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Cover of Road Manager Operations Capability Framework
Road Manager Operations Capability Framework
  • Publication no: AP-R736-25
  • ISBN: 978-1-922994-76-9
  • Published: 28 July 2025

The Road Manager Operations Capability Framework report outlines the required capabilities and skills for road manager operations to successfully respond to the identified emerging transport trends.

The report identifies four core capabilities and four operational capabilities for road manager operations. Each capability is supported by identified skills placed against a proficiency matrix. The core capabilities are: Communication, stakeholder engagement, leadership and change management. The operational capabilities are: Network management, incident and event management, system management and data and insights.

The transport sector is in a period of significant and fast-paced change globally, which is impacting the roles and responsibilities of road operators. Change occurring within the transport sector can be distilled into 5 key themes: Network safety; technological advancements; environment, sustainability and climate change; network demand changes; and customer expectations and stakeholder engagement.

This report examines the impacts these trends will have on the roles and responsibilities of road manager operations through a detailed literature review, which examines global responses and impacts of the key themes. It also draws on ongoing engagement with Austroads’ members to understand the existing roles and requirements of their respective road manager operations, and how each jurisdiction would respond to the emergence of key themes.

This summary distils the key information from the full project report to offer a concise overview of the framework's foundational concepts and its practical application across jurisdictions.

Watch a recording of the webinar to learn more.

  • Summary
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 Scope
    • 1.3 Methodology
      • 1.3.1 Research approach
      • 1.3.2 Engagement approach
      • 1.3.3 Report structure
  • 2. Context
    • 2.1 The current state – Australian and New Zealand road manager operations
      • 2.1.1 Key challenges in existing road manager operations
      • 2.1.2 Jurisdictions of road manager operations
      • 2.1.3 Functions of the road manager operations role
      • 2.1.4 Existing skills
  • 3. Global Themes in Transport Network Management
    • 3.1 Network safety
      • 3.1.1 Customer safety
      • 3.1.2 Physical infrastructure safety
      • 3.1.3 Cyber security
    • 3.2 Technological advancements
      • 3.2.1 Artificial Intelligence
      • 3.2.2 Connected and automated vehicles
      • 3.2.3 Drones and flying vehicles
      • 3.2.4 Electric vehicles and alternative fuel sources
      • 3.2.5 Digital and technological innovation
      • 3.2.6 Micromobility
    • 3.3 Environment, sustainability and climate change
      • 3.3.1 Carbon net zero
      • 3.3.2 Network resilience
      • 3.3.3 Climate change
    • 3.4 Network demand changes
      • 3.4.1 Competition for road corridor space
      • 3.4.2 Peak demand spread
      • 3.4.3 Managing network demand
      • 3.4.4 Multimodal connectivity
      • 3.4.5 Mobility as a service
      • 3.4.6 Movement and Place planning
      • 3.4.7 Precinct planning
    • 3.5 Customer expectations and stakeholder engagement
      • 3.5.1 Customer service
      • 3.5.2 Data availability and real-time access
      • 3.5.3 Short-term network planning
      • 3.5.4 Changing demographics
  • 4. Capability and Skills Assessment for Road Manager Operations
    • 4.1 Identified capabilities and skills
    • 4.2 Capability identification and analysis
      • 4.2.1 Existing operating environment
      • 4.2.2 Implications of key themes and sub-themes
    • 4.3 Priority capabilities
  • 5. Road Manager Operations Capability Framework
    • 5.1 Capability Framework purpose
      • 5.1.1 Overview
      • 5.1.2 Purpose
    • 5.2 Global insights in Capability Framework Development
    • 5.3 Road Manager Operations Capability Framework
      • 5.3.1 Proficiency levels
    • 5.4 Skills breakdown for road manager operations
      • 5.4.1 Core capabilities
      • 5.4.2 Operational capabilities
  • 6. Next Steps
    • 6.1 Jurisdictional differences
    • 6.2 Priority capabilities
    • 6.3 Additional requirements
    • 6.4 Application of Capability Framework
    • 6.5 Support in considering Framework adoption
  • 7. Recommendations
  • References
  • Appendix A Road Manager Operations Capability Framework: Proficiency Level and Skills Breakdown
    • A.1 Core capabilities
      • A.1.1 Communication
      • A.1.2 Stakeholder management
      • A.1.3 Leadership
      • A.1.4 Change management
    • A.2 Operational capabilities
      • A.2.1 Network management
      • A.2.2 Incident and event management
      • A.2.3 System management
      • A.2.4 Data and insights
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