Business Improvement Specialist

Join to apply for the Business Improvement Specialist role at Balfour Beatty plc

About The Role

Our Balfour Beatty Highways business has a terrific opportunity for a Business Improvement Specialist to join our £1.2 billion Lower Thames Crossing project, consisting of 43 bridges, including viaducts, 17km of complex highways construction, complex utility diversions and a scheme‑wide, industry‑leading approach to carbon reduction
.

Balfour Beatty Highways maintains, manages and operates major highway networks across the UK and supports local authorities to create communities where people want to live, work and play.

As a Business Improvement Specialist you will be tasked with supporting, managing and delivering continuous improvement and efficiency projects across Major Projects and Highways.

• Analyse current work practices to identify areas for improvement and educate on how to improve business and deliverable processes.
• Perform workplace audits and streamline processes within the area of responsibility.
• Map processes, value streams and identify inefficiencies in productivity with a focus on layouts, sequencing and programme improvements.
• Recommend changes that can cut waste from operating procedures.
• Deploy appropriate methodologies to solve problems and support teams; ensure an effective escalation process for problem‑solving.
• Demonstrate performance excellence behaviours and champion performance excellence.

• Support and coach less‑experienced team members.
• Foster operational excellence behaviours through coaching, mentoring and training.
• Support the development of strategic delivery and supply‑chain partners on site to ensure they are part of the improvement process and culture.

• Maintain an effective interface with other departmental staff.
• Provide feedback to the management team to share ideas and improve operations, recommending and implementing continuous improvement activities.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, quality and environmental standards and all company policies and procedures.

• Understand lean principles, tools and techniques.
• Awareness of ISO
  9001, 44001 and 18404 is an advantage.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to present data effectively.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Understanding of cost and financial impacts.
• Ability to work on own initiative.

• Relevant business/commercial, engineering or manufacturing degree preferred, but not required.
• Experience applying lean tools and techniques in a construction environment, including continuous improvement and problem‑solving, process improvement and poka‑yoke (error‑proofing) techniques.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent qualification.
• Substantial process improvement experience with demonstrable knowledge.

• 42 core base hours per week
• 25 days annual leave
• Pension savings schemes
• Whole host of other BB staff employee benefits (discounts, exclusive offers, etc.)
• Refer‑a‑friend bonus scheme
• Scores of other Balfour Beatty opportunities available via our careers portal.

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects—building and maintaining vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family‑friendly policies: 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave, four weeks full pay for paternity/partner leave.
• Pension, share‑incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more.

Balfour Beatty’s Highways business delivers major schemes, including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We put the road user at the heart of everything we do, working safely, reducing carbon emissions and adding social value to the communities we serve.

At Balfour Beatty we believe diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful,…