David Leslie
Lockerbie,Dumfries and Galloway
Summary
Experienced professional with a strong background in project management, risk assessment, and technical liaison, complemented by expertise in health and safety compliance, budget management, and utility coordination. Demonstrates exceptional skills in site inspections, traffic management, and winter maintenance while ensuring adherence to safety protocols and site safety compliance. Adept at contract administration, task briefing, and performance monitoring with a proven ability to troubleshoot complex issues under pressure. Recognised for strategic thinking, effective communication, and technical leadership, including mentoring team members to achieve operational excellence. Committed to delivering high-quality results through teamwork, adaptability, and meticulous attention to detail in document preparation and billing reconciliation.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
2026
2026
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Senior Technician
Dumfries & Galloway Council
Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
2021.04 - 2026.04
- The main responsibilities, in addition to day-to-day revenue work since entering the post, have been managing the selection of roads for, and carrying out, the capital surface dressing and micro-surfacing programme for the east of the region while working to CDM Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, along with the associated raising of jobs in Integra, carrying out noticing on the Scottish Road Works Register (SRWR), and billing.
- I have also carried out the provision of several capital drainage schemes.
- All of these examples have increased my understanding of the financial control required in the provision of works within the budget set by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
- I, along with the other senior technicians, am actively involved in the weekly programming of revenue works and, following on from that, am responsible for the production of the works packages, which include the task briefing sheets highlighting safety matters, ensuring correct traffic management systems are in place, and RARS, supplying any relevant utility plans to ensure the work is carried out in a safe manner, and raising all relevant notices in the SRWR, including being responsible for ensuring the notices are opened and closed in a timely manner to avoid failures from the Scottish Road Works Commissioner.
- As another part of the duties, I previously participated in winter maintenance as a duty supervisor based in the depot when operatives were carrying out gritting, during periods of adverse weather, and currently as a duty officer making winter action decisions based on the assessment of the daily winter weather forecast.
- Recently, I assisted the Corporate Health and Safety team in carrying out testing of noise in the workplace, and I am involved in discussions of legislative requirements for hearing protection following that.
- Previously, I was responsible for Wards 9 and 10, working closely with the roads technicians to provide feedback to members of the public who raised enquiries and escalations of complaints, both via email and verbally, whether over the phone or face-to-face, but I now have shared responsibility for Wards 10, 11, and 12.
- Due to the many years of service and progression from labourer to senior technician, I have gained an excellent understanding of how maintenance work is carried out, both theoretically and practically, so I feel I am well placed to provide guidance where required. I am approached regularly by other team members to provide input into works being planned, which I am happy to give as part of a team where different people have different strengths, but work together for the good of the team.
- Supervised technical operations and maintenance tasks, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Coached junior team members to maximise knowledge, competencies, and increase performance.
- Adhered to health and safety regulations, promoting a safe working environment.
- Reviewed completed work to verify accuracy and address discrepancies.
Technical Support Officer
Dumfries & Galloway Council
2018.04 - 2021.03
- At employment, I was specifically responsible for the day-to-day running of the external framework agreements with both Scottish Water and Scotia Gas Networks for the reinstatement of their works.
- This required ensuring work was completed by both sub-contractors and in-house operatives in compliance with the relevant agreements, New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Specifications for Reinstatements of Openings in Roads, and in line with the relevant DGC risk assessments and method statements, as well as the ongoing financial monitoring of the contracts.
- During this period, I also assisted with the selection and notification of sites for the National Coring programme; both external contracts were subject to external core sampling, so I had knowledge of what was required.
- Upon cessation of the contracts, I assisted for a short time in recording customer-related defects through the Report It option of the DGC website before helping under the Workstream 2 project, clearing some of the backlog of customer complaints within the Lagan reporting system, along with other staff members.
- I undertook statutory road inspections for several months and have completed a SVQ in Roads Inspections.
- I continue to do statutory utility inspections before recently moving to assist the Principal Technician in the running of the capital works resurfacing programme where I am learning about working within the DGC frameworks in place, assessing where best to utilise the expenditure available, Completing Construction Phase Plans and Task Briefing Sheets along with instructing and supervising works on site both in preparation of the resurfacing and during it.
- I have also worked on secondment with the Maintenance and Network Co-ordination team responsible for the issue of temporary traffic light permits but obtaining an overview of the works carried out in the team in respect of permits and TTROs.
- I also attend construction sites when required to carry out RCC inspections and measurements.
Senior Roads Operative
Dumfries and Galloway Council
2013.10 - 2018.04
- I was responsible for squads of operatives carrying out various activities such as patching, drainage, sign maintenance and traffic management, ensuring the activities were carried out in accordance with DGCs health and safety requirements along with the Safety at Street Works and Road Works: A Code of Practice and the Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8, Part 2: Operations as required.
- As a senior roads operative I had to be aware of ensuring any instructions, objectives and risks are understood by the team I was responsible for by using good clear communication and by checking their understanding of the requirements.
- I have also been fully cognisant of the fact that we are the face of the council that members of the public see frequently so strived, not only personally but every team member, to maintain a good relationship with them when approached on site and to try to answer any queries in a professional manner.
- During this period I also 'acted up' by covering foreman duties when required to do so, both during the normal working day and also during winter maintenance activities and also covered the storeman duties too.
- I continued to learn and expand my knowledge of various regulations we require to work to as should be expected from a long serving member of the roads team.
Roads Operative
Dumfries and Galloway Council
1992.08 - 2013.10
- During this period I worked as part of squads, both as a manual operative and lorry driver, carrying out all normal activities associated with roads maintenance including surfacing, patching, drainage, kerbing and sign maintenance and winter maintenance duties gaining knowledge and understanding of all of these duties within Annandale and Eskdale leading to specific knowledge of local issues which I have been able to utilise and impart to operatives currently having to deal with the same long term problems in some cases or give advice as to possible historic issues that may affect the work they are carrying out.
- I also acted as depot storeman for some 4 years during this period, responsible for stock maintenance and control along with ensuring the depot was compliant with health and safety requirements and all clothing and equipment issued to the operatives was fit for purpose and complied with the relevant regulations.
- From about 1996 I was also the acting foreman for the depot during holiday periods and participated on foreman duties for winter maintenance.
Forecourt Attendant
Townfoot Garage
1992.05 - 1992.08
- This was a continuation of my previous place of employment although my assistant managerial duties were drastically reduced as the new owners wished to do the majority of those themselves.
Assistant Forecourt Manager
Lockerbie Motor Shop
1984.11 - 1990.05
- I was responsible for stock control and rotation of all items sold in, and from, the forecourt shop which included the need to ensure there was always enough fuel supplies for the public as well as items required by the service department.
- This entailed being aware of seasonal demand to ensure that the company had both enough items for sale but not over-stocked which would have been a financial burden.
Barman
I & A Carruthers
1984.03 - 1984.10
- I was employed as a barman with no other specific duties.
Farm Labourer
Mosshead Farm
1984.02 - 1984.02
- General farm labourer and tractor man duties such as animal welfare and feeding.
Education
SVQ Level 5 - Construction Contracting Operations Management (SCQF Level 10)
Scottish Vocational Qualification - Construction Site Supervision (Construction): Highways Maintenance and Repair at Level 3 (SCQF Level 7)
Scottish Vocational Qualification - Construction and Civil Engineering Services: Highways Maintenance at Level 2
03.2019
Higher English - Compensatory O-Grade
Lockerbie06.1982
O-Grade - English - B, Geography - B, French - B, Mathematics - C, Arithmetic - C, Physics - C, Chemistry - C
Lockerbie06.1981
Scottish Vocational Qualification - Winter Maintenance - Level 2
Skills
- Project management
- Risk assessment
- Health and safety compliance
- Budget management
- Winter maintenance
- Technical understanding
- Adaptable
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Skilled multitasker
- Strategic thinking
- Task prioritisation
- Resilient under pressure
- Effective communicator
- Technical mentoring
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
- I actively participate in long range target shooting, building my own ammunition after stringent testing to aid accuracy during competitions. I have won multiple competitions in Scotland and the UK, having been a UK class champion in 2014 at 600 yards and 2nd in class at 1000yards. I have also won numerous smallbore leagues within the Cumbria & Northumbria Target Shooting Association in multiple disciplines.
- I follow various rally championships, having competed as a navigator in local events and also been a stage commander in command of all stage safety and timing personnel on the Scottish Rally for numerous years while it was included in both the European and British Championships. I have also been a Sector Commander on the Rally GB when it was included in the World Rally Championship
- I am a keen hobby photographer.
Timeline
Senior Technician
Dumfries & Galloway Council
2021.04 - 2026.04
Technical Support Officer
Dumfries & Galloway Council
2018.04 - 2021.03
Senior Roads Operative
Dumfries and Galloway Council
2013.10 - 2018.04
Roads Operative
Dumfries and Galloway Council
1992.08 - 2013.10
Forecourt Attendant
Townfoot Garage
1992.05 - 1992.08
Assistant Forecourt Manager
Lockerbie Motor Shop
1984.11 - 1990.05
Barman
I & A Carruthers
1984.03 - 1984.10
Farm Labourer
Mosshead Farm
1984.02 - 1984.02