Waterway Operative

Job Title: Waterway Operative

Advertised Salary: £25,260, Inclusive of Outer London Allowance with salary progression + benefits

Location: Leighton Buzzard Depot. Address is Unit 8, Commerce Way, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4RW

A Valid UK driving licence (held ideally min 3 years), is essential for this role as you will be expected to drive company liveried vehicles.

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.

As an Operative 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 South East regions waterway network. 

Our Operatives work an annualised hours system which includes working statutory holidays and weekends on a rota, you must be happy to work in an on call rota. 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.

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 on a rotating shift pattern, with some emergency call out expected. 

Occasionally you may also be required to work in other areas of the South East.

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

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. 

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.

Training will be provided to drive boats, use boat cranes & power tools and to operate our structures such as locks, bridges, and sluices.

Skills, knowledge & experience: 

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! 

Working in and around our canals, operating locks, boats, bridges and weirs, your role will be to provide excellent service 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, carrying out general maintenance and repair works to the waterway infrastructure.
• 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 e.g. towpath improvement work from repairs to litter removal.
• Work alongside volunteers to deliver high quality works
• 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. 

Technical: 

• 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).
• Experience working in manual/construction/outdoor environments, desirable - paid work or as a volunteer (outdoors related, environmental related, customer service etc).
• Experience using of plant/tools and equipment beneficial - training will be given to use appropriate plant/tools to maintain the canal/river environment.

General:

• 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). 
• 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 ideally min 3 years)  as you will be expected to drive company liveried vehicles.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

All our waterway operatives step up their salary through a salary progression plan. Starting at £25,260 Inclusive of Outer London Allowance.

Further to salary offered, the Canal & River Trust offers a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement (increasing with years of service) and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits, all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits). These include:

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us