Highway Safety Inspector

- Title: Highway Safety InspectorJob Details

Positions: 1

Salary: £34,660 to £36,943 per annum

Category: Highways

Contract type: Permanent

Working hours: 36 hours per week

Posted on: 29 October 2026

Closing date: 12 November 2026

Directorate: PLACE

Location: Surrey Highways Depot, Oxted Road, Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8BP

Description

The starting salary for this role is £34,660 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

Do you enjoy working independently and spending time away from an office environment?

Are you passionate about keeping Surrey's highways safe and making a difference to local communities?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Highway Safety Inspector to join our busy Network Safety Team, covering the East of Surrey.

Our Offer to You

26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (pro-rated for part time opportunities)

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 Role

As a Highway Safety Inspector, you will play a key role in maintaining the safety of the highway network by identifying and managing defects, ensuring compliance with the Council's Highway Safety Inspection Policy, and helping to protect all road users. While Highway Inspection and NRSWA qualifications would be advantageous, they are not essential, as full training and support can be provided to help you achieve these qualifications.

In this role, you will carry out routine highway safety inspections using a combination of walking and driving surveys, identifying, assessing and prioritising defects in line with the Council's Highway Safety Inspection Policy and defect assessment matrix. You will accurately record inspection findings and ensure that appropriate remedial actions are initiated in a timely manner. The role also involves investigating and supporting insurance claims relating to highway safety defects, responding to customer enquiries about reported issues, and providing appropriate resolutions. Working closely with colleagues, contractors and other stakeholders, you will contribute to maintaining a safe and reliable highway network for the communities we serve.

We are looking for individuals who thrive both working in a team and independently, strongly believe in inclusivity and respecting others, and who have a dedication to safety. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a visible impact on the safety and quality of Surrey's highways while working as part of a dedicated and supportive team.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

Enjoy working independently and managing their own workload.

Have excellent observational and decision-making skills.

Be confident assessing risks and prioritising safety issues.

Possess strong communication and customer service skills.

Be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.

Hold a full UK driving licence.

* you will be asked the following 4 questions:

1. What appeals to you about the role of Highway Safety Inspector?

2. What can you bring to the role?

3. What does highway safety mean to you?

4. Are you willing to be flexible and be a team player?

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 12/11/2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Contact UsLocal Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027. This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1st April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is East Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year.

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 shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, 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.