Assistant Highways Manager

Job Title: Assistant Highways Manager
Starting Salary: £42,839 progressing to £47,181 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: Hemel Hempstead
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Growth & Environment

About the team

You’ll be joining Hertfordshire County Council’s dedicated Highways team—a skilled and forward‑thinking group committed to maintaining and improving one of the county’s most important assets: its local road network. The team includes experts in engineering, project delivery, asset management, transport planning, and community liaison, all working together to provide a safe, reliable, and sustainable highway service.

Within this wider structure, the team plays a unique role in bridging technical delivery with community priorities. Working closely with Members, they help turn local aspirations into meaningful outcomes—from resurfacing and accessibility improvements to traffic calming and environmental enhancements. The culture is collaborative, supportive, and solutions‑focused, with a strong emphasis on quality, continuous improvement, and delivering real benefits to the residents of Hertfordshire.

You’ll be joining colleagues who value professionalism, communication, innovation, and partnership working—ensuring every scheme delivered is safe, cost‑effective, and community‑centred.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated highways professional to join Hertfordshire County Council as an Assistant Highway Manager (AHM). This is a key position within our Highways service, supporting elected Members in the delivery of community‑focused infrastructure improvements through the Highway Locality Budget (HLB).

As an AHM, you will lead the end‑to‑end delivery of local highway schemes—from early feasibility and design advice through to procurement, construction oversight, and completion. You’ll offer expert technical guidance to councillors, helping them shape priorities and make informed decisions aligned with council policy, financial governance, and regulatory frameworks.

Working in a hybrid environment based out of Stevenage, you’ll collaborate with internal specialists, contractors, community groups, and elected Members to deliver projects that have a direct, visible impact on daily life across Hertfordshire.

About you

Essential Criteria

• Substantial experience delivering highways, civil engineering, or public realm projects.
• Strong project management skills, from feasibility through to delivery.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical issues to non‑technical audiences.
• Experience managing budgets and ensuring compliance with financial, procurement, and contract requirements.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence decisions.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams and managing contractors.
• Full UK driving licence with regular access to a car.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working with elected Members or in a political/public sector environment.
• Understanding of the Highway Locality Budget or similar community‑funding models.
• Knowledge of Hertfordshire’s transport network or local community infrastructure needs.
• Professional membership (CIHT, ICE, IHE) or working towards chartership.
• Experience contributing to policy development or service improvements.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Technical Services, level TEC11 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles: Technical services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact val.weaver@hertfordshire.gov.uk or paul.gellard@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: 23rd & 24th February 2026

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.