Permit Officer

Purpose of the role

We are looking for a proactive and detail-focused Permit Officer to join our Network Management team in Portsmouth, PO6 1TA. You will play a key role in ensuring the safe, efficient coordination of works on the highway network, helping to minimise disruption and maintain the free flow of traffic across the city.

You’ll be responsible for assessing and managing permit applications, coordinating works with utilities and internal teams, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and codes of practice.

Main Responsibilities

The Permit Officer will be responsible for reviewing, assessing and issuing permit applications in line with national and local conditions, ensuring all notices and permits are processed within statutory timescales. The role involves assessing the nature, location, timing and duration of works and events on the highway network, identifying potential conflicts and opportunities for coordination. The Permit Officer will liaise daily with works promoters, utilities and internal teams to manage impacts effectively, negotiating and, where necessary, instructing promoters to reschedule works to minimise disruption. They will apply statutory controls under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Traffic Management Act 2004, including setting permit conditions, issuing Fixed Penalty Notices and Section 74 overrun charges. The role also includes proactively identifying opportunities for collaborative working, monitoring works promoter compliance through system checks and site visits, invoicing permits, attending coordination and client meetings, assisting with enquiries from the public and stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with company administrative and quality assurance procedures, with flexibility to work out of hours when required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have worked in a similar environment and has a clear understanding of permit schemes and how they operate in practice. The ideal candidate will come from a highways or utilities background and have experience of street works, network management or works coordination. You will have a good working knowledge of the Safety at Street Works Code of Practice and an understanding of permitting, noticing and coordination processes under the Traffic Management Act and New Roads and Street Works Act, supported by relevant guidance and codes of practice. You should be comfortable working to targets and tight deadlines, be numerate and computer literate with strong Microsoft Office skills, and be able to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders. Relevant qualifications such as NRSWA or CSCS are desirable but not essential.

Package Description

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A salary between £29,000 and £33,000 (dependent on experience)
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays 
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal