About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Senior Civil Engineer (Concept Design) opportunity
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
As an Engineer, who wouldn’t want the chance to work on structures that Telford, Jessop and other engineering greats had a hand in creating?
We are a team of engineers and technicians that design and/or manage the design of repairs on a diverse range of our historical assets to keep our canals open and alive. We provide the designs of technical solutions, preparing specifications and briefing documents for our direct labour force, external contractors, and consultants. Our works are focussed on conserving and enhancing our precious waterways for future generations.
Working Hours & Location
This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings.
The concentration of works means our relevant regional hubs include Leeds, Burnley, Ellesmere Port and Birmingham.
Travel throughout the regional waterway network will also be expected to enable site visits and meetings. The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage. Regular accessibility to our network is essential.
See our canal network here: (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network).
Role Overview
Our role is to provide designs to maintain, repair and rebuild the Charity's infrastructure to enable visitors to safely enjoy our canals and rivers, and safeguard them for future generations. Our aim is to develop efficient and innovative engineering solutions to the multitude of challenges we face maintaining our waterways and infrastructure day to day.
Specifically, this role will:
- Provide the needed engineering support to our Priority Projects, Priority Works and Reactive teams.
- Investigate, develop and specify cost effective engineering and construction solutions ensuring best value, considering user requirements and whole life costs.
- Design and specify engineering solutions and where required, act as Principal Designer and/or Designer for works in accordance with CDM 2015.
- Provide designs for the maintenance, repair and renewal works delivered by our teams and external Contractors, taking account of, all statutory, technical, operational and customer requirements.
- Be technical advisors to the Charity’s internal construction functions, agreeing standards and specifications.
- Where required, provide temporary works designs for works delivered by the Charity’s internal construction teams.
- Accountable for engaging and briefing Principal Engineers, relevant stakeholders and offering specialists advice, when risks require greater consideration.
- Contribute to the development and the implementation of Design Guidance, Standards and Specifications.
- Coordinate with the Trusts external Professional Services suppliers to develop design options and solutions.
- Where appropriate actively participate in the Trust’s “Stand-by” and “Call-out” rotas.
- Displaying the Trust values and behaviours at all times.
- Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values.
About You
You will be a qualified Civil Engineer (degree/HND), ideally Incorporated or Chartered (IEng/CEng/MICE), with experience in of civil engineering design, and construction. Knowledge of historic infrastructure, particularly within a waterway environment, would be advantageous.
A strong communicator and team player, you will be confident developing engineering solutions, managing priorities, and working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders. You will also demonstrate a commitment to health and safety, continuous improvement, and the Trust’s values.
Skills & Qualifications
Technical Skills
- Incorporated/Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional qualification (ICE).
- Membership of relevant professional body at an appropriate level e.g. MICE.
- Experience of civil engineering design, and construction.
- Experience of designing Temporary Works solutions.
- Professional qualification in a relevant technical discipline, such as Degree or HND in Civil Engineering.
- Knowledge and understanding of historic infrastructure, preferably in the water environment
General Skills
- Demonstrable experience in cross-functional working delivering performance across range of functions
- Able to negotiate with internal and external contacts
- Able to provide a good standard of written communication and proven ability to present technical data to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Continuous Professional Development.
- Proficient in the use of business software e.g. MS Office. Experience of using GIS or mapping systems.
- Good understanding of the UK’s construction industry Health and Safety requirements.
- Confirmation of right to work in the UK (without sponsorship).
- Valid driving licence and access to a vehicle as your work will require you to reach locations not easily accessible by public transport.
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.
What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of £44,750 - £50,750, we also offer Car Cash Allowance (£425 per month), a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us
