Head of Profession - Highways & Traffic

Head of Profession Highways & Traffic

Reporting to: Head of Engineering Function - Operating Assets

Band: 5

Role type: Permanent

About Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of London’s transport network at the highest level. As Head of Profession Highways & Traffic, you will provide strategic and technical leadership for a high-value, safety-critical engineering discipline that underpins the capital’s urban realm and infrastructure. You will be key in enabling the delivery of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

Acting as the recognised technical authority within your field, you will define engineering standards, guidelines and policy for London’s strategic road network and traffic signal control equipment across London. You will influence enterprise-wide strategy, the future look and feel of London, and ensure the integration of complex systems across a world-class, multi-modal transport network.

This role is as much about people as it is about infrastructure. You will inspire and lead a high-performing community of engineers, shaping capability through strategic workforce planning and fostering a culture of professional excellence, safety, and inclusion. With significant influence across internal and external stakeholders, including the London Boroughs, cities worldwide, suppliers, industry partners and global transport organisations, you will position TfL at the forefront of engineering best practice and technical innovation.

You will be part of delivering our carbon reduction and energy efficiency goals, and you will be delivering climate adaptation measures. We act as the “engineering conscience” of the organisation, leading on technical safety and protection of assets. You will act on behalf of the Director of Engineering & Asset Strategy to ensure, we discharge our vital role in assurance as well as delivering TfL’s environmental commitments and supporting the Mayor’s ambition for a carbon neutral London by 2030.

About the role

Operating at the heart of Transport for London’s Engineering & Asset Strategy Directorate, you will lead across the entire asset lifecycle—from long-term planning through to delivery and continuous improvement—ensuring the network remains safe, sustainable, and fit for the future. You will play a critical role in delivering the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and our Vision Zero Action Plan, driving innovation and efficiency, and embedding a “one network” mindset across engineering teams.

You will ensure compliance with the relevant legislation, national and international guidelines and that internal regulatory responsibilities are appropriately discharged and that safe systems of work are in place and provide technical approval for all highways works for changes and new designs to the highway. In conjunction with other teams, you will ensure the overall safety integrity of the road traffic systems including managing the interface to other road traffic authorities such as the London Borough's and the Highways England.

As the Head of Profession Highways & Traffic you will be the leader of and accountable for our traffic engineering, highways engineering and traffic control engineering functions. You will be supporting engineering outcomes, delivery of projects and our operational businesses.

Showing personal and inspirational functional leadership, advocating modernisation and transformation to create a “can do” culture; you will move the business forward with all stakeholders, passionately demonstrating TfL’s vision and values.

About You

You are an accomplished engineering leader with a track record of operating at scale within complex, regulated environments. You bring deep technical credibility combined with the ability to think strategically, enabling you to translate long-term business objectives into actionable engineering strategies that deliver tangible outcomes for a major capital city or local authority.

You will have specific expert knowledge of road and traffic assets, their design, installation, and maintenance. Knowledge of interfacing across all adjacent assets/systems. Expert knowledge regarding issues of interoperability with other transport systems and type‑approval of safety‑critical assets. Expert knowledge of relevant company, British, EU and international standards and their practical, pragmatic cost‑effective application.

You are known for your ability to lead and unite diverse, multi‑disciplinary teams, creating a collaborative and high‑performing environment that drives results. Your leadership style is inclusive and forward‑thinking, with a strong commitment to developing talent and embedding continuous learning across your function.

Highly influential, you are comfortable engaging at executive level, shaping decision‑making, and building strong partnerships both internally and externally. You are equally adept at navigating complexity, analysing data, and making informed decisions that balance safety, performance, cost, and innovation. Above all, you are motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the daily lives of millions of Londoners by ensuring the resilience, reliability, and sustainability of the city’s transport infrastructure.

A Chartered Engineer (or equivalent) with extensive experience in the specification, design, testing, assurance, commissioning, maintenance and operation of highways and traffic systems, ideally a Fellow of the Institution of Highways & Transportation, Institute of Civil Engineers or equivalent.

Essential Criteria (must have)

• Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent) and recognised professional standing within your discipline
• Extensive experience leading engineering strategy and technical delivery within large‑scale, complex infrastructure environments
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing engineering standards and ensuring compliance with regulatory and safety requirements
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience engaging at senior executive and industry level
• Demonstrated leadership of multi‑disciplinary teams, including capability development, workforce planning, and performance management
• Significant experience operating within asset management and full lifecycle environments, including major programmes and operational systems
• Deep knowledge of transport systems or comparable complex asset environments, including commercial, legal, and procurement considerations
• Track record of driving innovation, continuous improvement, and efficiency within engineering or technical functions
• Ability to operate effectively in highly complex, safety‑critical and regulated environments while managing risk and delivering outcomes

Hybrid Working

Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4‑week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.