand the hazards and risks that are involved in your work, and follow our procedures safely. We want you to feel able to raise health, safety and wellbeingconcerns with your colleagues, and to challenge unsafe conditions or behaviours wherever you see them. Were always seeking to improve our performance, and want you to be at the heart of that - helping us all get home safe and well.And finallyAnd finally, we reserve the right to close before the advertised closing date, so we recommend completing your application as soon as possible. About Us Why you should join usAt National Highways we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this. Were proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to dobetter and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.So, if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it - then youll be a great fit for our organisation.