Senior Engineer - (Highway Interpretation and Digitisation Project)

Help shape the future of highway records in Kirklees. Kirklees Council is seeking an organised and motivated Senior Engineer to lead a time-limited Highway Registry interpretation and digitisation project that will create a lasting digital legacy for the service. This is a unique opportunity to lead a one-off programme focused on interpreting historic records relating to the extent of highway land, digitising this information onto a GIS platform, and ensuring records are safely scanned, archived or disposed of in line with information governance requirements. The project sits within the Highway Registry Team and involves close working with Highways Registry and Public Rights of Way colleagues.

As part of this role, you will take responsibility for the development, management and delivery of the project, ensuring key milestones and outputs are achieved. You will:

• Project manage the interpretation and digitisation programme, including planning, monitoring and reporting on progress.
• Supervise and support a dedicated junior member of staff assigned to the project.
• Provide regular updates, analysis and recommendations to senior managers on progress and delivery.
• Use professional judgement to interpret the extent of highway maintainable at public expense, particularly where documentary evidence is incomplete.
• Work closely with Highways Registry and Public Rights of Way officers to ensure digitised records accurately reflect the Council’s liability.
• Oversee the digitisation process and ensure outputs are accurate, consistent and fit for purpose.
• Ensure historic records are appropriately scanned, archived or disposed of in accordance with information governance requirements.

The role is predominantly office-based in Huddersfield town centre, with some flexibility as the project progresses. There may also be a requirement to travel across the district to support interpretation work.

You will be a proactive and highly organised professional with the ability to manage and deliver a complex, detail-focused project. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail are essential. Experience of interpreting mapping and historic records, the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities effectively, project management experience, and the ability to plan and deliver work programmes are required. Experience of supervising or supporting staff, good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and digital record systems, and the ability to communicate clearly and present information to a range of audiences are also important. Experience in highways registry, highway evolution or similar work would be beneficial. You should hold an HNC/HND or Level 4 qualification in a relevant discipline, or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience.

At Kirklees, we are committed to working in innovative and creative ways to deliver services that improve the lives of our communities. We are looking for individuals who demonstrate the Council’s behaviours and values, including being positive, respectful, flexible, communicative and supportive.

The opportunity to lead a unique, high-profile project with a lasting impact on the service, experience of delivering a defined programme of work from inception to completion, the chance to apply specialist knowledge in a role with real autonomy and visible outcomes, experience of supervising staff and reporting to senior managers, and the opportunity to contribute to the modernisation of Kirklees’ highway records and digital systems are some of the benefits.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Helen Martin, Programme Manager, Highways Services or David Reid, Senior Registry Officer. If you’re looking to apply your technical expertise to a meaningful project that will leave a lasting legacy, we’d love to hear from you. Donna Hodgson is the manager for this role, please contact them on 01484 221000 for an informal discussion, or if you need any more information.