At a Glance
- Tasks: Inspect highways, identify defects, and ensure safety compliance across the network.
- Company: Join Team Reading and contribute to a vibrant community.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, flexible working, pension scheme, and life assurance.
- Other info: Supportive environment with opportunities for career growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in maintaining safe highways for everyone.
- Qualifications: Experience in highways maintenance and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 33699 - 39152 £ per year.
About the Role
As a Highways Inspector, you will undertake routine and reactive inspections across the highway network, identify defects, monitor street works activities, and ensure compliance with relevant highways legislation. You will work closely with utility companies, contractors, developers and internal stakeholders to help deliver a safe and efficient highway service.
Key Responsibilities
- Carrying out highway safety inspections and defect investigations.
- Monitoring and inspecting street works and highway activities in accordance with the New Roads and Street Works Act.
- Identifying safety issues and arranging appropriate remedial actions.
- Investigating highway-related accident claims and maintaining accurate records.
- Managing licences including scaffolding and hoarding permits.
- Responding to enquiries from residents, councillors and other stakeholders.
- Supporting the delivery of highway maintenance and asset management objectives.
About You
You will have experience working within a highways maintenance, street works or similar operational environment, with a good understanding of highway inspection processes and relevant legislation. You’ll be confident in identifying and assessing defects, making informed decisions and taking appropriate action to ensure the safety and integrity of the highway network. A recognised Highway Inspector qualification, or a willingness to work towards one, is desirable, along with a current UK driving licence. We’re looking for someone with excellent communication and customer service skills who can build positive working relationships with residents, contractors, utility companies and colleagues. You’ll be organised, self‑motivated and able to manage a varied workload, often working independently and using your initiative to resolve issues. Most importantly, you’ll take pride in delivering a high‑quality service and be committed to helping maintain a safe and efficient highway network for everyone who uses it. You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Benefits
- Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years’ service, with the option to buy additional leave.
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities.
- Modern working environment at 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX.
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
- On‑site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
- Season Ticket Loan – a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
Our Offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
For more information on this position please contact Richard Ponchaud, Highway Asset Manager on richard.ponchaud@reading.gov.uk.
Closing Date: Wednesday 24th June 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: In person at 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX
To apply for this job please visit reabcli.webitrent.com.
Highways Inspector in Reading employer: South East Employers
As a Highways Inspector with us, you'll join a supportive and collaborative team dedicated to maintaining a safe and efficient highway network in Reading. We offer generous holiday entitlements, flexible working opportunities, and a modern working environment, alongside excellent career growth prospects and the chance to contribute to the vibrant community of Reading. With benefits like a Local Government Pension Scheme and an on-site nursery, we prioritise your well-being and professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Highways Inspector in Reading
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
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✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Highways Inspector at South East Employers.
We think you need these skills to ace Highways Inspector in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
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How to prepare for a job interview at South East Employers
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
