Principal Highway Drainage Engineer in Reading

This is an exciting time to join the Highways and Public Realm team at Herefordshire Council. We are transforming how highways and public realm services are delivered across Herefordshire, bringing them back under direct Council control for the first time in years. From June 2026, we will work in a new way with greater flexibility, local accountability, and a sharper focus on quality and value for money. By joining us now, you will be part of a team shaping the future of essential services that residents rely on every day, from maintaining roads and green spaces to keeping our streets clean and safe. We offer the chance to make a real difference in your community, work with a dedicated team, and help deliver improvements that matter. If you are looking for a role where you can take pride in what you do and be part of positive change, we’d love to hear from you.

In this role you will be responsible for managing the highway drainage system across Herefordshire. You will ensure that issues reported to us are investigated in a timely manner and that they are resolved by raising jobs through to our partner contractors or through liaison with water companies via our annual programmes. You will also be responsible for developing and delivering a county-wide gully and drainage asset cleansing programme. You will work closely with our Flood Risk Management team to mitigate the likelihood and impact of flooding from the highway network on property and with our Road Safety and Traffic Management team to develop plans to keep the network moving in times of extreme weather.

As a Principal Highway Drainage Engineer you will have:

• Knowledge / experience of investigating and resolving highway drainage system problems.
• Experience of highway drainage design and designing and implementing SuDS.
• Comprehensive knowledge of key highway legislation including the Highways Act 1980 and flood risk management legislation including the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Flood Risk Regulations 2009, Land Drainage Act 1991, etc.
• Experience of working positively with key stakeholders and communities.
• Experience in reviewing highway drainage plans as part of the development management process, and willingness to get involved in developing highway drainage schemes and progressing new projects.

We offer a competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Salary range of HC10 - £46,142 to £50,269 per annum.
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Career progression: clear pathways to progress.
• Annual Leave: 31 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum during the request period.
• Flexible working: including the potential for job-sharing, part-time hours and agile working.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
• Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
• Pick your perks: access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits, including savings, cash back and discounts.

Herefordshire is big-hearted, welcoming and friendly. We have strong and independent communities and idyllic countryside, located in the South West Midlands and bordering Wales. The county sits between Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills to the east, and Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) in Wales to the west. Historically Herefordshire has been the gateway to the Marches. We embrace partnership working and are a member of the Marches Forward Partnership, a cross-border collaboration between Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys and Shropshire working to secure funding to invest in the region. The council priorities over the next four years are set out in the Council Plan with four main areas: People, Place, Growth, and Transformation. We will enable residents to realise their potential, protect and enhance our environment, deliver sustainable growth, and provide efficient services that demonstrate value for money.

Herefordshire Council is committed to strengthening a diverse and inclusive work environment which reflects the communities of Herefordshire. If you are looking at the next stage of your career and have a broad base of fieldwork experience, we can provide supportive and welcoming opportunities to help you develop your professional, management & supervisory skills.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email.

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, which provide support and community and help strengthen the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council.

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver.

We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.

To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. For more information or to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact Ed Bradford, Major Contracts Programme Director.