Improvements Manager – Strategic Road Network in Wales

Enhance air quality.

Closing date: 13/02/2026, 16:00

Advertising basis: Permanent

Actual starting salary: A starting salary between £47,675 and £56,445 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable. The pay scale of this role has a salary band between £47,675 and £56,445 in 4 annual increments. Pay progression is based on annual incremental advance to the next point on the scale (awarded subject to satisfactory performance) until the employee reaches the target rate.

Salary range or pay band: SEO £47,675 to £56,445

Allowances: No

Work pattern: Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)

Location(s): Pan Wales

Purpose of post: The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is one of Wales’ most vital infrastructure assets, valued at approximately £21 billion. Although it makes up just 5% of the total road length, it carries around one-third of all road traffic, playing a key role in connecting communities, enabling economic growth, and ensuring access to essential services. This post is part of a wider recruitment campaign to strengthen the Welsh Government’s Strategic Road Network Division. Over the coming months, we’ll be building a diverse and skilled team to enhance our capability as a highway authority—ensuring we continue to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable transport infrastructure across Wales. This is an exciting opportunity to join a delivery-focused, inclusive team and help shape the future of the SRN—making a real difference to people’s lives, connectivity, and the Welsh economy.

What You’ll Be Doing: As part of the Network Management function, you’ll help plan, operate, maintain, and improve the SRN on behalf of Welsh Ministers. This includes delivering targeted programmes that:

• Improve network resilience
• Reduce congestion
• Enhance air quality
• Address safety and accessibility challenges

All work is aligned with Welsh Government policy, including Llwybr Newydd: The Wales Transport Strategy 2021, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and our environmental improvement commitments.

Key Focus: In this role, you’ll lead the development and delivery of targeted improvement programmes to address congestion hotspots and upgrade key sections of the SRN. You’ll be responsible for:

• Appraising and prioritising schemes using robust evidence to support investment decisions
• Delivering measurable benefits for communities, the economy, the environment, and public health
• Collaborating across asset classes and with delivery partners to ensure joined-up planning and efficient delivery
• Managing strategic interfaces—including highway boundaries, ownership, and relationships with local authorities and private landowners—to protect the operational integrity of the SRN

Why Join Us? We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. You’ll be joining a team that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, and where your work will have a tangible impact on Wales’ transport future.

Key tasks:

• Drive meaningful change by leading the development and delivery of strategic upgrade and pinch point improvement programmes, applying the principles of the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG).
• Shape delivery excellence by preparing and managing briefs for trunk road agents and consultants, ensuring high standards, value for money, and timely outcomes.
• Support informed decision-making through effective programme performance management, reporting, and preparation of ministerial briefings, aligned with Welsh Government governance and investment frameworks.
• Champion environmental responsibility by overseeing Strategic Road Network (SRN) air quality monitoring and interventions, and managing complex issues around highway boundaries, ownership, and stakeholder interfaces.
• Maximise impact by appraising and prioritising schemes using robust evidence, ensuring resources are targeted where they deliver the greatest public benefit.
• Foster collaboration across asset classes—such as road safety, pavements, drainage, and intelligent transport systems (ITS)—and with delivery partners to enable integrated planning and delivery.
• Lead procurement processes for surveys, studies, and technical support, working closely with Transport for Wales to ensure alignment and avoid duplication.
• Represent Welsh Government at stakeholder engagement sessions, technical forums, and WelTAG workshops, building trust and consensus.
• Promote innovation by advocating for sustainable construction methods, digital tools, and integrated project delivery approaches that support long-term resilience and efficiency.

Development opportunities: Joining the Strategic Road Network Division means being part of a team that’s at the heart of delivering high-impact infrastructure across Wales. We offer:

• Exposure to nationally significant programmes that tackle congestion, improve connectivity, and shape the future of transport in Wales.
• Opportunities to work directly with Ministers, senior Welsh Government officials, and strategic partners across the UK—giving you insight into policy-making and delivery at the highest level.
• Professional growth and development, including advanced skills in programme management, investment appraisal, and stakeholder engagement.
• Opportunity to gain experience in integrated transport policy delivery and sustainable infrastructure planning.
• A supportive and inclusive team environment, where diversity is valued and everyone is encouraged to thrive.
• You’ll have access to mentoring, peer learning, and tailored development opportunities to help you grow in your role and beyond.

Other vacancy related information: A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status will remain on the reserve list for 12 months. This is a Pan-Wales role and can be based at any Welsh Government office. The successful candidate will be expected to attend their nearest office regularly (approximately 2 days a week) and undertake site visits (average of 1 a month) as a part of their role.

In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score, the following merit order will be applied: Experience, Technical Review sift score, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture.

Vetting level: Basic

Number of posts: 1

Contact point for further information regarding the post: Welsh language requirements 3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.