Rights of Way Path Improvement Project Officer

The Staffordshire Way is a 92‑mile promoted walking route crossing the county. We are relaunching and investing in this regional trail and are seeking a candidate with Public Rights of Way expertise and project & construction design management experience to help deliver our vision.

Staffordshire’s extensive Public Rights of Way network supports health, sustainable travel and local businesses. The Staffordshire Way, running the length of the county via footpaths and bridleways, also provides a major opportunity to attract visitors and promote walking.

Working within the Environment & Countryside service, the role will design, develop and co-ordinate the delivery of a complex programme of capital works along the Staffordshire Way route.

We are looking for an organised, solution‑focused individual with proven experience in Public Rights of Way improvement projects, use of GIS, and strong knowledge of relevant legislation.

You must have experience of managing projects involving construction design and risk management to ensure works are delivered safely. You will also be a good communicator – as engaging and negotiating with a range of stakeholders, including external landowners, will be key to the success of this role.

This is a fixed‑term post until 31 March 2027, 37 hours per week, with office, hybrid and site-based working. You must be able to travel across the county, access remote areas beyond the reach of public transport, and work outdoors often alone and in all conditions.

You will be responsible for the design, development and co-ordination of a complex and prioritised programme of capital works to improve the Staffordshire Way promoted route.

In this role you will:

• Lead the project management of Public Rights of Way improvement schemes along the Staffordshire Way route, including procurement, contractor management, budget control, and use of volunteers.
• Carry out site visits to inspect and assess issues on the Public Rights of Way network to inform improvement works and resolution of issues.
• Work with the Rights of Way Team to ensure that improvement scheme proposals are aligned to service requirements and are sustainable and accessible following investment.
• Ensure compliance with Public Rights of Way legislation and SCC procurement regulations during project design, commissioning and delivery phases.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, Construction Design Management (CDM) and environmental regulations throughout project design and delivery.
• Directly engage and negotiate with landowners and other stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of Staffordshire Way improvement projects.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure co-ordination and readiness across all Staffordshire Way project areas ahead of the route relaunch.
• Use GIS and other systems such as CAMS to support monitoring, analysis, reporting and efficient project delivery.

You will:

• Have strong knowledge and demonstrable experience of Public Rights of Way legislation, policy and practice, with a technical understanding of rights of way issues and solutions.
• Have proven experience in designing, planning and overseeing the delivery of Rights of Way capital programmes or projects, including procurement, financial monitoring and contractor management.
• Have practical experience of managing construction projects involving Health & Safety considerations, risk management and CDM regulations, on sites where public access needs to be managed.
• Have a degree in a relevant discipline such as geography, environment, construction or project management, or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience relevant to Public Rights of Way.
• Be able to complete regular outdoor site visits in lone working situations, including gaining access to sites over rough ground, mixed terrain, by climbing stiles and going through gates.

Essential skills:

• Effective interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Skills in negotiation, partnership working and stakeholder engagement (including with landowners).
• Good problem solving and investigative skills.
• Good organisation skills with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple projects at the same time.
• Numerical skills to manage and monitor programme costs effectively.
• Confident user of IT systems including Microsoft packages, GIS and CAMS to support project delivery and reporting.
• Hold a Full UK driving licence with the ability to undertake regular and extensive site visits to rural locations around the county where public transport may not be available.

“We’re happy to talk flexible working”

Interviews will be held on Friday 20th March 2026.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Ruth Shufflebotham, Development Manager, Environment & Countryside, at ruth.shufflebotham@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight how and why your knowledge and experience makes you the best person for this role.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.