Position: Project Engineer (Senior Interim)/ Senior Highways Development Engineer
Location: County Hall, DE4 3AG
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Duration: 5+ Months (Temporary contract)
Working Hours: 37 hours per week – 09:00 till 17:00
Pay Rate: PAYE: £20.66 per hour
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide highways and transport advice on planning applications, pre-application enquiries, and statutory consultations on behalf of the Highway Authority
- Assess development proposals and provide recommendations on highway impacts, mitigation measures, developer contributions, and transport requirements
- Represent the Highway Authority at planning committees, appeals, hearings, stakeholder meetings, and site visits
- Prepare technical reports, evidence, and recommendations for senior officers, elected members, and planning authorities
- Lead negotiations with developers, consultants, Local Authorities, and other stakeholders
- Provide specialist highways advice on development management, transport policies, and Local Plan proposals
- Manage and support delivery of highways development projects and service improvement initiatives
- Mentor and support junior staff, contributing to team development and performance improvement
- Build effective working relationships with internal teams, external partners, and members of the public
- Ensure compliance with health and safety, equality, data protection, customer care, and risk management policies
Person Specification:
Experience:
- Significant experience in highways development control, transport planning, or highway improvement schemes
- Experience assessing planning applications and providing Highway Authority responses
- Experience representing a Highway Authority in planning consultations, appeals, or hearings
- Experience preparing technical reports and presenting information to senior stakeholders
- Experience managing projects and supporting or mentoring staff
Skills and Knowledge:
- Strong knowledge of highways engineering principles and development management processes
- Ability to prepare complex technical reports and provide sound engineering advice
- Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Ability to develop practical solutions to technical and operational challenges
- Knowledge of Local Authority planning processes and decision-making procedures
Personal Effectiveness:
- Able to deliver high-quality technical solutions within statutory timescales
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Ability to influence and build effective working relationships
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams
- Flexible approach with willingness to attend meetings, site visits, and occasional out-of-hours activities
Qualifications:
- Higher technical engineering qualification or equivalent professional experience
- Membership of a relevant professional engineering institution desirable
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) desirable
- Project management qualification such as PRINCE2 desirable
Job Reference: 5302277
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 5 months
Pay: £20.66 per hour
Experience:
- highways development control: 2 years (required)
- transportation planning: 2 years (required)
- highway improvement schemes: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- PRINCE2 Certification (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
