Principal Road Safety Engineer

Are you passionate about creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable streets? Join our Road Safety Team within the City Transport Service, where we are leading the Safe Systems and Healthy Streets Approach to make our city’s roads safer and more accessible for all.

Bristol is a vibrant, exciting, diverse European City to live and work in. Come and help shape its future.

The City has ambitious plans to deliver an improved sustainable transport infrastructure, both in the City and within the wider region. These plans include:

• Transforming our local communities through the development of ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods’;
• Developing Mass Transit options for the city;
• Building on our success as Cycling City to further develop and implement a world class walking and cycling network in the city;
• Making school journeys safer and increasing walking and cycling by implementing School Streets;
• Trialling and testing new transport technologies through our ‘Future Transport Zones’ programme of work.

The Road Safety Team is committed to achieving the City Council's ambitious Vision Zero target—eliminating deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2040. Guided by the Safe Systems Approach, we work across multiple sectors to design and implement measures that improve road safety and support the Healthy Streets Approach, which puts people first and creates streets that promote active travel, clean air, and safer communities.

What will I be doing?

As a new team, it is an exciting time as our programme of activities will continue to develop over time based on our research into how we can deliver these aspirations. As a Principal Road Safety Engineer, you will take a leading role in shaping the city's road safety strategy, using data-driven methods and innovative engineering solutions to drive progress toward Vision Zero while integrating the Healthy Streets Approach. You will work collaboratively across teams and departments to ensure road safety is integrated into all aspects of city transport and infrastructure planning. You’ll also build strong partnerships with external stakeholders, including emergency services and local communities, to develop excellent road safety initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Road Safety Strategy: Drive the development and delivery of the City Council's road safety engineering and enforcement strategies. You’ll play a key role in implementing the Safe Systems Approach, continually improving and innovating to meet the Vision Zero target of zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2040.
• Healthy Streets Implementation: Embed the Healthy Streets Approach into every project and decision, prioritising safety, active travel, and well-being in street design. You’ll ensure road safety schemes promote walking, cycling, and community spaces while reducing vehicle dominance.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Work with other city departments and highway teams to raise the profile of the Safe Systems Approach. You’ll identify opportunities for their work to support road safety goals and integrate these principles into wider transport and planning projects.
• Partnership Building: Develop strong partnerships with local authorities, emergency services, community organisations, and other stakeholders. You will work jointly on road safety engineering, enforcement activities, and action plans that reflect a collective approach to casualty reduction and safer streets.
• Data: Collaborate with the Group Manager and Road Safety Technical Lead to enhance the City Council’s road safety intelligence. Use data to refine and improve road safety actions, ensuring that every project actively contributes to casualty reduction and Vision Zero.
• Project and Budget Management: Lead and manage road safety workstreams, overseeing project programming, resource allocation, and budget management. You’ll be responsible for delivering specific road safety projects that have a lasting impact on the city’s transport infrastructure.
• Road Safety Audits: Take charge of Road Safety Audits, overseeing policies, approving audit briefs, and ensuring audits are delivered to high standards. You will also undertake and coordinate audits to ensure compliance and safety in transport projects.
• Team Development: Mentor and provide guidance to other members of the Road Safety Team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. You will train and develop staff, ensuring that knowledge and best practices are shared across the team.
• Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the City Council at public consultations, events, and meetings on road safety issues. You’ll respond to enquiries from MPs, Councillors, businesses, and residents, ensuring that their concerns are addressed and incorporated into road safety strategies.
• Reporting and Advocacy: Prepare and present detailed reports on road safety matters to senior management, councillors, and formal council committees. You will be an advocate for road safety, championing the benefits of the Safe Systems and Healthy Streets Approaches.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with all Health, Safety, and Welfare policies as outlined by Bristol City Council.
• Promote equality and diversity in all aspects of project delivery, modelling best practices across the service.
• Maintain a high standard of work quality, adhering to current legislation and Council codes of conduct.
• Complete mandatory training as required by the Council, ensuring you remain up-to-date with health, safety, and safeguarding policies.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strategic Leader: You have a deep understanding of road safety engineering and can lead innovative strategies to achieve Vision Zero. You are passionate about creating safer, more sustainable streets that improve the lives of all citizens.
• Collaborative Communicator: You excel in working with diverse teams and stakeholders, bringing people together to drive forward common goals. You’re able to engage with a wide range of audiences, from councillors to local communities.
• Problem Solver: You use evidence-based approaches to develop road safety solutions, always looking for new ways to improve and innovate.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in shaping the future of urban transport in our city. By joining our Road Safety Team, you’ll be part of a mission to make our roads safer for everyone. You will work on projects that save lives, promote sustainability, and create safer streets for everyone. If you’re passionate about the Healthy Streets and Vision Zero movements and are ready to make a real impact, we want you on our team.

Join us and be part of a forward-thinking organisation that is transforming our city’s streets, creating a legacy of safety, health, and well-being for generations to come. Help us make a difference and become a driving force in achieving zero road fatalities by 2040.

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast-moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles, hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?
If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below. To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications; we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

For further information, please refer to the Person Profile, Job Description and Person Specification or alternatively, please contact Mark Sperduty via email at: Mark.Sperduty@bristol.gov.uk

At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Young People, Black and racially minoritised and Disabled candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.