The Role

• Would you like the opportunity to help shape the future of traffic and highways in two high performing London boroughs?
• Can you manage a team delivering high quality highway, traffic, and parking policy services to our residents?

If you answered yes, we want to hear from you!

We are looking to recruit a full-time permanent Head of Service to help play a key role in developing our traffic and parking policy services in a unique transformational period for London’s transport and highway services. This role is based in our Richmond Council’s offices in Twickenham.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Head of Engineering, with responsibility for traffic and parking policy services across both boroughs.

This is an opportunity to join a hardworking and busy team. You will manage a team of about 20 officers plus consultants providing strategic, operational, and motivational leadership of staff. You will need to ensure that high-quality services are provided including the delivery of traffic and transport programmes and projects with consistent delivery on time and to budgets.

You will be providing support and professional advice to Chief Officers and Council members on a daily basis on all relevant service matters, including advising on legislative developments, making policy proposals, writing and commenting on reports, and attending Member and committee meetings as required.

As you will be part of the management team for Traffic and Engineering Services, you will be expected to help shape and change the service, working with the Assistant Director and other Heads of Service to help mould a service that delivers high-quality transport and highway services to meet the evolving needs of our residents and stakeholders in the years ahead.

You will need:

• To be a Chartered Engineer and at least 10 years relevant engineering experience or;
• Degree in engineering and at least 8 years relevant postgraduate experience.
• Extensive engineering experience in a range of functions related to traffic and engineering and be able to demonstrate a good track record in the successful delivery of engineering programmes of works.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure in a busy and demanding environment.
• The ability to manage several complex programmes of work, working closely with other members of the team and other stakeholders.
• Strong communications and presentational skills and be able to successfully collaborate well with Council members, other teams, and external stakeholders.

In return, we offer you a stimulating and worthwhile role in a supportive working environment.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro-rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops, and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Sunday 28th March 2021

Shortlisting Date: Week Commencing 29th March 2021

Interview Date: Week Commencing 5th April 2021

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams, including females and minorities.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils