Head of Highways in Barnsley

Barnsley is a borough that has transformed itself over the past decade and continues to look confidently to the future. Significant investment in regeneration, infrastructure and public realm has reshaped the town centre and strengthened Barnsley’s identity as an ambitious and forward-looking place. The council is widely recognised for delivering change at pace while maintaining strong relationships with its communities and workforce.

Infrastructure sits at the heart of this story. The highways network plays a vital role in supporting economic growth, connecting communities, and ensuring the borough continues to thrive. As a key service within the council, highways underpin regeneration, transport connectivity, climate resilience, and everyday quality of life for residents.

Barnsley is also part of a wider regional growth agenda through its relationship with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, where significant investment is being directed into infrastructure and connectivity across the region. This is a council that is proud of its progress, ambitious for the future and determined to continue delivering for its residents.

About the Role

Reporting to the Service Director, the Head of Highways is one of the council’s most visible and influential operational leadership roles, responsible for a service that touches almost every aspect of life across the borough. From the condition of the road network to road safety, drainage, lighting, and traffic management, to being a Silver lead as part of the authorities multi agency response partnership. The services play a fundamental role in keeping Barnsley moving, supporting and developing its economy, whilst connecting communities.

This is a broad and complex portfolio, with responsibility for statutory functions spanning the highway authority, highway maintenance, asset management, network management, structures and bridges, street lighting, traffic engineering, flood authority, road safety, car parking and enforcement. The role leads a large and diverse workforce of over 150 staff across multiple specialist disciplines and oversees a significant operational and capital programme focused on maintaining and improving a network of more than 720 miles of roads across the borough.

Unlike many authorities where highways services are outsourced, Barnsley continues to deliver much of its work through its own in-house workforce. This creates a unique opportunity for a leader who thrives in a hands-on operational environment and has direct experience managing in-house operational highways staff, working closely with frontline teams to drive performance, continuous improvement and innovation.

Highways is also one of the most visible services the council delivers. Residents experience it every day, whether commuting, travelling through the borough or simply walking their neighbourhood streets. As a result, the role sits at the centre of political and community interest. The Head of Highways will work closely with the Leader, portfolio holder, elected members, senior leaders, and partners across the region to ensure the service responds effectively to local priorities while maintaining a strong focus on operational excellence.

Beyond day-to-day delivery, the role also sits within a wider programme of infrastructure investment and place transformation. Barnsley continues to pursue ambitious regeneration and connectivity projects while strengthening its partnerships with regional organisations and securing investment that will support future growth. The role requires regional collaboration, working with other local authorities, SYMCA, government bodies, the Environment Agency and utility companies.

For the right leader, this is an opportunity to shape the future of a vital frontline service, working with a skilled and committed workforce while playing a vital role in Barnsley’s continued growth and transformation. The role will also require close working relationships with Strategic Transport, Waste & Recycling and Neighbourhood Services, Regeneration Teams, Planning, and many other corporate services.

About You

This opportunity is well suited to a qualified or extensively experienced highways professional who combines strong technical understanding with a record of directly managing operational highway delivery teams, working with suppliers and subcontractors, and influencing and leading regional partnerships. If you have built your career delivering highways services within a local authority or similar public infrastructure environment, you will understand the complexity of maintaining large networks while balancing political priorities, public expectations, and operational realities.

You may already be leading significant highways operations, or perhaps you are ready for a role where you can take on wider responsibility and influence the direction of a large frontline service. Your experience will likely include leading sizeable teams and working in environments where collaboration, clear communication and practical problem-solving are essential.

You will be financially astute, managing large capital & revenue programmes with a controllable budget of c£30m and the budgetary responsibilities expected from both internal and external stakeholders. If you take pride in developing people, motivating teams, and strengthening capability across a workforce, this is a role where those qualities will have a genuine impact.

You will also recognise the importance of building strong relationships with elected members, partners, and communities. Highways is one of the most publicly visible services the council delivers, and the ability to communicate clearly, manage competing demands and maintain focus on service improvement will be central to your success.

Above all, this role offers the chance to contribute to Barnsley’s continued progress. For a highways leader who brings energy, practical experience, and a commitment to public service, this is an opportunity to shape a service that plays a vital role in the borough’s future.