Asset Manager – Highways Structures

Overview

We’re looking for a highly experienced and technically credible Asset Manager – Highway Structures to take responsibility for the management, maintenance and long‑term performance of Buckinghamshire Council’s highway structures asset base.

Reporting to the Highways Asset Manager, this is a senior specialist role with a strong client‑side focus, overseeing bridges, culverts, retaining walls and related structures. You will ensure these critical assets are safe, resilient and sustainably managed, while shaping investment priorities and supporting the wider development of the Council’s highways asset management approach.

The role will support the Highways Asset Manager in developing and enhancing the Council’s wider highways asset management function, including providing strategic and technical direction to the Street Lighting and Intelligent Traffic Systems services delivered by specialist contractors and consultants.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished structural or civil engineering professional to influence strategic decision‑making, lead complex programmes of work and act as the Council’s technical authority for highway structures.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is one of the largest local authorities in the country, responsible for a diverse highway network serving urban, rural and strategic transport needs. Our ambition is to provide a safe, reliable and sustainable transport network that supports economic growth, environmental responsibility and thriving communities.

The Highways Asset Management Team, within the Infrastructure and Capital Schemes function, is responsible for the stewardship of the council’s highway assets. The team develops long‑term asset management strategies, maintains asset data and condition information, prioritises investment, and ensures that maintenance and improvement programmes deliver best value and comply with statutory and national requirements.

We work closely with other departments, service providers, elected members, government bodies and local communities to ensure our highways assets are managed transparently, efficiently and for the long term.

About the role

As Asset Manager – Highway Structures, you will have overall responsibility for the asset management approach and maintenance strategy for the Council’s highway structures portfolio. You will also support the Council’s wider highways asset management function, including providing strategic and technical direction to the Street Lighting and Intelligent Traffic Systems services delivered by specialist contractors and consultants.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Leading the asset management, inspection and maintenance strategy for highway structures, ensuring safety, compliance and longevity
• Acting as the Technical Approval Authority (TAA) for Buckinghamshire Council, either directly or through appointed specialist support
• Developing and managing one‑year detailed and four‑year indicative programmes of capital and revenue works, in collaboration with the Highways Asset Manager and service providers
• Managing the client relationship with the Council’s Term Maintenance Contractor and Term Services Consultant
• Overseeing inspection regimes, risk assessments, asset condition data and risk registers, including compliance with CDM regulations
• Preparing and maintaining capital programmes, approving briefs, quotations and overseeing delivery of schemes
• Supporting Medium Term Financial Plan development, whole‑life cost modelling and funding bids
• Ensuring accurate asset records, performance reporting and contribution to asset management plans and data strategies
• Acting as the Council’s technical expert on highway structures, including abnormal loads, third‑party works, development impacts and multi‑agency liaison
• Representing the Council at national and regional technical forums and promoting continuous improvement and innovation

You will also provide line management to staff within the structures team and contribute to the oversight of related specialist asset groups, including Street Lighting and Intelligent Transport Systems.

About you

You will be a highly skilled and experienced structural engineering professional, with the confidence and credibility to operate as a technical authority within a complex public‑sector environment.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Substantial experience planning and delivering specialist highway structures services within a large or complex organisation
• Expert technical knowledge of highway structures, including relevant legislation, codes of practice, inspection regimes and risk management
• Proven experience developing and implementing asset management policies, plans and capital programmes
• A strong track record in programme planning, budget awareness and client‑side project oversight
• Experience acting as, or supporting the role of, Technical Approval Authority.
• The ability to analyse data, assess risk and develop evidence‑based investment priorities
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging with members, senior officers, contractors, consultants and external asset owners
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical matters clearly and proportionately
• Leadership experience, including managing staff, setting direction and fostering a collaborative, high‑performing team culture

You will be educated to degree level (or equivalent experience), hold membership of a relevant professional institution (e.g. ICE, IStructE), and be a Chartered Engineer.

If you are motivated by technical excellence, public service and the opportunity to shape the long‑term stewardship of critical infrastructure, this role offers both challenge and professional fulfilment.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

We offer hybrid working arrangements

Closing date: 11 May 2026

Interview date: Week commencing 18 May 2026

Interview-type / process: Either MS Team and/or In Person, to be confirmed.  

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Syed Shah 07977 611481

This post is politically restricted under the terms of the Local Government Act 1989.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/