Interview with a Team Manager
	Name: Dave Milligan
	Position: Team Manager
	Location: West Midlands Regional Control Centre, Birmingham

Dave joined the Highways Agency after spending four years as a recruitment consultant. He now works as one of six Team Manager in the West Midlands. Based at the Regional Control Centre, which is open 24-hours a day, he manages a team of up to five Control Centre Operators on an 8 hour shift. (Shift patterns may vary to cover 24 hour a day service).

His primary duties include managing the workload of on-road Traffic Officers and working with the police to manage incidents on the motorways in the West Midlands.

“The role of a Team Manager involves a great degree of responsibility,” explains Dave.

“The decisions you make on a daily basis are safety critical and have a direct effect on people's lives. Work can be hard as you are in a stressful environment; as a Team Manager you are expected to make quick and correct decisions regarding incidents throughout the motorway network.

“My typical day starts by arriving early to check if any incidents have occurred on the network in the previous shift. I then receive a briefing from the previous shift supervisor and the Police Sergeant on duty.

“I then brief my team, and allocate them to their area of work; answering radios for our on-road Traffic Officers or answering the emergency roadside telephones.

“Once the shift then starts I am then responsible for constantly monitoring the motorways, through closed circuit television and computer screens. I also need to ensure that my staff are doing their job properly, and being supported as necessary.

“Team Managers manage Traffic Officers' attendance at incidents, and take the lead in setting the display signals on the motorway, giving drivers vital information about incidents and diversions ahead.”

Dave's advice to people considering applying to be a Team Manager: “My advice is to thoroughly research the role and the environment you will be working in. Not only will you be working 8 hour shifts that cover every hour of the day, you are also responsible for making decisions that impact on other people's lives.

“Computer handling skills are extremely useful as you can have up to seven separate screens to manage, but you do get used to it quite quickly. The work is tough but very rewarding.