Bridge Manager

Bridge Manager

Location: Bristol
Job Type: Permanent
Hours: 40 hours per week

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Bridge Manager to lead the management, maintenance, and long-term performance of one of the UK's most significant highway structures.

This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of the Avonmouth Bridge, a critical section of the M5 motorway network. Spanning approximately 1,388 metres across the River Avon, this major steel box-girder bridge carries in excess of 100,000 vehicles every day, making it one of the South West's most strategically important transport assets.

As Bridge Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the technical, engineering and operational management of the structure, ensuring the bridge remains safe, compliant and available for the travelling public. You will lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for inspections, maintenance, renewals and improvement schemes, whilst acting as the primary interface with our client's stakeholders and delivery partners.

This is a highly influential leadership role requiring strong engineering expertise, commercial awareness and the ability to coordinate complex operational activities within a live highway environment.

The Role

Reporting into the senior management team, you will be responsible for the safe and efficient delivery of all bridge inspection, maintenance and renewal activities, ensuring works are completed in accordance with contractual requirements, engineering standards and industry best practice.

Working closely with project teams, designers, specialist contractors and the client, you will develop and deliver long-term asset management strategies that maximise the lifespan, resilience and performance of the bridge while delivering exceptional value for money.

You will also provide visible leadership across operational teams, ensuring the highest standards of health, safety, quality and environmental performance are consistently achieved.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall engineering, operational and asset management of the Avonmouth Bridge.
• Manage specialist inspections, structural assessments, cyclic maintenance, reactive repairs and major renewal schemes.
• Provide technical leadership throughout the planning, design, construction and delivery of bridge maintenance and improvement projects.
• Act as the principal point of contact for the client, developing strong relationships and providing technical advice on asset performance and future investment.
• Coordinate bridge access, traffic management, specialist contractors and supply chain partners to ensure works are delivered safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption to road users.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams including Engineers, Project Managers, Bridge Inspectors and operational delivery teams.
• Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations, contractual obligations and all relevant statutory requirements.
• Oversee emergency response and incident management, ensuring rapid mobilisation and effective restoration of the network.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, productivity and value for money.
• Manage bridge-related assets, facilities, equipment and operational stock.
• Implement and maintain management systems in accordance with the Purple Book, bridge operational manuals and relevant maintenance standards.
• Ensure full compliance with ISO Management Systems.
• Monitor programme delivery, budgets, commercial performance, risk and resource utilisation across all workstreams.
• Promote a positive safety culture and ensure all activities are delivered in line with industry best practice.

About You

We're looking for a confident engineering leader with extensive experience managing complex bridge or major infrastructure assets within a highways or civil engineering environment.

You'll be equally comfortable leading people, engaging with senior stakeholders and making critical engineering decisions within operational environments.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant experience managing the maintenance, inspection and operational performance of large bridge or highway structures.
• Strong technical knowledge of structural engineering, bridge inspection and asset management principles.
• Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary engineering and operational teams.
• Proven experience delivering complex maintenance, renewal or infrastructure projects from inception through to completion.
• Strong understanding of NEC contracts and contract administration.
• Experience managing programmes, budgets, commercial performance, risk and operational delivery.
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, specialist contractors and supply chain partners within live operational environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience working alongside senior clients and delivery partners.
• Strong understanding of CDM Regulations and Principal Contractor responsibilities.
• Experience working in high-risk, safety-critical environments where operational resilience is essential.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to drive efficiencies and deliver value for money.
• Excellent communication, leadership and decision-making skills.

Desirable

• Chartered Civil Engineer (MICE), Chartered Structural Engineer (MIStructE), or working towards Chartership.
• NEC4 Accredited Project Manager.
• Chartered Project Professional (APM), PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent.

Ardour Associates values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.