000B 738A / 1 – Engineer (Highways)

Job Details

Work Pattern: 35 hours per week, 9 am till 5pm

PAYE Pay Rate: £22.89 per hour

About the Role

Manchester City Council is seeking an experienced Highways Development Control Engineer to join its Highways Development Control Team. The successful candidate will play a key role in assessing planning applications and ensuring that new developments meet highways and transportation requirements.

You will provide specialist technical advice to the Planning Authority, developers and external stakeholders, assessing the impact of proposed developments on Manchester’s highway and transport networks. The role will involve managing a varied caseload, including major residential, commercial, leisure and education developments.

Typical Day Overview

  • Review and assess new planning applications and condition discharge submissions.

  • Evaluate transport assessments, highway layouts and technical reports.

  • Identify potential impacts of developments on the highway and transport networks.

  • Provide technical advice and recommendations to planning officers and developers.

  • Liaise with developers and external stakeholders to negotiate highway improvements.

  • Manage and prioritise a varied caseload of planning applications.

  • Attend stakeholder meetings and support Planning Committee discussions.

  • Ensure developments comply with highways legislation, policies and technical standards.

Key Responsibilities

  • Assess planning applications and condition discharge submissions, providing technical highways and transport responses.

  • Manage a caseload of planning applications, including complex and major developments.

  • Review highways designs, transport assessments, technical reports and supporting documentation.

  • Provide technical advice and guidance to developers, planning officers and external stakeholders.

  • Lead pre-application discussions and negotiate with developers to secure appropriate highways improvements.

  • Ensure developments comply with relevant highways legislation, policies, standards and guidance.

  • Negotiate and support the delivery of Section 278 and Section 38 highway agreements and planning conditions, where applicable.

  • Build strong working relationships with Transport for Greater Manchester, developers, contractors and internal Council departments.

  • Support Planning Committee meetings and provide advice on highways-related matters.

  • Contribute to the development and review of local highways policies and technical guidance.

  • Identify risks, resolve complex technical issues and recommend appropriate solutions.

  • Maintain professional development and keep up to date with industry standards and legislation.

Key Skills

  • Highways Development Control

  • Planning Application Assessments

  • Highways and Transport Planning

  • Section 278 / Section 38 Agreements

  • Highways Legislation and Regulations

  • Technical Report Writing

  • Developer and Stakeholder Negotiation

  • Highways Design Reviews

  • Risk Assessment and Problem Solving

  • Project and Caseload Management

Essential Requirements

  • Significant experience working within a highways environment.

  • Strong background in Highways Development Control.

  • Experience assessing or reviewing planning applications and highways/transport submissions.

  • Experience working with developers, planning authorities and external stakeholders.

  • Knowledge of highways legislation, policies, standards and technical guidance.

  • Minimum HNC or Degree in a relevant Highways, Engineering or Planning discipline.

  • Strong technical report writing, analytical and communication skills.

  • Ability to manage a varied caseload and work independently.

Desirable Requirements

  • Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status.

  • Membership of a relevant professional engineering or highways institution.

  • Experience with Section 278 and Section 38 agreements.

  • Experience supporting major development projects and planning committees.