Job Description

Operations Manager - Highways Maintenance, Local Authority

6 month ongoing contract to support the service

Location: West Yorkshire (District-Based)

Salary: £55k Target 

Contract: Temporary Interim | Full-Time

Sector: Highways, Local Authority, Environmental Services, Public Realm, Civil Engineering, Utilities, and Infrastructure Operations

A leading UK public-sector organisation is seeking an experienced Highways  Operations Manager to lead a team and a high-profile frontline highway services maintenance and upkeep across a major West Yorkshire district. This is a senior operational leadership role with visibility at corporate, community and political levels-ideal for a proven leader in highways, civils, construction operations, environmental services, or large-scale public realm delivery.

The role oversees a complex portfolio including:Highway maintenance, Public Rights of Way, Land drainage, Gully maintenance, Winter services, weather response, Operational depots, Fleet & plant with Multi-million-pound assets and budgets

You'll lead c60+ skilled and semi-skilled frontline staff, manage a multi-functional operational depot, and take responsibility for statutory services that keep the district's network safe, open, and resilient.

Key Responsibilities - Operations Manager, Highways - Local Authority

Lead and manage diverse multi-skilled frontline teams delivering district-wide highway, drainage, and winter maintenance operations.

Oversee planned, reactive, and emergency works, ensuring safe and efficient operation.

Act as Transport Manager under the organisation's Operator's Licence, managing fleet compliance and high-risk operational environments

Manage capital and revenue delivery through internal teams and contractors

Ensure full compliance with CDM, Health & Safety legislation and safe systems of work

Maintain high-profile public-facing services, respond to weather events and highway emergencies

Develop and manage multi-million-pound operational budgets, assets, and equipment

Build strong working relationships with stakeholders, elected members, trade unions ns, and contractors

Drive service improvement, innovation, and workforce development

Key Requirements- Senior Operations Manager, Highways - Locl Authority

Significant senior operational management experience in highways, civil engineering, environmental services, construction, utilities, or large-scale public realm operations

Strong leadership of large, dispersed frontline teams and unionised workforces

In-depth understanding of H&S, CDM, risk, compliance, and management of high-risk operational sites

Proven experience managing complex operational budgets, plant, vehicles, and large-scale assets

Experience coordinating contractors and delivering large capital/revenue programmes

Strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to lead in a politically aware environment

Full driving licence

Degree in Civil Engineering (or extensive equivalent experience)

IOSH Managing Safely & to obtain CPC Transport Manager if required

Experience in Highways , unionised environments,  and Civil Engineering / Highways Contractors encouraged

Why This Role? Operations Manager, Highways

Lead one of the region's most high-profile, essential, and visible public services

Autonomy to shape service direction, improvement, and operational strategy

Significant influence across regeneration, infrastructure, and environmental projects

Manage a major operational team with meaningful community impact

Senior leadership presence with political, community and multi-agency visibility

All enquiries and applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Contact (url removed) or (phone number removed)

Public Sector / Local Authorities

Highway Operations, Road Maintenance, Winter Services, PROW, Fleet Management, Environmental Services, Highway Inspector, Highway Asset Management

Industry: Government Administration, Civil Engineering, Construction, Infrastructure, Transport / Logistics

Highway Operations, Environmental Services, Transport, Public Works

Job Functions:

Operations / Maintenance

Engineering / Technical Services

Fleet / Transport Management

Civil / Highway Engineering

You are likely to be a Highway Operations Manager, Highways Maintenance Manager  Senior Highway Engineer, Winter Services Manager, Highways Asset Manager, Senior Civil Engineer - Roads.

Principal Consultant - Highways, Construction Manager - Highway Schemes

Omega is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. Omega does not charge candidates any recruitment or job‑seeking fees at any stage of the hiring process