Road Surfacing Manager

Introduction

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.

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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 they 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.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a road surfacing manager, you need to be able to lead and motivate road workers. You should also have good organisational abilities and knowledge of health and safety issues and quality assurance procedures.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries vary depending on the organisation and level of responsibility.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Road surfacing managers earn in the range of £18,000 - £22,000 a year, rising to around £29,000 - £37,000. Higher earnings can make around £44,000 a year.

Road surfacing managers work a basic 37-hour week. However, you may have early starts, late finishes and some weekend work.

Employers throughout the UK include local authorities and engineering firms employed on road surfacing contracts.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now 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.

Those with relevant qualifications or skills and abilities gained in work within the road building industry have an advantage.

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.

City of Bath College offers a project diploma under their Highways Open Tech programme, by distance learning

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

• 2% of road surfacing managers work part-time.
• 7% have flexible hours.

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