Engineer - Highway Structures

Directorate: Housing, Regeneration and Operations

Section: Highways

Location: Civic Centre

Grade: Level 9

Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that’s where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

Help Shape, Protect and Future-Proof Stoke-on-Trent's Infrastructure!

We're looking for an ambitious and technically capable Highway Structures Engineer to lead the management of Stoke-on-Trent's highway structures portfolio and help ensure the safe and reliable operation of the city's transport network. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a diverse range of assets, influence investment decisions, manage maintenance and improvement schemes, and provide specialist engineering advice on some of the Council's most critical infrastructure.

You will be responsible for managing bridges, culverts, retaining walls, footbridges, embankments, subways and other highway structures, ensuring they remain safe, compliant and fit for the future. The role includes overseeing inspections, structural assessments, maintenance programmes and capital works, whilst ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, national standards and industry best practice. You will also act as the Council's specialist advisor on abnormal load movements, assessing routes and helping protect vital infrastructure from damage.

You will have a degree or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or a related discipline together with experience or knowledge of highway structures, bridge management, inspections or civil engineering maintenance.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in managing and improving some of Stoke-on-Trent's most important assets. Your work will directly contribute to public safety, network resilience and the long-term sustainability of the city's infrastructure. Join us and help keep Stoke-on-Trent moving.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Steve Lovatt, Steve.Lovatt@stoke.gov.uk

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the Council's entire highway structures portfolio
• Inspection and Assessment Manage all principal, general, special and safety inspections
• Commission and review structural assessments
• Abnormal Loads Act as the Council's lead officer for abnormal load notifications
• Provide specialist structures advice across the Council
• Support Planning and Development Management consultations

About You:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or a related discipline
• Knowledge of bridge and highway structures management principles
• Experience of inspections, assessments or maintenance of civil engineering structures
• An understanding of highway asset management and risk-based maintenance
• Good project management and contract management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain technical issues to a range of audiences

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.