Job title: Principal Asset Evaluation Engineer

/ Directorate: Places
Post number: PLCO9501 / Division: Community Services
Grade:9 / Section/team:
Highways and Neighbourhood Services
Asset Management
Overall purpose of job:
To direct the work of Asset Evaluation Officers and Inventory Officer in the field of highway asset management. To ensure that the pavement management system (CONFIRM/UKPMS) is maintained, and provide specialist data analysis, to enable highway work programmes to be determined, and scheme priorities to be evaluated. To ensure that the asset management plan is developed and maintained, and national and local indicators are determined to support asset management levels of service. To provide specialist consultancy advice on construction, pavement and ground engineering investigations.
Post holders will be expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties, which reasonably correspond to the general character of the post and are commensurate with its level of responsibility.
Main responsibilities:
In conjunction with the Group ManagerAsset Management and Head of Highways & Neighbourhood Services ensure the implementation of the Service plan in accordance with given priorities resources and performance indicators.
In conjunction with the Group ManagerAsset Management, develop and maintain the transport asset management plan (TAMP).
Plan, undertake, and/or control surveys and inspections specialising in the field of pavement engineering in order to effectively monitor the condition of the authorities road network and infrastructure.
To determine annual work programmes and priorities based upon UKPMS analyses and visual inspection data.
To produce annual performance indicators and local indicators as required.
To maintain the UKPMS database and highway inventory
Carry out site inspections and evaluations
Provide specialist consultancy advice in the field of asset management and pavement engineering, materials and geotechnical engineering.
In conjunction with the Group Manager Asset Management, maintain and develop records in order to provide asset valuation data.
To act as functional representative, and ensure compliance with QA procedures within the ISO 9001 accreditation system
Lead and participate in cross Service projects and represent the service area/council on internal, corporate and external projects.
In conjunction with the Group Manager Asset Management monitor the effectiveness of the service in order to maximise the use of resources.
Identify and develop opportunities for development and continuous improvement to ensure that staff achieve their maximum potential.
To establish and maintain networks of contacts and information sources with key people and organisations in the functional environment.
Analyse interpret and appraise complex technical data in order to prepare technical reports giving advice and recommendations to North Lincolnshire Council.
To advise and liaise with Engineers and Designers within the Authority.
Train and instruct staff in the use of UKPMS and other specialist analysis software.
The Principal Asset Evaluation Engineer also works closely with the Asset Evaluation Officers, to ensure that workload requirements and staff resources are appropriately managed, in order to achieve required deadlines.
To deputise for the Group Manager Asset Management where appropriate.
Undertake such other appropriately graded duties and responsibilities, within the Highways & Neighbourhood Services, which may from time to time be allocated to the post.
To ensure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation in all aspects of work undertaken, including Construction, Design & Management Regulations (CDM), so that your own safety, and the safety of working colleagues and occasional visitors, is safeguarded so far as is reasonably practical.
To perform winter maintenance and other emergency duties, including participation in out of hours rotas, as necessary to ensure the Council fulfils its statutory obligations and achieves is stated objectives in respect of these functions, as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:
Essential
Knowledge and Experience:
A high level of technical and professional knowledge of and experience in the following:
Site investigation technology
Materials technology
Road pavement investigation
Civil Engineering Design
Pavement Design – Roads, Airport Runways etc
IT – manipulation of databases, spread sheets and specialist software
Pavement Management Systems
Quality Assurance Systems
Health and safety Legislation
Construction Design & Management Regulations (CDM)
Commercial awareness
Communication (verbal and written)
Supervision/prioritisation/motivation
Collecting and organising information record keeping etc
Creative and innovative thinking
Technical writing and interpretative reporting
Skills:
Good oral and written communication
Good inter-personal skills
Good time management and ability to meet tight deadlines
Innovative and creative thinking for solving technical problems
Customer care skills
Consultation and negotiation with public and clients
Driving on and off road
Creativity and innovation:
The work of the Principal Asset Evaluation Engineer involves the use of complex highway survey data, investigation and specialised consultancy work to provide cost-effective engineering solutions to schemes. This involves the research, investigation and consideration and use of innovative solutions perhaps using proprietary products and systems or combinations of both and also extensive past experience of the effectiveness of previous engineering solutions. It also includes advising on appropriate specifications and use of materials in construction. Included with this work is the development and use of appropriate IT hardware and software to aid analysis and presentation. For example a carriageway failure may require specialist investigation e.g. ground radar techniques, advanced deflection technology etc. Subsequent restoration may require the consideration of the appropriate use of geotextiles; proprietary materials such as thin wearing courses or grouted overlays. Poor ground conditions below a proposed structure may involve innovative foundation solutions e.g. ground improvement or injection grouting.
Solving maintenance and design problems and interpretative reporting is frequently less than straightforward owing to practical and financial restrictions.
Contacts and relationships:
Contacts include: Local Authority Partners (weekly), Framework Partner (weekly), Designers (daily), Officers in other service areas (monthly), Police (monthly), members of the public (as and when), other local authority Engineers (as and when), Managers and Designers (daily), External Consultants(as and when), Solicitors (annually), Architects and Builders (annually).
Contacts with any of the above are made as part of the working routine. Reasons for contact may be to negotiate for prospective consultancy work, discuss the details of an on-going project, provide technical advice, information and recommendations, exchange technical information/data, provide information to the public, provide information and recommendations in accident investigations, provide information to solicitors in claims cases, give information at Coroners Court, attend national seminars etc, order services and equipment.
Other contacts include the CIPFA, Environment Agency, research establishments, Highways England, Department for Transport, and Humber Bridge Board.
Decision making:
  • Technical decisions based on investigatory findings and data analysis
  • Decisions based on technical knowledge in the form of consultancy advice
  • Decisions on the most effective maintenance treatments and solutions required on identified schemes
  • Verification of report content and output prior to despatch
  • Use of sub-consultants and contractors
  • Allocation of resources to achieve deadlines

Responsibility for resources:
All items of plant and specialist equipment used by the team.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work demands:
With the need to analyse and report a large volume of complex data to produce work programmes, priorities, performance indicators etc, it is inevitable that changing local and national priorities will necessitate regular changes to emphasis and priorities. The post holder must manage these changes in conjunction with the Group Manager Asset Management.
Physical demands:
  • Walking across difficult terrain
  • Working in live traffic
  • Keyboard work
  • Carriageway Assessments – driving/walking/carrying/lifting/bending
  • Visual Assessments – driving/standing/walking

Working conditions:
Approximately 75% of the work will be office based 25 % site based.
There will be a requirement for site inspections and survey work, which may be required in all weather conditions. Most outdoor work will be carried out in a live carriageway situation. Other elements include:
  • Driving some 4000 miles per annum on business use
  • Working outdoors on green field, brown field, contaminated land and construction sites
  • Visiting and inspecting plants and quarries
  • Working in wet and cold conditions as the workload dictates

Work context:
By visiting trafficked sites, operational plants and quarries, there is inevitably an increased risk to personal injury.
These risks are part of the working environment on a daily/weekly and monthly basis as the projects demand.
Adequate training, risk assessment, safe-working procedures, use of PPE are in place to minimise these risks, in accordance with North Lincolnshire Council’s Health and Safety Policy.

Position in organisation:
Indicate how many staff the post is directly accountable for:
Are posts in more than one location? No
Is this at the same site? Are the posts managed highly mobile?
Is the supervision/management shared with another post in the structure? No
Please indicate which post(s) ______

The post is subject to:
Disclosure of convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exemption) Act 1974 No
Political restriction No
Employee:
(signed) / (print) / Date:
Manager: (signed) / (print) / Date:

Policy and Resources Cabinet Member – 19th September 2012, Implemented – 8th October 2012 Page 1 of 7