Highways Infrastructure Projects and Programme Delivery Manager

Overview

We’re looking for an experienced, confident and delivery‑focused Highways Infrastructure Projects and Programme Delivery Manager to lead the planning and delivery of a broad and complex portfolio of highways and transport infrastructure projects across Buckinghamshire.

This is a senior role within the Transport Infrastructure Delivery Team, with responsibility for leading projects from early concept and business case through design, procurement and construction. You will manage major capital programmes, provide professional leadership to project managers, and ensure that robust governance, risk management and stakeholder engagement underpin successful delivery.

This is a highly visible role, operating at the interface between elected Members, senior officers, delivery partners and the community, where strong technical credibility, programme leadership and commercial awareness are essential.

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 Infrastructure and Capital Schemes function is responsible for the development and delivery of the Council’s Highways and Transport Capital Programme, Road Safety, Highways Asset Management, Parking, and Definitive Maps and Highways Searches, working across safety, growth, sustainability and place‑based investment priorities.

Within this, the Transport Infrastructure Delivery Team provides professional project and programme management capability across the full range of highways and transport infrastructure schemes, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with corporate, statutory and funding requirements.

We work closely with internal departments, delivery partners, statutory bodies, government agencies and local communities to deliver high‑quality infrastructure that supports economic growth and improves outcomes for residents and road users.

About the role

As Highways Infrastructure Projects and Programme Delivery Manager, you will provide leadership and professional direction for the delivery of a wide range of highways and transport infrastructure schemes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the delivery of multiple highways and transport infrastructure projects and programmes, from initiation through to completion.
• Managing and developing a team of project managers, setting clear expectations, supporting performance and professional development.
• Establishing and maintaining robust project and programme governance, including controls for cost, programme, risk and change.
• Managing projects and capital budgets, ensuring value for money and financial control.
• Procuring and managing consultant and contractor appointments, maintaining strong commercial and contractual oversight.
• Embedding strong risk management practices, proactively identifying issues and taking timely corrective action.
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with elected Members, senior officers, funding bodies, partners and stakeholders.
• Preparing and presenting reports, briefings and recommendations to Members, senior managers and project boards.
• Coordinating technical and management input into funding bids, business cases and external submissions.
• Ensuring compliance with legislation, Council policies, Quality Management Systems and health & safety requirements.
• Providing expert advice on project and programme management principles, best practice and emerging approaches.
• Supporting the Head of Infrastructure and Capital Schemes in planning, prioritising and delivering the wider capital programme.
• Driving continuous improvement, innovation and consistency across project delivery practices.

You will also play a key role in developing future project pipelines, resource planning and longer‑term strategic programme management.

About you

You will be a highly experienced infrastructure project professional with the authority, judgement and leadership skills to manage complex programmes.

We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Substantial experience delivering highways or transport infrastructure projects within a large or complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of project and programme management methodologies, governance and assurance.
• Sound technical knowledge of highways, transport infrastructure and the legislative framework in which local authorities operate.
• A proven track record of managing large capital budgets, contracts and delivery partners.
• Experience of leading, motivating and developing professional project management teams.
• Confidence and credibility to engage effectively with elected Members, senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Excellent communication, reporting and influencing skills, including the ability to explain complex issues clearly.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the resilience to manage competing priorities and change.
• An innovative, solutions‑focused approach, with the initiative to improve delivery practices and outcomes.

You will be educated to degree level (or equivalent experience) and hold a recognised project management qualification or equivalent experience. Membership of a relevant professional institution (e.g. IHE, CIHT, ICE) and Incorporated or Chartered status would be advantageous.

If you are an accomplished infrastructure project leader looking to take responsibility for major programmes that shape places and communities, this role offers scale, challenge and real professional impact.

Other information

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

We offer hybrid working arrangements

Closing date: 24th May 2026

Interview date: TBC

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/