Newham Council is seeking a Director of Highways, Parking & Transportation to lead and manage the borough's highways and transportation network. The role is graded at SMR/E for which the salary is currently budgeted for within the Environment & Sustainable Transport cost centre.
Key areas of focus for this role and important to Newham residents include aspects such as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and Healthy School Streets.
The Chief Officer Appointment Committee convened on 24 October 2025, to discuss the establishment of an appointment sub-committee for the role within the Environment & Sustainable Transport (EST) directorate. The committee was asked to agree on the size and membership of the sub-committee, which will be responsible for making the appointment. The Public reports pack stated that the size and membership of the Chief Officer Appointment Sub-Committee should be made in line with requirements, including that it be reflective of the council's guidance on diverse recruitment panels, as detailed in Appendix B Supplementary Guidance - Diverse Recruitment Panels.
The job description states the purpose of the role is:
To lead and manage a portfolio of activities and provision within the directorate, designed to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the borough's Highways, Parking and transportation network. To develop and deliver policies that ensure that management and use of the borough's highways, parking and transportation network is contributing to wider council strategies to tackle the climate emergency and to promote community wealth building.
The Director is expected To develop and deliver policies that ensure that management and use of the borough's highways, parking and transportation network is contributing to wider council strategies to tackle the climate emergency and to promote community wealth building.
The essential qualifications and experience for the Director of Highways, Parking & Transportation role include:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent level of work experience at a senior level relevant to the field.
- Hold corporate membership of either a highways and transport related professional body, and/or relevant experience
- Evidence of continuing professional/management development.
- Appreciation of major reforms and best practice relating to service area.
- Comprehensive knowledge of issues/challenges for the service, nationally/regionally and locally.
- Track record of successfully delivering complex programmes or projects relating to the service area.
- Knowledge of current issues and statutory and regulatory requirements for service area
- People management at an organisational level including motivation, performance and capability.
- Providing strategic leadership to a range of directly relevant functions, maximising efficiency, different delivery models and improving performance.
- Commissioning or delivering operations at a senior level.
- Effective Partnership working at a senior level.
- Leading, managing and delivering transformational change in a complex organisation.
- Experience of the application and development of Digital solutions in a changing environment.
- Managing budgets, financial information and the budget setting process at a senior level.
- Understanding, appreciation and working within the political context and environment at a senior level.
- A detailed understanding and awareness of the inspection regime for the designated area of service.
The council has procured Penna as its external recruitment partner to assist with sourcing potential candidates. Penna will be responsible for the search, longlisting, and initial technical interviews.
The proposed timetable includes:
- Briefing with Penna: Mid October 2025
- Role goes live/ Advertising campaign launched: Early November 2025
- Application closing date, search ends: Early December 2025
- Longlisting: By end of December 2025
- Technical / Line Manager interviews: January 2026
- Short-list meeting: By end of January 2026
- One to One with CEX: February 2026
- Stakeholder Panel: February 2026
- Youth Panel: February 2026
- Appointment Sub Committee interview: WC 2 March 2026
- Successful candidates offered, and references taken: By end of March 2026
The Youth Panel is part of the selection assessment centre, which takes place prior to the final interview. The selection assessment centre also includes a Carer Resident panel and a Stakeholder/Partner Panel. The feedback from the Youth Panel will be considered as part of the overall assessment of candidates.
The hiring manager for this position will be the Corporate Director of Environment & Sustainable Transport, who will be permanently filled from 27 November 2025.
