Highways Development Management Engineer

Highways Development Management Engineer

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We’re looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Highways Development Management Engineer to join our Highways and Transport Service. You’ll be at the heart of shaping how new developments across the area impact our transport network, ensuring they deliver safe, high-quality and sustainable solutions. In this role, you will assess the transport and highways impacts of planning applications, provide clear and practical technical advice, and negotiate with developers to secure the right improvements.

You’ll play a key part in managing and coordinating developer contributions, including Section 106 and Section 278 agreements, and oversee the design and delivery of highways works funded by developers to ensure they meet the highest standards. You’ll also work closely with colleagues, elected members, stakeholders and local communities to help create accessible, efficient and sustainable transport networks that support growth and improve quality of life across West Northamptonshire.

Based in the Highways Development Team, you will work closely with colleagues across the wider transport service. Your day‑to‑day tasks include providing technical highways and transport advice on planning applications, negotiating with developers to secure necessary improvements, overseeing the design and delivery of works funded through Section 106 and Section 278 agreements, coordinating developer contributions, ensuring they are effectively managed and aligned with local transport priorities, engaging regularly with planning, regeneration and transport colleagues, and taking ownership of budget management, risk monitoring and progress reporting.

• Solid understanding of highways engineering principles and the development management process, together with knowledge of planning legislation, transport policy and sustainability issues relevant to local government.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, ability to review technical drawings and transport assessments, provide clear advice and negotiate outcomes that balance growth with sustainable transport objectives.
• Confidence in working independently, using initiative, and managing competing priorities under pressure.
• Ideal qualifications include a degree in civil engineering, highways, or transport planning, and experience in preparing and presenting technical reports.
• Project management training and experience in handling Section 106 and Section 278 agreements would be an advantage.

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on hours worked), plus bank holidays; additional 5 days linked to continuous service and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill‑health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme.
• Payment of professional subscription/membership if your job requires you to be a member of a professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 support.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Flexible working options (full or part time, term time, 9‑day fortnight, etc. subject to business needs).
• Support for hybrid and collaborative working through our West Ways of Working.
• An opportunity to make a difference and contribute to improving people’s lives in the local area.

At West Northamptonshire Council, it’s about our people. We thrive on ambition, new ideas, better ways of working and caring about every detail. Our vision is ‘to make West Northamptonshire a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. Our values – Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower – underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. The council is committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC to enable all colleagues to develop and maximise their full potential.

We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner. If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email for support.

West Northamptonshire Council, where careers thrive.