Head of Highways and Sustainable Transport Policy

What You'll Be Doing

About the role

As the Head of Highways, you will lead one of Southwark's most high-impact and high-profile service areas. Reporting to the Service Director, you'll take responsibility for the strategic transformation of our highways and public realm, ensuring our infrastructure supports climate action, health equity, and inclusive access.

You'll oversee a significant in-house service, a multi-million-pound highways contract, and a range of capital programmes focused on sustainable mobility, low-carbon transport, and public realm innovation. Whether it's delivering Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, embedding digital tools, or driving behaviour change, you'll have the autonomy and responsibility to impact the future of Southwark's streets.

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of our organisation. You'll work closely with elected Members, Chief Officers, external partners, and national agencies, bringing strategic thinking, financial acumen, and people leadership. This role is key to ensuring a co-production approach while embedding social value into how we work, with a focus on putting resident needs at the forefront of our highways and transport decisions.

Benefits and more information:

Working for Southwark Council

Salary Up to £105,096

This post attracts an additional benefit to the value of £3,503 PA for staff which can be used for benefits or taken as cash.

What We're Looking For

About you

We're looking for a strategic and experienced leader who combines technical credibility with emotional intelligence, political awareness, and a commitment to public service.
To be considered for the role you will be able to evidence:

• A strong background in highways, transport planning, or urban infrastructure, with a track record of leading complex projects, contracts and teams in a political or public sector environment.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, performance management, budget oversight, and delivering transformational programmes that support climate action and active travel.
• Deep understanding of the legislative, environmental and operational context of local government highways work, including contract management, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive design.
• Exceptional people leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, empower and develop high-performing multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build consensus across internal teams, residents, partners, and political stakeholders.

This is a great opportunity to lead a service that directly impacts how people experience their everyday environment, making a lasting impact in one of London's most ambitious boroughs.

Why Southwark?

About us

Southwark is a vibrant, diverse, and growing borough at the heart of London. As a council, we're ambitious, progressive, and committed to improving the lives of our residents. At the core of our mission is Southwark 2030, a bold vision for the future, which has is guided by feedback from our residents and communities. This includes creating a greener borough, improving air quality, tackling the climate emergency, and making streets safer more inclusive and accessible for all.

The Environment, Sustainability and Leisure department play a crucial role in delivering our vision. Our 'Streets for People' strategy is already transforming how people move around Southwark, prioritising walking, cycling, clean transport and public spaces.