Highway Operative

We are currently seeking Highway Maintenance Operatives to join our busy Highways Maintenance Operations team based in central Derby. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys practical, hands-on work and takes pride in helping keep our city’s roads safe and well maintained.

In this role, you will carry out both reactive and programmed maintenance on the public highway. We’re looking for candidates with a positive, can-do attitude and experience in highway maintenance techniques, civil engineering practices, and the use of tarmac and concrete materials. A basic understanding of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 is also required.

Experience in hand lay and machine lay of bituminous materials is an advantage, along with knowledge of excavation, footway and carriageway repairs, and the installation of signs, street furniture, kerbing, edging, drainage and setting out to line and level. A full driving licence and the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions are essential. An HGV licence is desirable but not essential.

Here at Derby City Council, we’re dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities.

You too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you’ll also receive:

• Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Team Derby Rewards – retail and leisure discounts
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
• Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
• Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Calendar and Support
• Access to our Equality Employee Networks – LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network and Neurodiversity Network
• Support for colleagues who are carers

In the role of Highway Operative, here’s an example of what you’ll be doing to make an impact: The role involves carrying out reactive and planned maintenance on the public highway to keep Derby’s roads safe and in good condition. You’ll work with tarmac, concrete and other materials to repair footways and carriageways, install signs and street furniture, and support wider civil engineering tasks. The job includes excavation, drainage work and setting out to line and level. It’s a practical, hands-on role that requires working outdoors in all weather, using a range of tools and equipment, and contributing to the smooth running of the city’s highway network.

To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally have:

• Experience in highways maintenance or general civil engineering work
• Practical skills in using hand tools, power tools and small plant
• Basic knowledge of tarmac, concrete and bituminous materials
• Understanding of hand lay and machine lay techniques (advantageous)
• Ability to carry out excavation, repairs and general highway reinstatement
• Knowledge of installing signs, street furniture, kerbing, edging and drainage
• Basic understanding of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
• Strong teamwork skills with a positive, can-do attitude
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• NRSWA Operative
• Full UK driving licence (essential); HGV entitlement desirable but not required

If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an application form, please submit an application via the Derby City Council website. The closing date for this vacancy is at midnight on 1 Sept 2026. Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

Interviews will be held: Interview dates will be confirmed closer to the time of shortlisting. All interviews will be held in person at either Stores Road Depot or the Council House in Derby.

If you would prefer to apply for this job using your CV, then please download the attached Declaration Form and send it to Louis.Savigny@derby.gov.uk. Without a completed declaration form, your application will not be accepted. We also encourage you to download the Equalities Form and return this to recruitment.team@derby.gov.uk, however this is optional and will not affect your application.

We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home-based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job.

Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we’ll do all we can to help.