Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
References
Professional Development and Memberships
Timeline
Generic

Daniel Wharton

North Wingfield,United Kingdom

Summary

Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in highways operations and emergency response, specialising in winter maintenance and severe weather planning. Demonstrates proficiency in NEC3/NEC4 contract management, CDM, Highways Act, and NRSWA compliance. Proven track record in operational leadership and workforce development, with a strong focus on budgeting, procurement, and commercial planning. Adept at negotiation techniques and customer relationship management, ensuring effective stakeholder and public engagement. Committed to innovation and sustainable construction practices while maintaining resilience under pressure. Career goals include advancing strategic planning initiatives to enhance performance monitoring and quality assurance across diverse environments.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience
29
29
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Contracts Manager – External Contracts/Surfacing/Planned Maintenance

Derbyshire County Council
Stonegravels, Derbyshire
2019.12 - 2025.11
  • Lead the operational delivery of planned, reactive, and emergency surfacing works across the county to achieve deliverables.
  • Manage multi-skilled teams, subcontractors, and plant resources to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery.
  • Facilitated successful audits adhering to strict documentation requirements of contracts department.
  • Managed complex contracts for successful project delivery.
  • Developed detailed contract specifications to meet client expectations.
  • Achieved enhanced supplier performance through diligent monitoring and feedback mechanisms.
  • Oversaw daily operations and contract management for site teams.
  • Conducted site surveys, visits and inspections ahead of deadlines, ensuring HSE guidelines are met.
  • Built and sustained strong professional relationships with key stakeholders including coaching employees and building strong teams.
  • Summarised complex contractual issues for stakeholders to enhance understanding for non-technical audiences.
  • Selected, trained and performance-managed staff to build results-focused team.
  • Administered expenditure, preventing budget overages with successful control strategies.
  • Coordinate winter maintenance mobilisation and emergency response to severe weather and flooding events.
  • Ensure compliance with NEC contracts, CDM regulations, and environmental standards.
  • Collaborate with internal departments, elected members, and the public to communicate works programmes and resolve service issues.
  • Support workforce development through mentoring, training, and succession planning.
  • Deputise for senior managers in operational forums and strategic planning meetings.

Senior Technician DLO

Derbyshire County Council
2017.05 - 2019.12
  • Provided technical and operational support for highways maintenance and improvement projects.
  • Assisted in the planning and delivery of highway works, ensuring compliance with specifications and safety standards.
  • Supported emergency response coordination and winter service planning & delivery.
  • Liaised with external contractors, utilities, and internal teams to ensure programme alignment.
  • Established effective communication channels with stakeholders ensuring transparency on project progress.
  • Utilised advanced tools effectively for comprehensive system analysis.
  • Maintained compliance with industry standards during all stages of projects execution.

Senior Civil Engineering Technician

Derbyshire County Council
2015.04 - 2017.05
  • Delivered technical drawings and specifications for highways and infrastructure schemes.
  • Supported feasibility studies, site investigations, and quality assurance processes.
  • Contributed to the development of operational performance measures.
  • Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
  • Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.
  • Ensured health and safety regulations adherence during all projects.
  • Monitored construction activities regularly, maintaining high-quality standards at all times.
  • Visited sites to review work progress and drive process improvements.
  • Collaborated cross-functionally with technical and non-technical personnel to meet project objectives.
  • Motivated site teams to achieve quality results against construction deadlines.

Project Chargehand

Derbyshire County Council
2009.05 - 2015.04
  • Supervised site teams delivering highways maintenance and improvement works.
  • Ensured compliance with health and safety procedures and engineering standards.
  • Managed plant, materials, and site logistics to optimise delivery.
  • Inspected machinery regularly, prevented downtime due to unexpected breakdowns.
  • Improved efficiency with regular team briefings and feedback sessions.
  • Led by example, fostered a culture of hard work and integrity within the team.
  • Coordinated between various teams for smooth operations.
  • Conducted training sessions, improved skill sets of new joiners.
  • Assigned tasks, ensured timely completion of projects.
  • Enforced strict health and safety regulations on site ensuring worker safety was a top priority.

Civil Engineering Training Scheme

Derbyshire County Council
2005.08 - 2009.05
  • Completed a structured training programme gaining experience across multiple disciplines: Highways Design, Highways Laboratory, Development Control, Traffic and Safety, Structures, Direct Labour Organisation (DLO), and Policy & Performance.
  • Developed technical skills in design, testing, compliance, and operational delivery.
  • Achieved HNC in Civil Engineering & NRASWA Supervisor certification.
  • Built a strong foundation in civil engineering principles and public sector standards.
  • Assisted in preparing technical documentation and site layouts.
  • Conducted site surveys and inspections.
  • Supported engineers in day-to-day operations inc Materials & Ground testing on the additional junction to the M1 Motorway (JCT 29a).

Roadworker / LGV Driver

Derbyshire County Council
2003.06 - 2005.08
  • Operated LGVs and plant machinery for road maintenance and construction.
  • Carried out manual surfacing, drainage, winter maintenance and emergency repairs.

Trainee Roadworker

Derbyshire County Council
2001.10 - 2003.06
  • Gained hands-on experience in road construction and maintenance.
  • Completed NVQ Level 2 in Highways Maintenance.

Trainee Roadworker

Tarmac/Carillion
1999.01 - 2001.10
  • Entry-level role learning the fundamentals of highways work.

Education

SMSTS - Site Management Safety Training Scheme

CITB
Denby, Derbyshire
2023.08 - 2023.08

HNC - Civil Engineering

Sheffield College
Sheffield
2006.09 - 2008.08

ONC - Civil Engineering

Chesterfield College
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
2004.09 - 2006.08

NRASWA Supervisor - Highways Maintenance

Derbyshire Highways Training Centre
Ambergate
2006.09 - 2020.08

NVQ Level 3 - Highways Maintenance

Chesterfield College
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
2001.10 - 2003.08

GCSEs - GCSEs

Tupton Hall School
Tupton, Chesterfield
1993.09 - 1998.08

Inspiring Leaders Programme - Leadership & Development

Derbyshire County Council
Matlock, Derbyshire
2024.09 - 2025.03

Derbyshire Leadership & Management Programme - Leadership & Development

Derbyshire County Council
Matlock, Derbyshire
2019.09 - 2020.05

BEng (Hons) - Civil & Infrastructure Engineering

University of Derby
Derby
2015.09 - 2018.08

Skills

  • Highways Operations & Emergency Response
  • Winter Maintenance & Severe Weather Planning
  • NEC3/NEC4 Contract Management
  • CDM, Highways Act & NRSWA Compliance
  • Operational Leadership & Workforce Development
  • Budgeting, Procurement & Commercial Planning and Oversight
  • Negotiation techniques and Customer relationship management
  • Leadership and strategic planning skills
  • Plant, Fleet & Resource Management
  • Stakeholder & Public Engagement
  • Performance Monitoring & Quality Assurance / KPI tracking
  • Innovation & Sustainable Construction Practices
  • Leadership in diverse environments
  • Inspiring motivation and showing resilience under pressure

References

References available upon request.

Professional Development and Memberships

  • SMSTS Certified
  • CSCS Manager
  • NHSS Traffic Management NHSS12 certified
  • Ongoing leadership and management training
  • Experienced in NEC contract administration
  • Familiar with ISO standards and quality assurance frameworks
  • Eng Tech ICE

Timeline

Inspiring Leaders Programme - Leadership & Development

Derbyshire County Council
2024.09 - 2025.03

SMSTS - Site Management Safety Training Scheme

CITB
2023.08 - 2023.08

Contracts Manager – External Contracts/Surfacing/Planned Maintenance

Derbyshire County Council
2019.12 - 2025.11

Derbyshire Leadership & Management Programme - Leadership & Development

Derbyshire County Council
2019.09 - 2020.05

Senior Technician DLO

Derbyshire County Council
2017.05 - 2019.12

BEng (Hons) - Civil & Infrastructure Engineering

University of Derby
2015.09 - 2018.08

Senior Civil Engineering Technician

Derbyshire County Council
2015.04 - 2017.05

Project Chargehand

Derbyshire County Council
2009.05 - 2015.04

HNC - Civil Engineering

Sheffield College
2006.09 - 2008.08

NRASWA Supervisor - Highways Maintenance

Derbyshire Highways Training Centre
2006.09 - 2020.08

Civil Engineering Training Scheme

Derbyshire County Council
2005.08 - 2009.05

ONC - Civil Engineering

Chesterfield College
2004.09 - 2006.08

Roadworker / LGV Driver

Derbyshire County Council
2003.06 - 2005.08

NVQ Level 3 - Highways Maintenance

Chesterfield College
2001.10 - 2003.08

Trainee Roadworker

Derbyshire County Council
2001.10 - 2003.06

Trainee Roadworker

Tarmac/Carillion
1999.01 - 2001.10

GCSEs - GCSEs

Tupton Hall School
1993.09 - 1998.08
Daniel Wharton