Back to the JobsOperations Manager - Highways
- Operations Manager - Highways Maintenance, Local Authority
- 6 month ongoing contract to support the service
- Location: West Yorkshire (District-Based)
- Salary: £55k Target
- Contract: Temporary Interim | 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 Operations Manager to lead a team and a high-profile frontline highway services maintenance and upkeep across a major West Yorkshire 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 c60+ 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 - 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 - Locl Authority
- 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 , unionised environments, and Civil Engineering / Highways Contractors encouraged
Why This Role? 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
Omega is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. Omega does not charge candidates any recruitment or job‑seeking fees at any stage of the hiring process.
