Join Our Team: Waterway Operative – West Midlands
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Join the Canal & River Trust as a Waterway Operative and play a vital role in maintaining and improving our beautiful waterways across the West Midland regions waterway network primarily focused on Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Stourbridge Canal and Dudley Canals. This is a hands-on, outdoor role where you’ll carry out maintenance and repair works, operate locks and bridges, work with Volunteers and provide excellent customer service to visitors.
This role follows an annualised hours system, including 5 days out of 7 (could be weekends and statutory holidays). You will also be part of a 24-hour operational standby team providing emergency cover. You’ll be based at Stewponey Wharf, Stourton, DY75AA depot traveling across the West Midlands region, with occasional support in other areas.
Working Hours & Location
This role follows an annualised hours system, including 5 days out of 7 (could be weekends and statutory holidays). You will also be part of a 24-hour operational standby team providing emergency cover. You’ll be based at Stewponey Wharf, Stourton, DY75AA depot traveling across the West Midlands region, with occasional support in other areas.
- Carry out outdoor maintenance and repair of canal infrastructure.
- Operate locks, bridges, and other waterway assets safely and efficiently.
- Improve towpaths and waterside areas, including repairs and litter removal.
- Deliver excellent customer service to visitors and boaters.
- Work collaboratively with volunteers to achieve high-quality results.
- Plan and prepare for tasks, ensuring correct tools and materials are available.
- Uphold Canal & River Trust values and behaviours in all activities.
If you enjoy practical, physical work in all weathers, value nature and the environment, and want to make a real difference to local communities, this could be the perfect role for you. Full training provided, including boat handling and asset operation.
- Strong attention to detail and pride in delivering high-quality work.
- Excellent communication and customer service skills – you’ll be the face of the Trust on our waterways.
- Basic literacy and numeracy.
- Experience in manual, construction, or outdoor environments is advantageous.
- Ability to work to schedules and plans effectively.
- Basic IT skills – comfortable using mobile devices and apps.
- Full and current UK driving licence.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at
[email protected]. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
We offer a starting salary of £26,315 with opportunities for progression. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits.
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
INDMP
