Highway Maintenance Operative

Skilled Highway Maintenance Operative – Trunk Road Operations

Location: Bonnyrigg
Category: Operations
Full Time, Permanent, 40 Hours per week, Monday – Friday, Overtime and Standby Rota

BEAR Scotland is a leading provider of highway maintenance services across Scotland. We manage and maintain over 2,000km of Scotland’s trunk road network, tackling just about every imaginable task and working round the clock to help keep Scotland moving.

The South East Trunk Road Unit spans 506km through some of the busiest sections of the country, from central Scotland to through the Scottish Borders. Trunk roads in the South East range from the major multi-lane motorways across the central belt to roads through villages in the borders.

We have an exciting opportunity for experienced highway maintenance operatives to join our existing team on a full-time basis.

If you’re a capable, safety‑focused operative looking for very competitive rates, consistent hours, overtime and long‑term job security, this role is for you.

Roles and Responsibilities:

* Installing and removing temporary signs, cones and barriers

* General Carriageway maintenance and repairs

* Preparation, laying, compaction and removal of materials

* Hand patching with hot materials

* Drainage works – excavation, pipe laying and kerbing

* Scrub cutting and vegetation control

* Installing and maintaining road furniture

* Operating power tools, small plant and machinery

* Driving company vehicles, including tractors and vehicles with attachments

* Completing basic paperwork and fault reports

* Working safely at all times – protecting yourself, your team and the public

* Taking part in emergency and winter maintenance standby

* Winter duties including fitting blades and gritters, driving gritters and manual salting when required

Standby Requirement – You must be able to reach the Bonnyrigg depot within 30 minutes when on standby. This is non-negotiable due to emergency requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

* Full UK Driving Licence – essential

* LGV Class C – desirable

* Tickets for plant, traffic management or H&S are an advantage

* Proven experience in roadworks, highways or construction

* A strong, practical understanding of health & safety

* Willingness to be trained and work across different tasks

* Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions

* Experience using small plant and tools

We’re looking for operatives who turn up, work hard, work safe and get the job done right.

Why BEAR?

At the heart of our success is our people — talented, innovative, and dedicated individuals who drive everything we do. We’re committed to attracting and retaining top talent by offering a supportive and rewarding work environment.

In return, we provide:

* A competitive salary – Overtime, Nightshift and Standby Rates

* Training and upskilling opportunities

* Generous holiday entitlement

* Pension scheme

* Access to a range of employee benefits including annual leave purchase, Cycle to Work scheme, and our Employee Assistance Programme

We believe in empowering our team to grow, thrive, and achieve their full potential. Join a company that inspires you to deliver your best work and supports your journey to evolve and succeed.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to promoting fairness, inclusion, and diversity across all areas of our business