Head of Planning & Development

Operations is at the heart of keeping the strategic road network moving and ensuring our customers get the best possible experience when using our roads.

We're looking for a Head of Planning and Development to join our Operations team in the South East. In this pivotal role, you'll use your understanding of the asset management lifecycle and stakeholder insight, to develop long term plans for our future capital delivery projects that put customers at the heart, are commercially viable and meet National Highways' strategic objectives.

We address over 39,000 customer enquiries every month, plan and deliver all maintenance activities on the network, drive efficiencies and improvements across our systems and roads, and respond to incidents across 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads that we manage. All to make sure National Highways customers have safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys.

• Shape viable plans: Develop and prioritise business and asset plans with robust budget forecasting that delivers value.
• Enhance Asset Management: Drive capability and improvements in engineering practices and investment decisions to optimise asset performance and efficiency.
• Lead positive change: Inspire high performance across cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and talent growth.
• Proactively assess regional demand: Use diverse data sources to understand future needs and inform strategic asset management planning.
• Secure sustainable development: Oversee effective delivery of planning control services that align with broader economic, social, and environmental goals.

The successful candidate will be subject to a National Security Clearance

• Effective stakeholder management and communication skills.
• 3 year employment history references
• Proven asset management knowledge/skills, including up to date understanding of CDM and health and safety regulations.
• Qualifications and/or professional membership check (if applicable)
• Strategic, with demonstrable experience of developing long term business and asset management plans.
• Collaborative, with the ability to lead, engage and inspire diverse teams across boundaries.
• Proven ability to lead and manage business change and associated risks and issues.
• Driving licence check (if applicable)
• Social media and adverse journalism check
• DBS criminal record check
• Fit to work questionnaire (for all), followed by a medical check (if applicable)
• Understanding of financial, commercial and contractual principles, with the ability to apply these to manage and influence performance.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.

A connected and sustainable working approach has been adopted across National Highways. For some roles, this means being able to work in a hybrid way spending up to 60% of time working from a remote location such as home.

As an integral part of our regional management team, you'll also be dedicated to enhancing and improving the safety and experience of customers on one of the busiest parts of our network, with opportunities to help shape our strategic imperatives and vision.

Our benefits package

We offer many different ways to work flexibly and we're open to discuss part-time working, job shares, and flexible start and finish times. Please wait until the interview stage before asking us about flexibility, and we will explore what is possible.

• Flexible hours and an approach driven by connected and sustainable working which includes hybrid working
• Life assurance of 4 times annual salary
• Right to work check
• Money friendly with access to a discounts platform including over 3000 discounts for supermarkets, eating out, leisure, holidays. Alongside a financial wellbeing programme
• Contributory pension scheme with employer contribution of up to 10%
• Family friendly with enhanced maternity leave and pay, paternity leave (15 days), shared parental leave, adoption leave. Plus access to financial support for holiday play schemes and paid special leave (up to 5 days pa), eg for caring responsibilities
• Our total reward package includes basic salary, the potential for a performance related bonus
• Health and wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7 365 days and network of mental health first aiders. Plus access to a wellbeing app to enhance your self-care 24/7, Occupational health service and flu vaccines
• Significant investment in your career development, through learning and development, talent management, coaching, mentoring and on job experience
• Community friendly - offering paid leave to volunteer, 3 days basic/year
• Annual Leave starting at 26 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising by 1 day each year up to 31 days (plus Bank Holidays)
• A cycle to work scheme for the purchase of a bicycle and equipment for healthy, low carbon travel