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 streetworks 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, streetworks 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 streetworks 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 Manchester's highways network is maintained and managed, helping to create cleaner, safer and better-connected neighbourhoods across the city.

If you are motivated by improvement, take ownership of results and want to lead meaningful change at scale, we would like to hear from you.

Closing and Interviews

Closing date: 16th October 2025

Interviews: Week Commencing 2nd November 2026

About Us

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you're supporting communities or improving public services, you'll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone

Benefits we offer

• Up to 26 days' annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years' service
• Buy up to two extra weeks' leave
• Up to 3 days' volunteering leave
• A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
• The UK's largest local government pension scheme
• Enhanced parental and carers leave
• Employee discounts and perks
• Good Employment Charter member

For more information about working for Manchester Council, please visit Careers - Manchester City Council

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we're dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us

We're a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email (email protected).

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we'll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Accessible Formats

Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

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