Senior Highways Officer

Job Title: Senior Highways Officer
Starting Salary: £46,731 progressing to £51,802
Hours: 37.0
Location: Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Growth & Environment

About the team

An opportunity has arisen to appoint a hardworking and self-motivated individual with a broad experience of Highways Development Management who will deal with providing the Highway Authority's highway advice on Planning Applications to the Local Planning Authorities and deal with all aspects of processing S106, Section 38 and 278 Agreements.

About the role

As Senior Highways Officer, you will provide professional and technical expertise within a team responsible for delivering highways and transportation sector services. You will be responsible for the management of staff, projects and the achievement of business objectives within the Development Management Team.

You will be:

• Dealing with major planning applications referred to the County Council by the Local Planning Authorities
• Considering, evaluating and reporting upon the transport implications of major planning applications informally at pre-application stage and formally as part of the statutory response period when submitted
• Providing detailed technical advice in respect of County Council's requirements of transport assessments
• Preparing of reports as appropriate
• Attending meetings in connection with Development Management and other highway related matters, with Local Planning Authorities, Development Committees, meetings with the public, developers and other stakeholders
• Negotiating highway improvements and financial contributions to mitigate any adverse impacts of development proposals and to secure those improvements and/or developer contributions through the appropriate legal agreements. In addition, negotiating where appropriate commuted maintenance payments
• Preparing and presenting evidence at planning inquiries and legal hearings as an expert witness to defend the interests of the highway authority
• Working collaboratively across organisational boundaries to solve problems and meet common objectives
• Ensuring that work is carried out in accordance with County Council policies, procedures and standards
• Supervising, overseeing and providing advice to Development Management officers in the team
• Working in a political environment and dealing with members

About you

Essential:

• A degree in Civil Engineering or Transport Planning, or equivalent experience
• Extensive knowledge of Highway Development Management procedures and practices in a Local Authority environment
• Experience of dealing with Major Planning Applications and working to tight deadlines
• 5 years or more experience in Highways Development Management
• Experience in dealing with the public, Councillors and others on highway related matters
• Experience of dealing with Appeals and Public Inquiries
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems to meet HCC Policies and Standards
• Working with the minimum amount of supervision
• Knowledge and experience of negotiating financial contributions, and dealing with section 106 agreements and section 278 agreements
• Role requires a full and valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable:

• In depth working knowledge of Trip Rate Information Computer System (TRICS) - the industry's national data base for trip generation
• Experience working at senior level and managing direct reports

This job role is within the Technical Services, level TEC12 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles: Technical services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Rosemary Chatindo rosemary.chatindo@hertfordshire.gov.uk and Alan Story Alan.Story@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: week commencing 2nd December 2024

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Driving required
You'll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.