Group Manager - Highways Maintenance

Why Southwark?

We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

What You'll Be Doing

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Group Manager - Highways Maintenance to lead our Highways Maintenance service.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the strategic management of highways maintenance and asset management across the borough. You will lead a high-profile service that helps keep Southwark’s roads, structures and public infrastructure safe, compliant and well maintained, while ensuring the council meets its statutory duties and wider corporate priorities.

If you have strong highways maintenance, asset management and contract management experience, along with the leadership skills to manage people, budgets and performance in a complex public sector environment, we would like to hear from you. Because apparently roads, drainage, bridges, winter response, budgets, politics and public expectations can all be neatly folded into one job title.

As Group Manager - Highways Maintenance, you will provide strategic leadership for the council’s highways maintenance service within the Highways team.

You will lead on the design, delivery, management and maintenance of highways infrastructure across Southwark, including surfacing, drainage and flood alleviation, bridges and river walls, street furniture, winter service maintenance and inspection services. You will ensure services are delivered efficiently, safely and in line with council policy, statutory requirements and industry best practice.

This role includes responsibility for strategic planning, contract management, asset management, budget control, staff leadership and service improvement. You will work closely with senior managers, elected members, contractors, external partners and professional networks, while helping to deliver the council’s wider ambitions for transport, place and public service excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the highways maintenance service: Provide strategic leadership for the highways maintenance function, ensuring services are efficient, effective and aligned with council priorities.
• Managing highways infrastructure delivery: Lead the design, delivery, maintenance and improvement of highways infrastructure, including roads, drainage, flood alleviation, bridges, river walls, street furniture, winter services and inspection programmes.
• Driving asset management and investment planning: Apply asset management principles to support strategic investment planning, minimise unnecessary expenditure and ensure long-term value for money.
• Managing contracts and procurement: Oversee highways term maintenance contracts and other contractual arrangements, including procurement strategy, tendering, specification development, contract award and ongoing contract management.
• Leading on financial management: Manage revenue, capital and grant-funded budgets, including bidding, budget setting, allocation, profiling, monitoring and financial performance in line with council financial regulations.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone with strong technical credibility, strategic leadership skills and significant experience in highways maintenance or related infrastructure services.

You will bring:

• Relevant qualifications: A degree, or equivalent, in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Professional membership: Chartered or incorporated membership of a relevant professional institution, or evidence that you are working towards this.
• Commitment to development: Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development relevant to highways maintenance, safety and contract management.
• Strong sector experience: Significant experience in highways maintenance, asset management or a related engineering portfolio.
• Leadership experience: Demonstrable experience of leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, including people management, change management and performance management.
• Service delivery experience: Proven experience contributing to the design, delivery or improvement of highways or public realm schemes.
• Contract management expertise: Strong experience managing highways term maintenance contracts, including performance, quality, safety and commercial controls.
• Financial management skills: Experience of budget control, financial governance and resource management within a highways, engineering or infrastructure environment.
• Systems and digital capability: Practical experience using Microsoft Office and relevant highways or asset management systems.

Additional Information

Recruitment Timeline

• Closing date: 31 May 2026
• Shortlisting: by Friday 5 June 2026
• Interviews: Tuesday 16 June 2026

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• 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 health condition.

Benefits

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark

There are shift enhancements for out of hours and weekend working associated with this post.

Benefits include: 27 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, competitive pension scheme and excellent support for learning and development.

Attachments

• Click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification