Principal Lab Manager

About the job.

As part of the development of our Digital Services function, we are recruiting to strengthen our internal digital capability. These roles are central to building sustainable in-house expertise that supports the design, development, and delivery of digital solutions across the transport network.

A key focus of this campaign is creating new opportunities. As a result, we are recruiting a Principal Lab Manager to play a leading role in shaping the future of digital services across National Highways.

Our Digital Lab develops and manages innovative data products and services in-house, while building strategic external partnerships that increase adoption of our digital assets to improve customer journeys and support the efficient operation of the Strategic Road Network.

As Principal Lab Manager, you will lead the development of high-value B2B partnerships with external organisations, including wayfinding providers and data aggregators such as Google, Waze, HERE, INRIX and TomTom. Working closely with Digital Services teams and senior stakeholders, you will define and deliver strategies that maximise adoption and unlock value from our £69 billion data assets. You will ensure products and services are commercially sustainable, technically robust, and designed around user needs and experience.

This is a hybrid role based at any National Highways office location, with an expectation to attend the office for two days per week, including weekly travel to collaborate with the team

• Lead the Digital Lab team in shaping, scoping, and delivering connected services that support RIS strategy goals and business plan priorities, unlocking National Highways platforms, assets, and intelligence to improve customer experience through external adoption.
• Develop and manage senior strategic partnerships across the mobility ecosystem, including road authorities, automotive organisations, and data aggregators, creating shared value and delivering outcomes aligned to National Highways goals and values.
• Drive cross-directorate collaboration with product, data, and digital teams to maintain high-performing connected services, ensuring effective service management, delivery against KPIs, continuous improvement, and efficient operational performance.
• Own the strategic promotion and positioning of the Digital Lab, representing National Highways externally at industry forums and internally through leadership events and workshops to influence future strategy and strengthen collaboration.
• Provide effective operational leadership of the team, ensuring compliance with governance frameworks including budget management, forecasting, business planning, delivery controls, risk management, audit, communications, and people policies.

About you.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capability, with proven experience building trusted relationships with senior and executive stakeholders, navigating complex environments, and delivering outcomes through effective negotiation and collaboration.
• Deep product leadership experience, with the ability to define, communicate, and evolve product and service vision and roadmaps using data, insight, and user feedback to ensure continuous value delivery.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical capability, able to translate organisational goals and complex information into clear strategy, prioritisation, and long-term direction.
• Strong governance and assurance experience, with a track record of managing complex dependencies, ensuring effective controls, and improving governance frameworks across technical and organisational environments.
• Commercially and financially experienced, with a proven ability to manage budgets, supplier relationships, and procurement activity, including supporting tender evaluations, financial governance, and driving value for money through effective delivery and FinOps principles.

About us

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.

The Digital Services Directorate is helping to reshape the way National Highways operates by delivering digital, data, and technology services across all areas, from frontline to back office, in a modern and efficient manner. Our vision is to develop integrated information and technology that empowers our colleagues and provides real-time information to our customers, as well as integrating with intelligent vehicle and transport systems as they evolve, to enhance journey safety and reliability.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.