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. 

As a Waterway Operations Team Leader you will play an important role helping us to improve, maintain and preserve our wonderful waterway network for our customers to enjoy today and into the future. 

Most of your working time is spent in our unique and wonderful outdoor environment and your daily tasks will vary and will contribute to the maintenance, conservation and improvement of the business unit’s waterway network for local communities and visitors to enjoy.  Fresh air, whatever the weather, you will be managing and supporting your team of operatives to deliver the important tasks for the day, week and months ahead. 

Our Waterway Operations Team Leaders are required to work an annualised hours system which includes working a rota system including statutory holidays, so you must be happy to work a rota, which will include some weekend working. You will also be part of a 24 hour operational standby team responsible for providing emergency cover for the waterway.  This flexibility is very important in order to be certain that we can respond to critical needs when they occur.  

As Team Leader at one of our Northwest regional bases you will be responsible for managing and supporting the delivery of your team's task for the day/week in view. You will be ensuring that the team are organised and equipped to deliver the planned works. Your team will also interact with our waterway visitors and customers as well as volunteers, educational groups and many other's spending time with us, so it is important to us that as Team Leader, you are not only an organised individual who can prioritise and manage several activities to a plan, 

This is a demanding, busy role offering a real variety of tasks and activities. You need to be able to think on your feet, be able to work at pace and be great at responding to changing priorities. As Team Leader your approach is inclusive. You really understand and believe that a diverse team provides the opportunity to come up with the best approaches and solutions together.  

Responsibilities includes, and not limited to:.

• 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.
• Undertake work in a productive and efficient manner delivering the work to the correct standard and agreed programme.
• Assist with Health & Safety/ Environmental Issues, eg Environmental assessments, risk assessments, attendance at relevant meeting and sharing information with team members.
• Deal with enquiries from members of the public - covering everything from general enquiries and complaints, to individuals offering to get involved and volunteer.
• Work alongside and supervise volunteers, to deliver high quality works, maintaining and building on our high levels of volunteer satisfaction.
• Organise, support or lead public events, Open Days, Volunteering Days, Corporate Events and User Forum meetings as appropriate.  
• Ensure Training is up to date/ accommodate needs of certain volunteer work parties (spraying courses etc).
• Creation, allocation and oversee delivery of agreed work programme.
• Ensure the smooth running of the waterways, including supporting and assisting customer service team with completing monthly maintenance tasks, water control task, delivering agreed work programme, and support Third Party and Temporary Works where appropriate.
• Ensure cover for annual leave and sickness is provided within the team.
• Lead Team Talks regularly, and deputise for the Area Operations Manager as and when necessary.
• Ordering of  equipment, plant and material, and other required resources, using Trust standard processes. 
• Management and recording of work notifications, including creating and completing notifications for agreed tasks.
• Ensure the waterways correctly reflect the Trust brand, including branded signage, production and use of bilingual materials.  

About you

Skills & Experience:

• Team leadership & demonstrable successful work planning experience.
• Experience of working in a customer facing role.
• A good communicator with excellent customer service awareness - you will be the face of the Canal & River Trust on our waterways and will handle all communication with respect.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office packages - Word, Excel, Outlook e-mail.  We use Office 365 & MS Teams as part of our standard day to day working tools.  It is important that you are confident in using Microsoft Office and using portal devices (laptop, smartphones etc to conduct your daily activities).
• You have high standards and will demonstrate great care in the quality and standard of your work.
• Valid UK driving license required - you will be on call and expected to be available at short notice in emergencies.
• Some experience of manual / construction / outdoor work is preferred - will need to be confident that our working environment is an environment we believe you will thrive in.
• Maths and English GCSE or equivalent - desirable.
• Experience of working with volunteers - desirable.