Drainage Engineer - Strategic Road Network

Vacancy Title

Drainage Engineer – Strategic Road Network

09/03/2026 – 16:00

Permanent

A starting salary between £47,675 and £52,557 will be offered, based on skills, knowledge, experience and performance  pay scale runs from £47,675 to £56,445, with annual increments.

Pan Wales – based at any Welsh Government office, expected to attend an office about two days a week and visit sites approximately once a month.

The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is a vital infrastructure asset, carrying one‑third of all road traffic in Wales. This role contributes to strengthening the network’s resilience and sustainability, ensuring safe and efficient operation of the motorway and trunk road drainage network.

• Strengthen network resilience against increasing rainfall and climate change
• Reduce flood risk on and around the SRN
• Improve environmental outcomes
• Support sustainable water management and adaptation to extreme weather

• Develop and manage the Drainage Asset Management Plan
• Produce a State of the Nation report on drainage assets
• Lead prioritisation, investment planning and long‑term resilience planning
• Embed sustainable drainage design principles across programmes
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines and with delivery partners for coordinated delivery

• Lead Welsh Government’s approach to motorway and trunk road drainage, providing authoritative advice and setting strategic direction.
• Develop and deliver long‑term drainage strategies and asset management plans.
• Oversee drainage data and standards to ensure compliance and performance monitoring.
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to manage flood risk and improve environmental outcomes.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement, representing Welsh Government in technical forums and preparing briefings.

As a Welsh Government employee you will be automatically enrolled in the Civil Service Pension Scheme with a generous employer contribution rate (28.97 %). You’ll work a 37‑hour week, receive 31 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, and enjoy flexible and hybrid working arrangements. Additional benefits include cycle and green car schemes, discounted rail tickets, and access to wellbeing programmes.

• Experience managing drainage asset management programmes and climate resilience schemes (Experience 1).
• Experience applying drainage engineering knowledge to support decision‑making (Experience 2).
• Strong decision‑making skills and the ability to analyse and use credible information (Behaviour 1).
• Ability to establish professional relationships and collaborate across stakeholders (Behaviour 2).

Welsh language skills are not essential but are desirable for candidates who meet equal weighting criteria.

Open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth citizens with right to work in the UK, EU nationals with settled status, Turkish nationals and their families, and certain other groups listed by the Civil Service.

Welsh Government recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.