INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Senior Engineer

Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

As a Senior Engineer you’ll thrive on running a large team of individuals, helping them to achieve their goals, dealing with technical queries and using your knowledge of the Highways Act to benefit the city.

It’s not about being just sat behind a desk, but also interacting with Councillors, other teams and members of the public to ensure that Leeds City Council’s most valuable asset is a positive experience for the people who use our highway network.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Senior Engineer you will bring to the role:

Manage a team engaged in highway safety inspections working in accordance with the Well Managed Highways - Code of Practice.
Support and assist in the process for defencing claims using the special Section 58 defence
Implement cost effective digital solutions for the management and maintenance of highways assets.
Manage a defined activity or a small range of the Department’s activities to ensure deliver Best Value services to customers, to meet the objectives of the Council’s Corporate Plan and comply with Government Standards
Motivate, develop and coach staff within your area of the directorate to achieve Corporate Plan, Service Plan and Divisional Plan objectives.

About the role

As our next Senior Engineer you’ll have to be flexible in outlook and be ready to be challenged. The Highway Asset management team gets involved in all things highway so a fairly wide knowledge of highway responsibilities and activities is required. A good awareness of the Highways Act is essential and some experience of dealing with highway claims is preferred. You will need to be self motivated and good communicator at all levels, and work closely with all members of the team to provide support where needed.

The role is integral to our Asset Management team who are responsible for monitoring and recording the safety and overall condition of one of the largest highway networks in the country.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Trishna Rycroft. Call 0113 378 7325or email trishna.rycroft@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

A senior member within a team to deliver the design and implementation of highway works and the engagement and supervision of both internal and external suppliers. Supervision of the work of other staff within the team.

Responsibilities

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Supervise a group of staff together with the supervision, coordination and procurement of contractors and consultants engaged in the management and maintenance of highways infrastructure.
Undertake the design and implementation of highway works using internal and external suppliers.
Provide a high quality highways design and programming service to deliver cost effective maintenance of highways infrastructure and highway related projects.
Manage projects and take responsibility where appropriate for assigned budgets and agreeing contractual payments.
Support and assist in the development of policies which support efficient service delivery, continuous improvement and corporate objectives.
Implement cost effective digital solutions for the management and maintenance of highways assets.
Support the development of business cases for maintenance funding for highways infrastructure to internal and external bodies.
Provide expert guidance to other sections on highway maintenance techniques particularly in relation to sustainable maintenance of major projects.
Manage a defined activity or a small range of the Department’s activities to ensure deliver Best Value services to customers, to meet the objectives of the Council’s Corporate Plan and comply with Government Standards.
Motivate, develop and coach staff within your area of the directorate to achieve Corporate Plan, Service Plan and Divisional Plan objectives.
Undertake and manage the delivery of specified elements of the Divisional Plan, Service Plan and Corporate Plan in relation to a defined activity or small range of activities, in order to meet targets and achieve improvements
Promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and equality in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement areas, focusing on equality of outcome
Actively support continuous improvement initiatives through contributing to cross Council schemes and supporting the Service Management Team
Within a small service area or number of areas, to take responsibility for maintaining effective communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with Council good practice and with regard to implementing e-government objectives.
Work with elected members, service users and community representatives in ways which support open, inclusive, responsive and accountable government.
Develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers and other stakeholders to achieve corporate objectives and to maintain a position of service provider of first choice.
Be accountable for the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with Legislation and the Council Health and Safety Policy.
Provide appropriate advice relating to the work of the Directorate to Members and council officers so as to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
Support and assist in the development of policies which support efficient service delivery, continuous improvement and corporate objectives.
Represent the Service, the Department and the Council as a Senior Officer for matters relating to maintenance of highways infrastructure and other related areas of work.
Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Construction Design Management Regulations.
Ensure the work of the team is produced in accordance with legislation and to the appropriate local, national and corporate standards, policies and practices.
Assist in the development of partnership working.
Support the development of staff within the team following the current staff development and appraisal procedures.

Qualifications

Level 4 qualification in Civil Engineering or extensive equivalent appropriate experience.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Ability to manage and monitor performance effectively and set clear objectives for the review of individual and service level performance.
Ability to coach and mentor staff effectively to develop a culture of high performance.
Understand and promote policy on equal opportunities and diversity in both service delivery and employment.
Personal integrity with commitment to fairness, equality and diversity.
Ability to produce reports, assist in developing business cases and to deliver presentations to a diverse audience.
An understanding of local government and experience of achieving results in a politically sensitive context.
Knowledge of asset management, highway engineering and maintenance practises.
Knowledge of CDM Legislation.
Knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information applicable to the service area.
Experience Required
Equivalent appropriate experience of a service or operational area relevant to the service area.
Experience of managing services to meet customer needs.

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Ability to contribute to change programmes, improve service quality and support a culture that drives up standards and performance.
Ability to take forward initiatives and policies from development to implementation.
Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of schemes and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
An understanding of and commitment to sustainability in service delivery
An understanding of service delivery issues.
Experience of the public sector and its relationship with the private and third sectors.
Ability to make an effective contribution to internal and external meetings.
Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
Ability to resolve conflict.

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