Overview
We’re looking for an experienced, confident and forward-thinking Highways Asset Manager to lead the effective management of Buckinghamshire Council’s highway infrastructure across a wide range of asset groups. This is a senior role with strategic and operational responsibility for ensuring our highway assets are safe, resilient, well‑managed and sustainably maintained. You will play a pivotal part in shaping long‑term asset management strategies, managing substantial capital and revenue budgets, and ensuring the network continues to support communities, businesses and road users across the county. You’ll lead a dedicated professional team, influence investment decisions, and work at the heart of a public‑sector environment where technical credibility, strategic thinking and strong leadership are essential.
As Highways Asset Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and professional direction for the council’s highways asset management function.
Responsibilities
- Leading and developing a multi-disciplinary professional team, setting clear direction, managing performance and supporting continuous development.
- Developing, maintaining and delivering comprehensive highways asset management plans, including lifecycle planning, inventory and condition data, and short‑ and medium‑term programmes.
- Shaping long‑term strategies, policies and procedures that align with council objectives and national best practice.
- Managing and influencing significant capital and revenue budgets (up to £75m), ensuring value for money and robust financial planning.
- Developing capital maintenance programmes and supporting Medium Term Financial Plan bids, including scenario testing and whole‑life cost modelling.
- Overseeing devolution arrangements, income generation activities (including highway advertisements), and performance monitoring.
- Ensuring full compliance with legislation, standards and health & safety requirements.
- Acting as a senior technical representative for the council, engaging with members, senior officers, government departments (including DfT), partners and the public.
- Driving innovation, continuous improvement and the adoption of best practice in asset management.
This role reports to the Head of Infrastructure and Capital Schemes and manages a team of professionals, with wider influence across commissioned service providers.
Qualifications
You will be a highly experienced highways asset management professional with strong leadership credentials and confidence to operate at senior level within a political and public‑facing environment.
- Significant experience leading a professional or technical service in a large organisation, ideally within local government or a similar public‑sector environment.
- Extensive knowledge of highways asset management, including legislation, policy, asset data, lifecycle planning and investment prioritisation.
- A proven track record of managing substantial budgets, delivering value for money and influencing investment decisions.
- Strong strategic planning and service delivery experience, including policy development and long‑term programme planning.
- Experience of leading and motivating multi‑disciplinary teams, building capability, and fostering a collaborative culture.
- Credibility and confidence to work effectively in a political environment, engaging with elected members, senior stakeholders and partners.
- Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly.
- An innovative, solutions‑focused mindset, with the resilience and drive to lead change and continuous improvement.
You will be educated to degree level (or equivalent experience), ideally hold a relevant professional qualification, and be a member of a recognised professional institution (e.g. IHE, CIHT, ICE), with Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status.
Benefits and Culture
We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are — Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy. By joining Buckinghamshire Council you can expect:
- a fair and inclusive culture
- the chance to really make a difference to those around you
- health and well‑being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
- a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
- ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
- opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events
Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work‑life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various cafés and restaurants, shops and auto‑enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.
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