The role

About the role

Are you seeking a rewarding role where you can make a real difference to the lives of East Sussex residents, businesses and visitors? Do you have the skills to lead a large team in the delivery of a range of a high-profile programmes and projects?

We are looking for someone with a background in highway maintenance and contract management to lead the Council’s Highways Service.

The work of the Highways Service touches almost all aspects of county life and provides vital services for residents, businesses, and visitors across East Sussex. The service is responsible for delivering a range of reactive and planned maintenance activities across the county’s road network as well as delivering large programmes of highway projects.

As Head of Highways, you will be responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the service, ensuring the successful delivery of a range of high-profile projects and maintenance programmes through our highway service provider, Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP). In addition, you will act as the NEC Project Manager for the Council’s Highway Maintenance and Professional Services contract, and carry out the duties defined by the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract.

As a strong and diplomatic communicator, you will manage relationships with a range of key stakeholders and partners including elected Councillors, Parish Councils and our highways service provider. And you will lead and manage the Highways Service Client Team of thirty staff working collectively with BBLP as East Sussex Highways.

This role sits within the Communities, Economy and Transport Department. For more information on the work of the department and Highways Service please visit the County Council and East Sussex Highways websites.

We are looking for candidates who:

Have significant professional experience in a highway maintenance environment, or similar
Have worked in a political environment and have a good understanding of local government
Has NEC Project Management, or similar commercial contract management experience managing multi-million pound construction-based contracts
Can lead and manage a diverse team;
Are able to oversee the successful delivery of a wide range of programmes and projects;
Can build strong working relationships with elected Members, stakeholders and partners;
Have strong interpersonal and communications skills

An innovative and creative individual, you will shape the future of the Highways Service, and be an active member of the senior management team of the Communities, Economy and Transport Department. You will lead the development of strategies and plans to provide sustainable delivery and improvement across our services, with compelling, forward thinking ideas, and the scope to inform fresh approaches to delivery.

To join us, you will need an extensive track record within a large organisation, leading multidisciplinary teams. Your experience will encompass strategic service planning, change management, improving performance and delivering efficiencies. Genuinely passionate about making positive changes in our communities, you will have excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills to build the internal and external partnerships to make those changes happen. Knowledge of local authority services and the big issues facing local government will be key to your success.

Job description

Job Title: Head of Service Highways

Department: Communities, Economy and Transport

Grade: Local Managerial Grade 5

Responsible to: Assistant Director Operations & Contract Management

Responsible for: Highway Maintenance and Professional Services Contract, Highways Contract Management Group; Contract and Commercial Team, Performance and Service Development Team, Highway Asset Management, and Stakeholder and Engagement.

Purpose of the Role:

The Council’s Highways Service is responsible for the maintenance of 3375km of road and 2481km of footway and cycleway across the county. The service is delivered through an outsourced maintenance contract with Balfour Beatty Living Places that delivers a service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

As the Head of Service Highways you will act as the NEC Project Manager for the County Council’s Highway Maintenance and Professional Services contract and carry out the duties defined by the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract.

You will contribute to the achievement of East Sussex County Council objectives and effective management of the Department by leading, directing and motivating teams responsible for integrated delivery, planning and monitoring across a range of technical specialism. You will also proactively encourage support for objectives of East Sussex County Council with internal and external customers.

Key Tasks

To act as the Project Manager for the County Council’s Highway Maintenance Term and Professional Services Contracts and carry out the duties defined by the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract;
Responsible for the development and leadership of the new Executive Client Team including functions, budget control and contract management systems;
To lead the staff consultation process, TUPE transfer of staff to the new service provider, and the establishment of a new Executive Client Team;
Lead a multidisciplinary team of ESCC and consultant staff through the mobilisation period, post contract award and during the administration of the contract;
Responsible for preparing and implementing a fully developed mobilisation plan for the new highways service, taking the lead role for ESCC to ensure all milestones are delivered during the mobilisation period including overseeing the demobilisation of the current contract;
Administration of the Highway Maintenance Term and Professional Services Contracts as defined in the Contract having delegated authority of the Employer;
Overall Project Management of the various client work strands including:
- Agreement of annual Service Plans, Target Cost and Lump sum arrangements;
- Development and management of the ESCC Asset Management Strategy;
- Client administration, audit and contract performance monitoring;
- Relationship Management and Communications;
- Management of Cost and Risk;
- Delivery of Highway Service Outcomes;

Reporting contract performance to senior management and Cabinet Members as required;
Financial reporting and management of the Highways Service budget of circa £30m-£40m per annum;
Ensure a contract communications and relationship strategy is produced and delivered to support effective engagement with the full range of stakeholders;
Lead and manage the Executive Client Team of up to 30 staff (including 4 direct reports), including directing, developing, appraising and managing the client team staff to ensure agreed outcomes are consistently met; including preparation and implementation of a training and development plan for the Executive Client Team;
Responsible for identifying and implementing the requisite IT system(s) to manage the new contract with priority given to Asset Management, Performance Management and Commercial Management
Delivery of the Contract Key Performance Indicators.
Development of contract performance management framework and performance indicators for both the new service provider and client team

GENERAL

To apply consistently the principles of Equal Opportunities, as embodied in the policies and practices throughout the duties outlined above.
To undertake available training opportunities and show a commitment to continuous development, to maximise your potential and ensure the efficient and effective delivery of County Council services.
Undertake any other tasks commensurate with the grading of the post.

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time when it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

Employee Benefits

As a County Council employee, there is a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. Please note that most of these benefits are available to all employees but some have specific eligibility criteria.