Job Purpose
Job Title: Craft Operative
Advertised Salary: £26,904 with salary progression + benefits
Location: Icknield Port, Birmingham
Contract: Fixed term contract until end of July 2025
The Canal & River Trust is one of the UK's largest charities, maintaining 2,000 miles of historic canals, rivers, docks, and reservoirs, along with museums and archives. Our waterways are exciting, vibrant places to work.
We are looking for an experienced Multi-skilled Joiner to join our West Midlands team. In this role, you would help support our Direct Services team in Dudley, Stourbridge, Birmingham, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
As a Craft Operative, you will play an important role in improving, maintaining, and preserving our network for customers to enjoy today and in the future. This will involve the refurbishment or repair of canal infrastructure, including locks, bridges, aqueducts, towpaths, and associated equipment, while working efficiently to defined safety, environmental, and heritage standards.
The post holder will be required to work an annualised hours system, including a rota'd system covering statutory holidays and weekends. Our Craft Operatives look after specific stretches of our regional waterways but may also be called upon to support work in other areas as required, so you need to have your own transport and a valid UK driving licence.
Location & Coverage
Reporting to the base at Icknield Port, Birmingham (B16 0AA), this role will involve regular travel along the Wolverhampton, Walsall, Rushall, Wyrley & Essington, Staffordshire & Worcestershire, Grand Union, and Worcester & Birmingham canal network. Occasionally, you may also be required to work in other areas of the West Midlands region.
Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience
As a Craft Operative, you will play an important role in maintaining our locks and other assets in line with safety requirements and heritage standards. Your responsibilities will include:
* Carrying out maintenance and repair works to the waterway infrastructure to ensure network availability is maximized.
* Using Joiner expertise to undertake manufacture and refurbishment within a timely manner, in accordance with defined standards.
* Operating a variety of machinery, plant, tools, and other equipment in accordance with Canal & River Trust's safety standards.
* Maintaining personal equipment, workshop equipment, and workspace to defined standards.
* Responding to customers' queries and requirements, including emergencies.
* Ensuring all equipment is appropriate for the task.
* Assisting with the measurement of locks and lock gates to identify correct measurements for manufacture.
* Understanding and interpreting technical drawings.
* Working alongside and supervising volunteers.
* Displaying the flexibility needed to deliver the nationally prioritised works programme.
About You
Operative skills are a minimum requirement. A background in the building trade or specialist joinery is preferred. Key qualifications include:
* Apprenticeship or equivalent qualification (or experience), e.g., City & Guilds Level II, NVQ Level II.
* Experience handling plant/equipment, e.g., chainsaw, hand power tools, forklift truck.
* Experience in relevant disciplines, e.g., Joiner.
* Experience reading technical drawings.
* Full valid UK driving licence.
To Apply: Click on the "Apply for this job" button and follow the process - complete the application form & upload your current CV.
If you have any questions about the role, please contact CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk.
What We Offer
All our Craft Operatives step up their salary through a salary progression plan, starting at £26,904. Additional benefits include:
* Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement.
* 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
* Annual £200 personal learning & growth award.
* Free access to specialist counselling services.
* Access to a range of employee benefits.
* 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum.
* Free fishing facilities across our canal network.
At the Trust, we care passionately for our waterways and those who look after and use them. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and treat all candidates based on their merits, skills, and abilities.
Join us to preserve our heritage for future generations and share your passion 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.
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