Highways Maintenance Operative

Company:  CLT AREA 9 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Location:  Walsall
Country:  United Kingdom
Type of Contract:  Permanent
Publication Date:  4 Nov 2025

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.  

 

https://youtu.be/UfW2V6iUHpw

 

Purpose of the role

Colas are responsible for the eight-year Maintenance & Response contract for National Highways Area 9. The contract covers around 2,300 miles of Strategic Road Network within Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire, as well as parts of Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. We deliver cyclical maintenance, reactive maintenance, incident response, severe weather response and minor works in a region that has five strategically critical motorway interchange junctions, as well as being at the heart of the new HS2 network. Area 9 is a critical transport hub enabling customer journeys across the UK.

 

At Colas, we are looking for Highways Maintenance Operative (HMO) to join the team based at our Bescot depot, WS1 4NL. We are looking for HMOs. As a HMO you’ll be working as part of a team to carry out highway’s maintenance duties as well as winter maintenance, and emergency response when required. Activities will vary across Traffic Management to carrying out maintenance activities such as Gully Emptying, Soft Estate, Street Furniture Repair, Winter Maintenance etc. To lead by example regarding all matters of health and safety, ensuring compliance is adhered and any incidents well documented and reported using correct tools i.e EcoOnline/CheckSafe etc

Main Responsibilities

 

As a Highways Maintenance Operative you will undertake various Highways Maintenance activities from Gully Emptying, Winter Maintenance, Sweeping & Cleaning Activities, Soft Estate Clearance, Traffic Management, and others as required to effectively maintain the Highway Infrastructure. You will work closely with your team members to promote effective Health & Safety within the workplace. Ensuring defined safe systems of work and risk assessments are adhered to. You will actively participate in Incident Management & Winter Service. You will effectively use Colas plant and fleet and ensure all vehicles are checked safe before taking out in accordance with company policy. You will work within Colas’ processes to effectively manage administrative tasks such as timesheet collation, capturing plant, labour & material use etc. You will maintain professional approach positively reflecting the image of the company. You will undertake all other appropriate duties as assigned by your line manager or Ganger as required by the business. Ensuring the satisfactory completion of works in accordance with Colas Health & Safety practices. Working both nights and days, the candidate will be expected to participate in out of hours rotas for winter maintenance and emergency response, including stand-by. Overtime is available.  Ensure all activities are undertaken with due regard for the environment, to prevent pollution, comply with legal and corporate requirements and minimise environmental impact. 

Ideal Candidate

 

The successful candidates will have a full clean UK driving license. Any experience of Highways Maintenance and any relevant Highways qualifications is essential (VRS, TM, Gully Emptying, Soft Estate etc.). You will hold a Highways Passport and must have Winter Maintenance experience. You will have a can-do attitude and willing to work with initiative. You will be willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions and good communication skills and capable of working in high pressure environments is essential.  A class C HGV with CPC is preferable. It is desirable to have a strong working knowledge of Confirm and any associated software.

Package Description

 

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

 

  • A salary between £12.21 and £14.60 (dependent on experience and licences) - Monthly paid
  • Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
  • Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
  • 21 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

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business. 

 

Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice. 

 

Note to Recruitment Agencies                                                                                                                                         

In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable.