Job Purpose

** Internal Job title - Waterway Operative **

The Canal & River Trust is one of the UK’s largest charities, we maintain 2,000 miles of historic canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs, along with museums, archives and the country’s third largest collection of protected historic buildings – preserving them for future generations.  Our waterways are exciting, vibrant places to work. Every year we carry out extensive works to the Waterways over winter in our Winter Programme and as a result have a number of exciting vacancies to join the team. 

We currently have an excellent opportunity to join the Trust as a Construction Waterway Operative, carrying out more of the general (and more technical) maintenance/construction work needed to maintain our networks safety, heritage, and integrity.

All our Operatives help with vital maintenance, as well as being faces of the Trust as key (and often first) points of customer contact on the tow path.

Our Construction Operatives work an annualised hours system which includes working any 5 days out of 7 including statutory holidays, so you must be happy to work in an on-call rota, which will include some weekend working. You will also be working with other staff and volunteers, Operatives to undertake maintenance and repair works, operate assets and providing information to customers, as directed by your Team Leader.  

This flexibility is very important in order to be certain that we can respond to critical needs when they occur.  Please only apply if you are happy to work an average of 37 hours a week on a rotating shift pattern, with some emergency call out expected.  

Reporting to the base in Lancaster (LA2 OLQ)  this role will be based around the Lancaster & Preston area and  involve regular travel along the North West l network.

Occasionally you may also be required to work in other areas of North West Region.  https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/north-west 

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

About the role

This is predominantly an outdoor role.  We love the outdoors at Canal & River Trust, and it's so important that as a member of the Waterway Operative team you enjoy all weathers!  Call outs, repairs, vegetation clearance and assisting the general public & towpath and waterway users doesn't only happen on the sunny days, so rain and cold is all part of the experience.  

This is a vital green corridor for the West Midland's natural environment & wildlife. If caring for the environment and wanting to help create outdoor spaces for people to enjoy appeals to you then this could be the role for you.

We support our environmental events (such as the Plastics Challenge Short video-Plastics Challenge) and always look to ensure environmental campaigns, and heritage assets are respected, valued & maintained for future generations. 

in and around our canals, operating locks, boats, bridges and weirs, your role will be to provide excellentservice to a variety of customers and visitors with the Safety of yourself and colleagues and all who use our waterways at the forefront of your mind. Demonstrating pragmatism, your practical mind and approach will solve issues safely as and when they occur. 

Responsibilities 

• Working outside, carry out maintenance and repair works to the waterway infrastructure, to maximise network availability.
• Provide customer service through operation of the Trust’s assets (e.g. locks and bridges) in a safe and timely manner.
• Undertake key duties associated with the maintenance of the waterway and waterside eg towpath improvement work from repairs to litter removal.
• To protect the natural and historic environment associated with the waterways by ensuring their consideration during all works.
• Provide a first level of response for reactive works to ensure the safety of customers and the availability of the network, participating in an on-call rota as required.
• Work alongside and lead volunteers, to deliver high quality works, maintaining and building on our high levels of volunteer satisfaction.
• Support asset inspections, identify and report any structure failures, breaches, damage or pollution incidents to Area Operations Manager or Engineers.
• Undertake work in a productive and efficient manner delivering the work to the correct standard and agreed programme.
• Assist in the planning of all work to ensure the correct equipment, materials and plant resources.
• Always display the Trust values and behaviours, linked to professionalism and inclusion. 

About you

It is essential that our new team members can settle in and enjoy the varied work we perform, so you really must love physical outdoor work all year around, and have a genuine appreciation for respecting the needs of nature, environment and our millions of waterway visitors.  Our waterways are not just for short visits by day users or holidaymakers, thousands of community members live on our boats all year and you will be playing a role in caring for their home, their space.

It is also essential that you are comfortable dealing with the public, and can respond to the unexpected with thought, care, respect and a positive practical approach.

You might have practical skills and many years of working experience to offer, or you may just be starting out in your career and looking for a role which calls on your practical nature.  You don't need to be an expert in any field, but you will be able to demonstrate that you hold the values and behaviours that ensure our customers and visitors know we care.

Essential:

• You will demonstrate great care in the quality and standard of your work. 
• You will be a good communicator and have excellent customer service awareness - you will be the face of the Canal & River Trust on our waterways and will handle all communication with respect. 
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills (Maths and English GCSE or equivalent).
• Some experience of manual/construction/outdoor work.
• Some experience of working with plant and or equipment.
• Basic IT skills - comfortable with modern handheld mobile devices for making calls, inputting information, and use of mobile applications etc.
• Valid UK driving licence (held min 3 years) as you will be expected to drive company liveried vehicles from time to time.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a relevant environment - paid work or as a volunteer (outdoors related, environmental related, customer service etc).
• Some knowledge heritage-based construction skills e.g. lime mortar or NVQ 2 Heritage Repairs.
• Experience using of plant/tools and equipment - training will be given to use appropriate plant/tools to maintain the canal/river environment.
• Good communicator and have excellent customer service awareness.
• Demonstrate an awareness of heritage and environmental issues that may influence work.
• Countryside practice and vegetation skills may be an advantage.
• Can work alone on occasions, however thrives as part of a team to deliver a common goal.
• Evidence that you can work or deliver activity to a plan/schedule (can be hourly/daily/weekly).