Posted on December 11th, 2025
- Senior Operations Manager - Highways Local Authority
- Location: West Yorkshire (District-Based, Multi-Site)
- Salary: £60k - £75k Target , Exceptional Package and Pension
- Contract: Permanent | Full-Time
- Sector: Highways, Local Authority, Environmental Services, Public Realm, Civil Engineering, Utilities, and Infrastructure Operations
A leading UK public-sector organisation is seeking an experienced Highways Senior Operations Manager to lead large, high-profile frontline highway services across a major district. This is a senior operational leadership role with visibility at corporate, community and political levels-ideal for a proven leader in highways, civils, construction operations, environmental services, or large-scale public realm delivery.
The role oversees a complex portfolio including:
Highway maintenance, Public Rights of Way, Land drainage, Gully maintenance, Winter services, weather response, Operational depots, Fleet & plant with Multi-million-pound assets and budgets
You'll lead c100+ skilled and semi-skilled frontline staff, manage a multi-functional operational depot, and take responsibility for statutory services that keep the district's network safe, open, and resilient.
Key Responsibilities - Senior Operations Manager, Highways - Local Authority
- Lead and manage diverse multi-skilled frontline teams delivering district-wide highway, drainage, and winter maintenance operations.
- Oversee planned, reactive, and emergency works, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
- Act as Transport Manager under the organisation's Operator's Licence, managing fleet compliance and high-risk operational environments
- Manage capital and revenue delivery through internal teams and contractors
- Ensure full compliance with CDM, Health & Safety legislation and safe systems of work
- Maintain high-profile public-facing services, respond to weather events and highway emergencies
- Develop and manage multi-million-pound operational budgets, assets, and equipment
- Build strong working relationships with stakeholders, elected members, trade unions ns, and contractors
- Drive service improvement, innovation, and workforce development
Key Requirements- Senior Operations Manager, Highways
- Significant senior operational management experience in highways, civil engineering, environmental services, construction, utilities, or large-scale public realm operations
- Strong leadership of large, dispersed frontline teams and unionised workforces
- In-depth understanding of H&S, CDM, risk, compliance, and management of high-risk operational sites
- Proven experience managing complex operational budgets, plant, vehicles, and large-scale assets
- Experience coordinating contractors and delivering large capital/revenue programmes
- Strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to lead in a politically aware environment
- Full driving licence
- Degree in Civil Engineering (or extensive equivalent experience)
- IOSH Managing Safely & to obtain CPC Transport Manager if required
- Experience in Highways in Utilities (Water/Gas/Power/Fibre) and Civil Engineering / Highways Contractors encouraged
Why This Role? Senior Operations Manager, Highways
- Lead one of the region's most high-profile, essential, and visible public services.
- Autonomy to shape service direction, improvement, and operational strategy
- Significant influence across regeneration, infrastructure, and environmental projects
- Manage a major operational team with meaningful community impact
- Senior leadership presence with political, community and multi-agency visibility
All enquiries and applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Contact [email protected] or 0113 2123519
Public Sector / Local Authorities
Highway Operations, Road Maintenance, Winter Services, PROW, Fleet Management, Environmental Services, Highway Inspector, Highway Asset Management
Industry: Government Administration, Civil Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure, Transport / Logistics
Highway Operations, Environmental Services, Transport, Public Works
Job Functions:
Operations / Maintenance
Engineering / Technical Services
Fleet / Transport Management
Civil / Highway Engineering
You are likely to be a Highway Operations Manager, Highways Maintenance Manager Senior Highway Engineer, Winter Services Manager, Highways Asset Manager, Senior Civil Engineer - Roads.
Principal Consultant - Highways, Construction Manager - Highway Schemes
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