Senior Drainage Advisor

Job Description

Your new roleAs a Senior Drainage Engineer in our Safety, Engineering and Standards Directorate you will have a great opportunity to the work in our team of drainage and water specialists, providing technical direction and assurance for all highways drainage infrastructureon the Strategic Road Network. You will be responsible for maintaining and developing drainage policy, standards and best practice, as well as providing technical advice to those parts of the organisation responsible for delivery.You will develop collaborativerelationships with internal colleagues and external stakeholders and this will require occasional travel on a national basis. Although you will not have any direct reports you will have the opportunity to mentor colleagues and manage supplier resources andcontracts, including tasks on our Innovation Programme.What youll be leading onMaintain and update the relevant drainage sections of the Design Manual for Roads & Bridges (DMRB) and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW). Support the review of departures so we can ensure innovative, non-compliant, drainage solutionsare appropriately assessed.

• Act as a source of specialist expertise in drainage and water management; providing advice and guidance to National Highways operational delivery colleagues and suppliers. Actively engage with these stakeholders to understand their business needs and identifykey areas for improvement and share best practice.
• You will have the opportunity to fully engage in value management across the entire network. This involves working in partnership with regional Drainage Liaison Engineers and Flood Champions to review and assure all aspects of new and replacement highwaydrainage solutions.
• Represent National Highways on external technical committees, steering groups and at seminars and workshops, to contribute to the development of external standards, ensuring that National Highways views are appropriately represented.
• Develop business cases, project plans and supporting project documentation, inclusive of effective risk and issue management.Commission and manage consultancy support as appropriate, to ensure delivery of project objectives to time and cost.

To be successful

• Specialist drainage and water engineering expertise, you will have a relevant engineering or environmental qualification (eg BEng, BSc, BA, HND/HNC Foundation Degree) and membership of a relevant professional institute (eg IHE, CIWEM, ICE or CIHT) at eitherchartered or near chartered status (with clear plan in place to gain accreditation). Experience of using your specialist knowledge to develop information and provide guidance.

• Experience of resolving complex technical problems, analysing information to develop appropriate solutions to manage risks and issues.
• Evidence of managing internal and external stakeholder relationships to achieve desired outcomes, taking the lead when needed to achieve consensus when views / perspectives may differ.
• The ability to communicate effectively and present results, including excellent written skills with the ability to translate complex technical subject matter into clear and understandable formats.
• Experience of working in a programme and project environment to develop projects and manage their delivery to time, cost and quality requirements.

A bit about usThis is a great opportunity to lead our Drainage Team and play a key role in ensuring that this key asset meets the needs of road users across the entire strategic road network.Were a growing, influential team helping to drive the most ambitious roads investment programme our country has ever seen. Youll have opportunities to lead new research and innovation as we develop drainage policy and standards, assure capital programmesand provide best technical practice advice. Building in every opportunity to ensure that our customers and road workers get home safe and well every day while travelling or working on our road network.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.