3841 - Head of Road Safety Delivery, Strategic Road Network

The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is one of Wales most significant public infrastructure assets, valued at approximately 18 billion. Although it represents around 5 per cent of the total road length in Wales, it carries approximately one third of all traffic and is critical to economic growth, community connectivity, access to essential services and the delivery of Welsh Government transport, climate and wellbeing objectives.

This post sits within the Strategic Road Network Division and forms part of a wider programme to strengthen Welsh Governments capability as a highway authority. You will join a team delivering high-impact national infrastructure programmes across Wales, responding to complex challenges including road safety, climate resilience, changing travel behaviour and increasing demand on the network.

As Head of Road Safety Delivery for the Strategic Road Network, you will have line management responsibility for a Road Safety Engineer at SEO level. You will provide strategic oversight, technical governance and assurance for road safety across the SRN. The role is central to translating ministerial commitments and policy ambitions into effective, evidence-based safety interventions that reduce fatal and serious injuries on Wales trunk roads.

You will work closely with Ministers, senior officials, technical specialists, delivery partners and external stakeholders to ensure that trunk road safety interventions are well-governed, aligned with international best practice and consistently delivered. This is a high-profile and influential Grade 7 role with direct impact on public safety outcomes across Wales.

You will have oversight of the Welsh Governments role in the Suicide and Self Harm Action Plan for the SRN and work with stakeholders to implement programmes of work.

You will also work closely with the Road Safety Policy team to ensure full alignment between policy and trunk road delivery, maintaining a strong two‑way relationship where policy direction informs programmes of work on the Strategic Road Network, and operational delivery insights from the programmes of work on the trunk road actively shape future policy development.

What You Will Be Doing?

As part of the Network Management function, you will provide leadership across the SRN to ensure road safety policy is implemented effectively, consistently and at pace. Your work will support the delivery of Safe System principles, national road safety programmes and major infrastructure schemes, ensuring alignment with Welsh Government policy, statutory duties and industry best practice.

Policy Delivery, Governance and Assurance

• Lead the strategic delivery of Welsh Government road safety policy on the Strategic Road Network, ensuring alignment with ministerial priorities and statutory obligations.
• Provide governance, assurance and compliance oversight to ensure trunk road safety interventions are evidence-based, well-governed and consistent with national and international best practice.
• Provide expert advice and briefings to Ministers, senior officials and Senedd Committees on road safety matters as they relate to the SRN.

Technical Oversight and Risk Management

• Provide senior technical leadership for road safety engineering across the SRN, embedding Safe System principles into infrastructure, investment and operational decisions.
• Assure major programmes and schemes to ensure compliance with road safety standards, risk management requirements and best practice.

Delivery of National Road Safety Programmes

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for national road safety initiatives on the SRN, ensuring effective implementation and measurable impact.
• Oversee monitoring, evaluation and performance reporting, providing clear assurance to Ministers and senior officials.
• Coordinate delivery across Welsh Government, Trunk Road Agents and key partners.
• Oversee the funding requirements for Road Safety and Suicide and Self harm prevention programmes for the SRN.

Stakeholder and Cross-Government Engagement

• Represent Welsh Government in UK-wide and international road safety forums, ensuring Wales remains aligned with emerging best practice.
• Build effective relationships with the Head of Road Safety Policy and stakeholders including enforcement partners, and external bodies to support delivery and public confidence.

Leadership, Workforce and Capability

• Provide leadership and development for the SRN road safety function, managing the Road Safety Engineer, and wider Trunk Road Agent roles, ensuring sustainable workloads and high professional standards.
• Lead workforce planning and capability development across Welsh Government and Trunk Road Agents, reducing reliance on external consultancy.
• Line management responsibility for a Road Safety Engineer.