Highways Development Management Engineer

At West Northamptonshire Council, we’re looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Highways Development Management Engineer to join our Highways and Transport Service. You’ll be at the heart of shaping how new developments across the area impact our transport network, ensuring they deliver safe, high-quality and sustainable solutions.

In this role, you will assess the transport and highways impacts of planning applications, provide clear and practical technical advice, and negotiate with developers to secure the right improvements. You’ll play a key part in managing and coordinating developer contributions, including Section 106 and Section 278 agreements, and oversee the design and delivery of highways works funded by developers to ensure they meet the highest standards.

You’ll also work closely with colleagues, elected members, stakeholders and local communities to help create accessible, efficient and sustainable transport networks that support growth and improve quality of life across West Northamptonshire.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

You will be based in the Highways Development Team and work closely with colleagues across the wider transport service. Your role will focus on assessing the transport and highways impacts of new developments and ensuring that appropriate and sustainable infrastructure is delivered as part of the planning process.

Day to day, you will provide technical highways and transport advice on planning applications, negotiate with developers to secure necessary improvements, and oversee the design and delivery of works funded through Section 106 and Section 278 agreements. You will be responsible for coordinating developer contributions, ensuring they are effectively managed and aligned with local transport priorities.

Collaboration will be at the heart of your work, as you will engage regularly with planning, regeneration, and transport colleagues, as well as developers, contractors, and local stakeholders. You will also take ownership of budget management, risk monitoring, and progress reporting to ensure that all highways and transport improvements are delivered to a high standard.

An important part of your role will be helping to embed improved processes for managing developer funding, working with planning colleagues to make sure contributions are secured, allocated, and delivered efficiently.

You should have a solid understanding of highways engineering principles and the development management process, together with knowledge of planning legislation, transport policy, and sustainability issues relevant to local government. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, as you will be working closely with colleagues, developers, planners, and other stakeholders to secure and deliver high-quality transport solutions.

You will be confident in reviewing technical drawings and transport assessments, able to provide clear advice and recommendations, and skilled at negotiating outcomes that balance growth with sustainable transport objectives. The ability to work independently, use your initiative, and manage competing priorities under pressure is vital.

Ideally, you will hold a degree in a relevant discipline such as civil engineering, highways, or transport planning, and have experience of preparing and presenting technical reports. Project management training and experience in handling Section 106 and Section 278 agreements would be an advantage, alongside a motivation to further develop your expertise in highways development management.

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU  

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.