Asset Specialist – Strategic Road Network

ID 3765

The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

Vacancy details

Asset Specialist – Strategic Road Network  

01/06/2026, 16:00 

Permanent
A starting salary between £47,675 and £52,557 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable. The pay scale of this role has a salary band between £47,675 and £56,445 in 4 annual increments. Pay progression is based on annual incremental advance to the next point on the scale (awarded subject to satisfactory performance) until the employee reaches the target rate
SEO £47,675 to £56,445
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Economy, Energy and Transport
Transport and Digital Connectivity
Highways
Pan Wales

‘Pan Wales’ means the post holder can be based in any Welsh Government office, subject to business needs. Roles based outside Wales, including London, are not available unless explicitly stated in the advert.

A list of the Welsh Government’s offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.

The post holder’s travel from their home to their assigned Welsh Government office is considered their ‘ordinary commute’ and must be done in their own time and at their own cost.

The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is one of Wales’ most vital infrastructure assets, valued at approximately £21 billion. Although it makes up just 5% of the total road length, it carries around one-third of all road traffic, playing a key role in connecting communities, supporting the economy and providing access to essential services.

This post is part of a wider recruitment campaign to strengthen the Welsh Government’s Strategic Road Network Division. Over the coming months, we will be building a diverse and skilled team to enhance our capability as a highway authority, ensuring we continue to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable transport infrastructure across Wales. This is an exciting opportunity to join a delivery-focused and inclusive team and help shape the future of the SRN. Your work will make a real difference to people’s lives, network resilience and the Welsh economy.

What You Will Be Doing

As part of the Network Management function, you will provide technical leadership and asset management expertise across defined asset groups on the Strategic Road Network.

This role has responsibility for the management, performance and improvement of the following asset areas:

  • Vehicle Restraint Systems (VRS)
  • Air quality monitoring infrastructure and associated intervention measures
  • Noise monitoring and mitigation assets
  • Highway boundary fences and associated third-party interfaces
  • Historical assets associated with the Strategic Road Network.

You will support the planning, management and oversight of investment in these asset areas and ensure they are maintained, renewed and improved in line with relevant standards, legislation and Welsh Government objectives.

Asset Specialist. Key Focus

  • Developing, maintaining and implementing asset management approaches for Vehicle Restraint Systems, air quality monitoring infrastructure and interventions, noise monitoring and mitigation assets, highway boundary fences and interfaces, and historical assets, including inspection, maintenance, intervention and lifecycle management.
  • Producing national-level assessments and reporting on the condition, performance and risk of these asset groups, providing clear evidence to support investment, environmental and operational decisions.
  • Leading prioritisation, investment planning and long-term renewal strategies across these asset areas, ensuring funding is targeted at the highest-risk, poorest-condition or most critical assets.
  • Embedding consistent, standards-compliant and evidence-led engineering, environmental and asset management principles across maintenance, renewal and improvement programmes.
  • Working across engineering disciplines and with the Supply Chain and delivery partners to ensure coordinated, efficient and high-quality delivery.

You will also support the development and implementation of the Welsh Government’s approach to asset strategy for the SRN, helping to shape the long-term direction for safe, resilient and well-governed infrastructure management, supported by robust asset data, digital systems and clear technical governance.

Why Join Us

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. You will be joining a team that values collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, and where your work will play a central role in protecting the resilience, safety and environmental performance of Wales’ Strategic Road Network.

You’ll also benefit from an exceptional employee package. As a Welsh Government employee, you’ll be automatically enrolled into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which offers one of the most generous employer contribution rates in the UK (28.97% employer contribution), providing long‑term financial security that is difficult to match elsewhere. You’ll work a 37 hour week, enjoying 31 days of annual leave plus bank and privilege holidays, alongside flexible working arrangements and a hybrid working approach designed to support wellbeing, work‑life balance and productivity. We also offer a range of additional benefits, including cycle and green car schemes, discounted rail season tickets, and access to wellbeing and employee support programmes. For more information, visit Pay, pensions and benefits | GOV.WALES

Key Responsibilities:

  • Act as the Welsh Government’s technical specialist for Vehicle Restraint Systems, air quality monitoring and interventions, noise mitigation, highway boundary fences and interfaces, and historical SRN assets.
  • Lead the asset management of these asset groups across Wales, including condition assessment, risk-based prioritisation and intervention planning.
  • Develop and manage investment, maintenance and renewal programmes for these assets, ensuring a clear, evidence-led and risk-based approach.
  • Apply relevant standards, guidance and legislation to provide robust technical assurance and support consistent decision-making across these asset areas.
  • Provide technical advice on asset performance, safety, resilience, environmental considerations and urgent operational issues affecting these assets and the wider network.
  • Lead the development and continuous improvement of digital tools, asset records, inspection regimes and technical governance arrangements for these asset groups.
  • Collaborate with the Supply Chain, local authorities, statutory bodies and other stakeholders to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across Wales.
  • Manage interfaces, environmental obligations and third-party risks associated with these asset groups.
  • Prepare technical briefings, investment cases and responses for senior leaders and Ministers on asset policy, performance and delivery matters relating to these asset areas.

Joining the Strategic Road Network Division offers the opportunity to operate at the forefront of national highway asset management and infrastructure delivery. We offer:

  • Exposure to high-profile national programmes across a range of highway asset areas, giving you experience at the forefront of national infrastructure delivery.
  • Opportunities to work directly with Ministers, senior Welsh Government officials and industry-leading partners across the UK, providing valuable insight into decision-making, policy development and delivery at a national level.
  • Professional growth in technical engineering, asset management, environmental monitoring, climate adaptation, programme planning and evidence-led investment prioritisation.
  • Experience representing Welsh Government in UK-wide forums and working groups, helping shape best practice and long-term strategic direction.
  • A supportive and inclusive team environment where diversity is valued and everyone is encouraged to thrive. You will have access to mentoring, peer learning and tailored professional development to support your growth within the role and beyond.

 

  • This role requires applicants to hold Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status
  • A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
  • This is a Pan-Wales role and can be based at any Welsh Government office. The successful candidate will be expected to attend their nearest office regularly (approximately 2 days a week) and undertake site visits (average of 1 a month) as a part of their role.
  • A valid UK driving licence is required for site visits not accessible by public transport.
  • In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Experience 1. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
  • In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score, the following list will be used to determine a merit order/which candidate will be appointed. Weighting the criteria - which candidate had the highest score for Experience 1, Experience 2, Making Effective Decisions and then Working Together.
  • A CV is requested as part of the application process. The CV is for information only and will not be scored as part of the assessment process. 
  • Reimbursement of the annual membership fee/subscription to a single professional institution will be provided, so long as it aligns with the requirements of the role.

 

Basic
1
EST-NMDMailbox@Gov.Wales

Welsh language requirements

3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.
0 - No skills
0 - No skills
0 - No skills
0 - No skills

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our AI candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection Process and Stages

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:2 stage process
Stage 1Application Form
Stage 2Interview

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these Behaviour criteria during the selection process.

Making Effective Decisions

Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions.
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Working Together 

Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders.
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Experience

We'll assess you against the following Experience criteria during the assessment process.
CV, Experience questions

Experience of managing highway asset management programmes, environmental assets, infrastructure interfaces or similar operationally critical assets, including prioritisation and investment planning at a network or programme level.

This will be tested at Stage 1: Application Form
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Experience of applying technical standards, policy and guidance to support evidence-led decision-making, and of providing clear advice and assurance on asset performance, risk, compliance or intervention needs to senior stakeholders.

This will be tested at stage 1: Application Form
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Eligibility

You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:
• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) 
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Social Model of Disability

Welsh Government has adopted the social model of disability, which recognises that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments, or health conditions, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language.

We are committed to removing barriers in the recruitment process so that all (or potential new) staff can perform at their best.

Recruitment adjustments can be made at any part of the recruitment process for candidates with an impairment or health condition, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language. 

Please get in touch with DiversityInRecruitment@gov.wales to discuss adjustments for any part of the process.

Inclusive Interview Schemes

We are committed to inclusive recruitment and offer interviews to eligible candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role through the following schemes:

Disability Confident

The Welsh Government is a Disability Confident Leader. As part of our commitment to this scheme we interview any candidate with an impairment, health condition, who is neurodivergent or who uses British Sign Language if they meet the minimum criteria for the post.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The Welsh Government operates the Great Place to Work for Veterans Initiative. As part of our commitment to this scheme we interview any eligible candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the post.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service employers can offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of civil servants who are at risk of redundancy and who meet the minimum criteria for the post
By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that candidates must provide us with evidence in their application (and/or test) that they meet the minimum level of competence for the role - usually defined as a minimum score of 4 per criterion.

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
• PCS
• Prospect
• FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
• Pay
• Terms and conditions
• HR Strategy, policies and procedures
• Health, safety and well-being
• Organisational change

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. We encourage you to learn more about our trade unions, partnership working and to get involved in their work.

Benefits

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

  • Civil Service Pension Scheme
  • 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
  • training and development opportunities
  • Cycle2Work Scheme
  • Smart Working flexible working arrangement
  • Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

Recruitment principles and complaints

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.

All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.

Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy-related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.

If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team.You can:

  • request an application pack in an alternative format
  • request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application

Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.

You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application.  Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there. 

Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.

If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page.  We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.

Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.

For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here.

For TS to G6 recruitment schemes: When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.

This opportunity is closed to applications.