Principal Engineer (Materials & Capital Programme)

We are the third largest 'shire' authority in the country with a large highways network featuring diverse characteristics and conditions. We need a highly experienced engineer with a plethora of knowledge in highway materials to join us and provide innovative solutions to any challenges we are facing on our network. You will be focusing on longevity, looking at various new materials on the market and undertaking extensive research to ensure we find the best cost-effective and carbon neutral solutions. 

In 2022, all of our hard work paid off when we won the CIHT Carbon Award for our Decarbonisation Strategy, which proves how successful and inventive our Highways Asset Management Service is. As our new Principal Materials Engineer, you will be responsible for delivering that strategy, allowing us to continue our success in 2023 and beyond.

What we are looking for…

Challenge – you will be technically minded and rise to some of the biggest challenges within the industry, coming up with last resort solutions when all previous measures have failed – we also want you to be proactive in your approach, working swiftly to keep any and all disruptions on our roads to a minimum – every highway network and road is unique, with different requirements and different engineering challenges, you will need to get creative with the resources available all whilst ensuring we achieve value for money – utilising your vast knowledge of different products, you will also provide specialist advice and support to a range of teams and contractors, communicating effectively what is required – this will ultimately ensure that we deliver upon the priorities detailed in the Transport Asset Management Plan

Integrity & Knowledge – you'll be a specialist in the world of highway materials, knowing what works best and can withstand the test of time – we want you to share your knowledge with our team, remaining open to new processes and ways of working – you will be always eager and willing to learn, continuing to broaden your horizons by monitoring nationwide solutions and keeping up to date with any new products available on the market – we want you to be engaging when liaising with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring all developments and situations are communicated successfully. You will also represent Lancashire on a number of national Asset Management and Materials groups.

Critical Thinking – you will be able to think on your feet dealing with ever changing situations and being reactive to urgent issues – we want you to design Complex Engineering Difficulty Projects, using your attention to detail and analytical skills to provide solutions so we can maximise the life of the carriageways – you will get to grips with new products, developing innovative ways of utilising our resources to get the most out of our products – this is a great opportunity to enhance your career as an engineer and make a meaningful contribution to our highways networks for now and the future 

Application Supporting Statement

Please note that when completing your supporting statement, it's important that you have specifically demonstrated and evidenced that you meet each essential criteria from the person specification in line with the role responsibilities as detailed above. If you do not meet the criteria, but feel you possess relevant qualities, please demonstrate within your supporting statement.

Essential Car User

This is an essential car user post; you will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use and have a current and clean driving licence. In certain circumstances consideration may be given to applicants who, as a consequence of a disability, are unable to drive. 

Why join us:

Benefits:

• There's fabulous flexibility and the opportunity to create the work life balance you will love with our hybrid working model.
• We offer up to 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays, 2 additional days at Christmas and then an additional 20 days that can be purchased. 
• We have benefit packages which has everything from discounted white goods to a hybrid car lease scheme, long service awards, Medicash, support groups, cycle to work schemes, free eye tests plus much more.
• Best of all we have a generous public sector pension (16.3% employer contributions) with shared AVC's that provides Income Tax relief and National Insurance (NICs) savings using a salary sacrifice arrangement and providing a flexible pension saving opportunities. 
• We also have a range of personal/professional qualifications which will be available to you and career progression available for the right person.

Development: You will receive support and development along the journey – there will be time for supportive reflection and supervision for yourself, opportunities for personal/professional qualifications, multidisciplinary initiatives, mentoring, but most of all the opportunity to make a difference, feel valued and achieve the job satisfaction you've always wanted.

Inclusivity: LCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and faiths, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please feel free to contact us for an initial informal and confidential chat contact Rebecca Makinson (Highways Asset Principal)on 01772 538557 rebecca.makinson@lancashire.gov.uk  or apply directly at [web link for application]

Closing Date: 30 June 2024                                      Interviews: TBC

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.