Job Purpose

See compensation detail in our 'What We Offer' section below. 

 We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.

 Our Asset Engineers play a key role in supporting our vision and delivering our Waterways and Wellbeing strategy across the country. We are open and committed to develop, train and support people in their personal and professional development, at all stages of their careers.

 We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Asset Engineer to join our Asset Management team in the Northwest region. 

Working as part of a team of Engineers, Technicians and Inspectors, our Senior Asset Engineers provide a critically important asset management role across the Trust, supporting works prioritisation/delivery and the implementation of the Trust’s asset strategy. See more about our specialist teams here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/engineering).

 Location & coverage

Formally based in either our Ellesmere Port or Burnley hubs, this vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our hub spaces as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings. It is therefore essential that applicants are able and willing to work effectively from home.

 The area will be covering the Rochdale, Ashton & Huddersfield Narrow Canals in the North West. This will include Central Manchester and the area to the NE/East of Manchester up to Todmorden & Marsden - the boundary with West Yorkshire. 

This role will involve regular travel to and along the reservoirs, canals and river navigations of the networks and occasionally you may also be required to work nationally too. The regularity and distribution of travel will be discussed further at interview stage. 

 See our network map here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network 

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

We're very proud to be the custodians of one of the largest collections of industrial heritage, covering 2,000 miles of the UK's canals and rivers and over 8,500 different structures, many of them Listed. The majority of our reservoirs, canals and navigable rivers are over 200 years old, and they still work as they were designed to. This is quite remarkable and reflects the innovation and skill of the original engineers and the continuing dedication and expertise of our team today.

 The role of the Senior Asset Engineers is varied and interesting, with the focus on maintaining the Trust’s assets through their entire life cycle to enable visitors to safely enjoy our canals and rivers and safeguard them for future generations. Our Senior Asset Engineers play a key part in inspecting and assessing the condition of our built assets, prioritising repair and renewal works, and acting in a Client role for repair works.

As a Senior Asset Engineer working in either Northwest (NW), you will be part of a team of engineers, technicians and inspectors who play a critically important role in providing asset management expertise for the Trust and maintaining, conserving, renewing and protecting engineering infrastructure and assets (including reservoirs). You will, of course, often work alone under your own initiative too. You will make decisions on asset investment priorities which are driven by a risk management approach, based on your knowledge of our assets, and support the operations team on minor and reactive repairs 

You will be working within the Regional Engineer NW's team and assisting the Regional Director’s teams to understand the engineering problems and advising on the risks which affect the waterways and our customers and users. In your role you will make a vital contribution to ensure that our customers can enjoy the Trust’s reservoirs, rivers and canals.

 Accountabilities:

Asset management responsibility for a geographical area of canals, river navigations and reservoirs.

Management of a small team of asset inspectors who monitor changes to the infrastructure

Responsibility for undertaking scheduled asset inspections, ensuring that they are completed to plan, approved and recorded in the prescribed format and to the required quality.

Responsibility for the asset management data and prioritisation of works in your geographical area.

Act in a Client role for repair and renewal works for delivery by the Trust ‘s teams and contractors, taking account of all statutory, technical, operational and customer requirements.

Responsible for engaging and briefing Principal Engineers, relevant stakeholders and offering specialists advice, when risks require greater consideration

Provide temporary works designs to support works delivered by internal teams

Support internal and external enquiries associated with the assets. Respond as appropriate by reference to relevant information sources.

Where appropriate actively participate in the Trust‘s emergency “Stand-by” and” Call-out rotas”. 

About you

As you will work in a multi-disciplinary environment, it is important that you really enjoy being part of a team and that you have a collaborative approach to your work. Engaging with external partners and colleagues across all levels of the Trust will form a crucial part of the role, as will working alone and under your own initiative too.

 Skills, knowledge & experience:

 Essential:

Degree or HND in Civil Engineering.

Proven experience of inspecting / delivering engineering activities.

Proven experience in assessing infrastructure risk.

Proven experience of safety in engineering, including CDM.

Demonstrable experience in cross-functional working delivering performance across range of functions

Must hold a current valid driving licence – company car allowance will be provided.

Confirmation of right to work in the UK.

Able to provide a good standard of written communication and proven ability to present technical data.

Desirable: 

Membership of relevant professional body at an appropriate level e.g. MICE. MCIWEM, highly desirable. 

Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.

Proficient in the use of a personal computer and business applications software e.g. MS Office.

Knowledge and understanding of historic infrastructure, preferably in the water environment.

Able to negotiate with internal and external contacts