Road surfacing manager

Road surfacing managers plan and supervise the construction of road surfaces and pavements. In doing this, they take into account factors such as drainage and quality of materials.

Also known as:

• Highway surfacing manager
• Surfacing manager

Work activities

Road surfacing managers plan and supervise the work of road workers, who make and spread material such as concrete and tarmac on roads. Other duties include setting out and measuring the site and designing and constructing pavements. They take into account factors such as drainage, quality of materials and safety. They also direct the use of machinery that paves, rolls, sprays and compresses the surfacing materials. Most of the work is outdoors, although road surfacing managers spend some time in the office. They draw up specifications and estimates, keep records of progress, negotiate contracts and keep time sheets for the road workers. Road surfacing managers are responsible for ensuring health and safety rules are followed.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

• Knowledge of all current health and safety issues in this industry.
• Good people skills and the confidence to lead and motivate.
• To know all about quality control procedures, as you will be involved in every stage of the road surfacing work.
• Very good organisational skills, as the work can be varied and many tasks will need monitoring.
• Knowledge of the materials used in road surfacing such as asphalt.
• Good IT skills.

Pay and opportunities

Salaries vary depending on the organisation and level of responsibility. According to the jobs site Glassdoor, pay ranges from £33,000 to £57,000 (based on 8,900 salaries). Trainees and those at the beginning of their career can expect to earn significantly less.

Road surfacing managers work a full-time week. However, you may have early starts, late finishes and some weekend work.

Employers include local authorities and engineering firms employed on road surfacing contracts. Opportunities for road surfacing managers occur with employers in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job and Find an Apprenticeship services.

Entry routes and training

If you have A-levels or equivalent, you may combine on-the-job training with part-time study for relevant qualifications. Some road surfacing managers have HNCs/HNDs or foundation degrees. In some cases, entrants will be educated to degree level. Courses linked to construction will be most useful for people wanting to get into this career. A level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship in the role of road surfacing operative is also a good stepping stone into this job.

Once in employment, you will receive training both on- and off-the-job.

Experienced managers can move into senior positions. Local authorities have a structured set of promotion routes.

Qualifications

For entry to most posts, you’ll need a minimum of the following:

• Two A-levels. Maths and a science subject are useful.
• Four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English and maths.

Most people going into this career start in junior positions and work up. Therefore, it is possible to gain entry to a post with lower level qualifications than stated above. To begin an intermediate apprenticeship in the more junior position of road surfacing operative, you will need GCSEs in maths and English, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

Check with each individual company for their qualification requirements.

To enter a relevant HNC, HND or foundation degree, you will usually need:

• One A-level. Preferred subjects include maths and physics.
• One GCSE at grades 9-4 in your A-level subject.
• A further three to four GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English, maths and a science subject.

Other qualifications are often acceptable as alternatives to A levels, for example:

• Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

For entry to a degree course in a relevant subject, the usual requirement is:

• Two to three A-levels.
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A-level subjects.
• A further two to three GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English, maths and a science subject (physics preferred).

Other qualifications are often acceptable as alternatives to A levels, for example:

• Edexcel (BTEC) Level 3 National qualifications.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Entry requirements for different courses vary, so check university prospectuses for more details. 

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

It can be difficult for people to gain employment without relevant qualifications or skills, such as those gained within the road building industry.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Numerous institutions offer construction-based qualifications via distance learning, including The College of Estate Management.

Sponsorship for study at higher education level is sometimes available through the larger quarry and road surface materials production companies.

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