Operative

Job Purpose

Job Title: Operative

Salary: £23,473 (inclusive of outer London allowance)

Location: Nell Bridge Yard

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.

We have several opportunities within our London & South East team.  We are looking for a practical, outdoors loving, customer care focused individuals to join us as an Operative based out at Nell Bridge Yard**, Oxford Canal**.  It's also important that applicants are easily able, and prepared to travel daily to the sites if required.

Learn more about our London and South East region here

Regional Map - London & South East

Working in and around our canals, operating locks, boats, bridges and weirs, you will deliver a service to the customer which is on time and in accordance with Canal & River Trust processes and procedures. Safety of yourself, colleagues and stakeholders will be at the forefront of your mind.  You will have a practical approach and ability to turn your hand to a variety of tasks - from completing manual tasks improving and maintaining our waterways, to dealing positively with enquiries and approaches from our customers whether boaters, or towpath users on their daily commute, leisurely visit or volunteers giving their time to help us to deliver for our communities.

Your daily tasks will vary but all will contribute to the maintenance, conservation and improvement of the regions waterway network for local communities and visitors to enjoy. This role may also require the operation of (small) power tools to assist your work

Location & coverage: As an Operative within our Operations Team based from Nell Bridge Yard, most of your working time is spent in our unique and wonderful outdoor environment on the South East Waterway covering up to 55km of towpath from Claydon to Oxford City on the Oxford Canal.  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.

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

About the role

This is outdoor, physical work, whatever the weather, so you really need to love working outside. Out on our towpaths you are the face of Canal & River Trust, so it is very important that you are comfortable dealing with the public and you’ll have a positive, practicable approach to dealing with customer queries and interactions. You will also be working with and supporting our volunteer groups from time to time, so it is important that you understand and value the contribtion all our volunteers make all year around.

As part of a small team, most of your working time will be spent in our unique and wonderful outdoor environment maintaining and transforming our canals, rivers and reservoirs into spaces where local people want to spend time, we have specific ways of carrying out work in our protected environment and we need people who will take great care to detail and work to a high standard.

Working Hours:

We provide services 7 days a week (including statutory holidays). In order to keep the waterways safe and to provide excellent customer service you must be able to commit to working on a rota system that will include working (some, but not all) weekends. You will also be included on a rota that provides 24-hour first response operational emergency cover, that may include site attendance. This flexibility is very important in order to be certain that we can respond to critical needs when they occur.

Responsibilities:

• ensure that the customer experience is maximised by providing outstanding levels of customer service in accordance with defined standards.
• promote Canal & River Trust by maintaining a professional approach at all times.
• undertake water control duties including the operation of structures eg locks and bridges in a safe manner to ensure that customers are not hindered in their visit to the waterway.
• undertake key duties associated with the maintenance of the waterway and waterside eg towpath litter removal, towpath and access repairs.
• ensure that environmental and heritage issues are taken into consideration in all work that is undertaken.
• attendance at waterway events
• working closely alongside volunteer groups

About you

Essential knowledge, skills and experience

• Health and safety awareness
• Excellent customer service awareness and interaction
• Ability to recognise and solve problems
• Delivery of high standards and great care in the quality of your work
• Good communicator with the ability to adapt styles but with the ability to handle all communications with respect for others
• Basic smart phone use – ability to quickly pick up the use of apps
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• Full and UK valid driving licence is essential as you will be expected to drive company vehicles where necessary.

It's helpful to the team if you have some heritage and environmental awareness and/or experience of using small tools and equipment, however training will be provided, so it's not essential.  What's more important is that you appreciate the impact of the work we do, and approach any public facing interaction and enquiry in a positive and helpful way.

Application Process

We aim to represent the diverse communities we are part of. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do.

If you have any questions at all about this role or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact the team at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk

What We Offer

Salary is made up as follows: £21,473 base salary + £2,000 per annum outer london allowance, offering a total annual starting salary £23,473 (incl outer London allowance)  this role also offers pay progression within the first 6 and 12 months. Additionally, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement (increasing with years of service) and numerous other employee benefits all of which can be found here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).

• 25 days paid holiday, increasing to 27 days after 3 years.
• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• Annual £200 (after 12 months) personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity – hobbies; aspirations etc.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues – health; financial; lifestyle; well-being; domestic & neighbourly matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including – store discounts; boating holiday discounts; holiday purchase scheme.
• Expansive maternity/paternity provisions.
• Progressive access to learning tools and CPD.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave, volunteering for local community project work.

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. 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.

We believe that continuous personal & professional development are important, and through many Trust internal & externally supported development programmes we are pleased to support your ongoing growth and development in this role.

Find out more about the work we do on our website:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us