The role of a Highway Improvements engineer is to design and deliver improvements to the highways of Dorset. These improvements can include new active travel infrastructure, road safety improvements and making changes to junctions to improve the flow of traffic. Our engineers have a wide-ranging role, taking projects from inception through the design and engagement stages to construction and post project review.
About the Highway Improvements Team:
The Highway Improvements Team comprises five project teams to design, project manage and deliver a programme of safe, sustainable transport infrastructure to connect our communities. The schemes range from new high quality segregated cycleways, public realm enhancements, junction improvements, signalised crossings to new road construction to unlock residential and commercial development.
Dorset Council’s Highways Service has been successful in attracting external funding for active travel and road safety based improvement schemes and the team is at the forefront of delivering these projects using the latest national sustainable design standards.
Key elements of role
Length: 1 to 2 weeks, KS4/5 (YR 10 to 13), longer placements are available for further and higher education.
Aim: For students to gain a real experience of the workplace environment. One which allows them to learn new skills, gain confidence and develop their decision making towards future careers.
Key Responsibilities:
The role will involve learning about and participating in all stages of highways civil engineering projects within Dorset Council. Areas covered will include:
- highways and the role of local authorities.
- the civil engineering project lifecycle.
- health & safety at work and in civil engineering.
- transportation planning.
- project identification, initiation and funding.
- highway civil and signal engineering design.
- construction supervision and management.
- highways asset management.
There will also be opportunities to visit operational highways depots and live construction sites.
About You:
To make the most of this role, you should:
- be open to learning and trying new things.
- enjoy working with others as part of a team.
- be able to keep your tasks organized and manage your time.
- be enthusiastic and excited to learn about civil engineering, highways and construction.
This is a great chance for anyone interested in civil engineering, highways, construction or local government services. You’ll gain skills using AutoCAD and design standards that can be useful in many careers.
- Location: the placement will take place at County Hall in Dorchester.
- Hours: Monday to Friday (9am – 4:30pm with 30 mins for lunch) 4pm finish on Friday.
- Travel: transport to and from placement to be arranged by student
- Meals: if in the office, bring a packed lunch, or you are welcome to walk into town to buy lunch. A café is available onsite at the Dorchester office. Times of breaks to be agreed.
- Clothing: Smart, casual and appropriate clothing. Relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided as required.