Strategic Lead Highways Maintenance Streetworks & Inspection

About

The Role Shape the Future of Neighbourhood Services in Manchester Manchester is a city that is growing, changing and investing in its communities. We are looking for an exceptional strategic leader to take ownership of one of the Council's most visible and important operational services, leading the transformation and delivery of highways maintenance, operational teams street works and inspection services across our neighbourhoods.

This is more than a service leadership role. It is an opportunity to redesign and modernise the way we manage, maintain and protect Manchester's highway network, ensuring our services are responsive, efficient and focused on the needs of local communities. The role reports directly to the Head of Highways Operations and will provide strategic leadership across highways maintenance, street works and inspection functions.

The Opportunity We are seeking a leader who will take full ownership and accountability for:
Redesigning and improving front-line highways services to meet the changing needs of Manchester's neighbourhoods. Driving service performance, innovation and continuous improvement across highways maintenance operational teams, inspection and street works operations. Delivering safe, efficient and cost-effective services that improve the experience of residents, businesses and road users. Building a high-performing culture that places people, safety and customer outcomes at the heart of everything we do.

Leading the development and implementation of long-term service strategies and improvement programmes. Ensuring services are aligned to neighbourhood priorities and contribute directly to the Council's wider ambitions for place, connectivity and community resilience.
What You'll Be Responsible For As Strategic Lead, you will have significant leadership and accountability for:
Operational performance and service delivery. Revenue and capital budgets. Workforce leadership and organisational development. Highway maintenance operations delivered through the Direct Labour Organisation. Streetworks coordination, compliance and enforcement. Statutory highway inspection functions. Health, safety and regulatory compliance. Service transformation and business improvement programmes. Stakeholder engagement with elected members, residents, utility companies, contractors and partner organisations. You will be expected to challenge existing ways of working, identify opportunities for service redesign and deliver sustainable improvements that enhance neighbourhood outcomes while ensuring value for money and operational excellence.

About the Candidate About You You will be an experienced operational leader with a track record of delivering change in complex, high-profile service environments. You will bring:
Strong leadership experience within highways, infrastructure, engineering, construction or a comparable operational setting. A proven ability to lead large-scale service transformation, performance improvement and organisational change.

Experience of managing substantial budgets, resources and operational teams. A strong commitment to health and safety leadership within high-risk operational environments. Excellent partnership, influencing and stakeholder management skills. The credibility and confidence to work effectively with senior leaders, elected members, regulatory bodies and external partners. Most importantly, you will demonstrate a passion for delivering better outcomes for neighbourhoods and communities, using your leadership to create services that are responsive, trusted and fit for the future.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to lead services that make a visible difference every day. You will play a central role in shaping how…