Highway Maintenance Officer - Environmental
This role has a starting salary of £33,552 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.
We are pleased to invite applications for the position of Highways Maintenance Officer (Environmental), joining our dedicated and highly regarded Highway Maintenance Team. The team is based in Merrow, Guildford, with access to additional offices across the county which can be used as flexible work locations.
This role involves a blend of fieldwork, home working, and time in the office, offering variety and autonomy.
Our Offer to You
- 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
About the Team
The highway is the most valuable asset managed by Surrey County Council with a replacement value of approximately £7.5bn and is critical to the economic growth of the County. It is regarded by members and residents as one of the most important services provided by the Council. As such, the service manages significant financial, health and safety, and reputational risks. The service operates in an environment with significant political engagement, and has daily contact with MPs, cabinet members, backbench members and committees. The team are the eyes and ears on the ground and support significant or emergency events.
About the Role
We are seeking a proactive and customerāfocused Highways Maintenance Officer (Environmental) to support the delivery of highāquality environmental services across our area. In this varied role, you will coordinate maintenance activities, manage contractor performance, and help ensure excellent service standards for our residents.
This is a key public-facing role and will act as a central point of coordination for the delivery and support of a wide range of environmental maintenance activities. The primary focus of the post will be on highway grass cutting, weed control, and wider vegetation management across the network.
Reporting to the Senior Environmental Maintenance Officer, you will work as part of a responsive and adaptable team responsible for managing issues across a broad geographical area, primarily within the east of the county. The role requires flexibility, strong communication skills, and the ability to support service delivery in a fast-paced operational environment.
Working closely with a range of internal teams and external service providers, you will play a key part in delivering value for money, maintaining compliance, and ensuring our public spaces are wellāmaintained and safe.
Key Responsibilities
- Respond to customer enquiries and manage resident expectations regarding environmental maintenance services.
- Handle customer complaints professionally, both online and in person, ensuring timely resolution.
- Meet with service providers to carry out contract compliance audits, preparing clear written reports for your line manager.
- Monitor the performance of grassācutting, weedācontrol, and vegetationāmanagement contractors.
- Communicate effectively with residents, stakeholders, and elected members, promoting an understanding of the frameworks within which Highways and Transport operate.
- Work closely with Highways Maintenance Officers and the Customer Care Team to ensure issues are addressed in line with policies and procedures.
- Conduct regular site visits using mobile technology to assess conditions, gather information, and make informed decisions.
You will thrive in a role that offers new challenges each day—whether investigating grassācutting concerns, assessing weed growth, or addressing vegetation encroachment on footways. Strong communication skills are essential, as you will regularly engage with residents, contractors, and elected members, always upholding high customer care standards.
Shortlisting Criteria
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- Comprehensive understanding of highway maintenance and how it impacts both the network and users
- Knowledge of grounds and vegetation maintenance
- Pro-active and flexible approach, seeking to find practical solutions
- Knowledge and practice of current site safety procedures and guidance, as well as temporary traffic management
- Excellent communication skills
Contact us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
For an informal discussion please contact Mark Collings by e-mail at mark.collings@surreycc.gov.uk and/or telephone at 0300 2001003.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 14/06/2026 with interviews to follow.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council
Our Commitment
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.