National Highways
Principal Lab Manager
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About the job
As part of the development of our Digital Services function, we are recruiting to strengthen our internal digital capability. These roles are central to building sustainable in-house expertise that supports the design, development, and delivery of digital solutions across the transport network.
A key focus of this campaign is creating new opportunities. As a result, we are recruiting a Principal Lab Manager to play a leading role in shaping the future of digital services across National Highways.
Our Digital Lab develops and manages innovative data products and services in-house, while building strategic external partnerships that increase adoption of our digital assets to improve customer journeys and support the efficient operation of the Strategic Road Network.
Responsibilities
As Principal Lab Manager, you will:
- Lead the development of high-value B2B partnerships with external organisations, including wayfinding providers and data aggregators such as Google, Waze, HERE, INRIX, and TomTom.
- Work closely with Digital Services teams and senior stakeholders, defining and delivering strategies that maximise adoption and unlock value from our £69 billion data assets.
- Ensure products and services are commercially sustainable, technically robust, and designed around user needs and experience.
- Lead the Digital Lab team in shaping, scoping, and delivering connected services that support RIS strategy goals and business plan priorities.
- Develop and manage senior strategic partnerships across the mobility ecosystem, creating shared value and delivering outcomes aligned to National Highways goals and values.
- Drive cross-directorate collaboration with product, data, and digital teams to maintain high-performing connected services.
- Own the strategic promotion and positioning of the Digital Lab, representing National Highways externally and internally.
- Provide effective operational leadership of the team, ensuring compliance with governance frameworks.
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About you
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability.
- Deep product leadership experience.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability.
- Strong governance and assurance experience.
- Commercially and financially experienced.
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About us
Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers, and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork, and ownership.
The Digital Services Directorate is helping to reshape the way National Highways operates by delivering digital, data, and technology services across all areas, from frontline to back office, in a modern and efficient manner. Our vision is to develop integrated information and technology that empowers our colleagues and provides real-time information to our customers, as well as integrating with intelligent vehicle and transport systems as they evolve, to enhance journey safety and reliability.
External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.
We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
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