Principal Highway Drainage Engineer

Job Title: Principal Highway Drainage Engineer

Contract: Permanent

Location: Unit 3, Thorn Business Park, Hereford

Hours: 37

Salary band: HC10 £46,142 - £50,269 per annum

Closing date: 29/05/2026

The Role

This is an exciting time to join the Highways and Public Realm team at Herefordshire Council. We are transforming how highways and public realm services are delivered across Herefordshire, bringing them back under direct Council control for the first time in years. From June this year (2026), we will be working in a new way that gives us greater flexibility, more local accountability, and a sharper focus on quality and value for money.

By joining us now, you’ll be part of a team shaping the future of essential services that residents rely on every day from maintaining roads and green spaces to keeping our streets clean and safe.

We can offer the chance to make a real difference in your community, work with a dedicated team, and help deliver improvements that matter. If you’re looking for a role where you can take pride in what you do and be part of positive change, we’d love to hear from you.

What will you be doing?

In this role you will be responsible for managing the highway drainage system across Herefordshire. You will be the person who ensures that issues that are reported to us are investigated in a timely manner and that they then get fixed by raising jobs through to our partner contractors or through liaison with water companies through our annual programmes. You will also be responsible for developing and ensuring delivery of a county-wide gully and drainage asset cleansing programme. You will work closely with our Flood Risk Management team to mitigate the likelihood and impact of flooding from the highway network on property and with our Road Safety and Traffic Management team to develop plans to keep the network moving in times of extreme weather.

About You

• Knowledge / experience of investigating and resolving highway drainage system problems.
• Experience of highway drainage design and designing and implementing SuDS.
• Comprehensive knowledge of key highway legislation including the Highways Act 1980 and flood risk management legislation including the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Flood Risk Regulations 2009, Land Drainage Act 1991, etc.
• Experience of working positively with key stakeholders and communities.
• Experience in reviewing highway drainage plans as part of the development management process, and willing to get involved in developing highway drainage schemes and progressing new projects.

We Offer

• Salary range of HC10 £46,142 - £50,269 per annum.
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Career progression: clear pathways to progress.
• Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum during the request period.
• Flexible working: including the potential for job-sharing, part‑time hours and agile working.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
• Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
• Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the "Disability Confident" scheme.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.

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