Head of Highways

Purpose of the Job
Develop, embed and champion strategic plans to achieve the Council's vision for a Fairer Future.
To ensure that services meet operational and functional requirements demanded by the Highways portfolio described; this will vary to reflect the service area and business / organisational demands.
The role provides portfolio advice to the Council, leading in the achievement of positive outcomes in all transactions undertaken on the Council's behalf. Act as professional lead for the service, ensuring that staff provide a high quality and effective service.
Principal Accountabilities
Responsibilities
Develop and continuously improve the service as a centre of excellence in proactively managing the Highways portfolio to meet the objectives of the Councils Fairer Futures programme. Develop policies for the service, creating underlying procedures and monitoring their implementation.
Manage and lead staff resources to optimise service delivery. Responsible for implementing the formal performance and development framework, while informally coaching others throughout the organisation in area of personal expertise. Ensures that teams are focused, motivated and inspired to achieve objectives and create a positive team culture, ensuring others follow the expected ways of working.
As part of the department's senior management team, develop plans to deliver the Councils objectives. Focus upon the long–term strategic management and contributes to the wider longer–term business strategy; using knowledge of the competitive environment to inform strategic direction and drive performance improvements.
Provide leadership, direction and advice in dealing with significant and often sensitive negotiations. Collaborate with external partners and apply negotiation strategies to set service priorities and ensure an integrated and coordinated multi–agency approach in delivering these services.
Manage and deliver required outcomes for a portfolio of programmes, and provide high quality advice and support on major projects undertaken by the Council, which may have significant and long–term impact across the Council's finances and resources.
As the Council's professional / functional lead for the Highways service, to be accountable for organisational compliance both internally and as required by an external audience. This may have an impact and influence across the Council, beyond departmental boundaries.
Responsible for designing, developing and delivering the overall contract management strategy for the Highways service, while also personally handling contracts of strategic importance, which support the transformation agenda.
Responsibility for developing and delivering an approach to strategic planning. Develop operational strategies and programmes for the service which address emerging challenges.
Responsibility for supporting the Council's vision by developing and delivering operational plans and outcomes for the service.
Manage and develop strategies to manage risk in relation to statutory compliance for the service.
Provide expertise and specialist advice to Members and Chief Officers on policy and strategy, and the implications on service delivery.
Develop and deliver the financial management and control systems. Manage service budgets and audit processes so that they align with organisational strategy.
Implement and champion the use of data management systems, procedures and auditable records to fully deliver departmental objectives and create efficiencies.Job Context
Organisational Objectives
This role holds the key responsibility for delivery of highway services including asset management, road safety, transport engineering and network development, and for delivery of the Council's Cleaner Greener Safer capital programme, set against the Councils 'fair future' agenda with regard to bringing the full benefits and opportunities to all the borough's residents.
Development and delivery of programmes of works or individual projects will involve development of innovative solutions and developing strategic plans to work with internal and external partners to deliver large capital programmes and projects which improve the Council's services.
The role has the responsibility for oversight of the multi – million pound highways contract and the continued development of the long term partnership in highways for the benefit of existing and future residents of the borough.
The role also has the responsibility for delivering large in house services in the areas set out above, and will be responsible for designing and delivering further services and service improvements in this area, engaging appropriately with all areas of the Council to meet the needs of existing and future residents.
This role (on behalf of the Director) will often lead (on behalf of the Council) working closely and collaboratively with other departments within the Council to achieve positive outcomes for the community. The role will also on behalf of the Council work with external stakeholders and national representative bodies in the areas of these services, and will ensure the needs of service users are taken into account in designing and delivering services.