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: Operative (Stoke on Trent) Opportunity
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
We’re excited to welcome a new Operative to our Direct Services team. This role helps maintain, repair, and preserve the UK’s historic canal and river infrastructure. The role is hands on, outdoors, and essential to keeping waterways safe, accessible, and operational.
The Direct Services team delivers the essential, on the groundwork that keeps our waterways running - from planned maintenance and construction projects to emergency repairs and heritage restoration. They combine skilled trades, practical know how and a real passion for the outdoors to repair infrastructure, respond to urgent issues, and look after the place’s communities love. Their work makes a visible difference every single day.
Working Hours & Travel
This role works under an annualised hours system and typically operates 5 days out of 7, which may include weekends and statutory holidays. At times, operational demands may require working more than 5 days within a 7 day period. You will also be part of a 24 hour operational standby rota, providing emergency cover when needed. New starters will only join the on call rota once they are fully trained and confident in the role.
You’ll be based in Fenton, Stoke on Trent and will travel across the West Midlands region, with occasional work supporting neighbouring areas. Canal networks covered include but not limited to Trent & Mersey, Shropshire union, Cauldon Canal and Llangollen Canal.
Role Overview
As a Operative, you’ll undertake essential construction work and help maintain and repair vital canal infrastructure, fit and refurbish lock gates, and collaborate with specialist teams. Your work will support our commitment to safety, heritage, and environmental standards and help keep canals open and alive.
Key Responsibilities
- Working outside, carry out maintenance and repair works to the waterway infrastructure, to maximise network availability.
- 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.
- To protect the natural and historic environment associated with the waterways by ensuring their consideration during all works.
- Provide a first level of response for reactive works to ensure the safety of customers and the availability of the network, participating in an on-call rota as required.
- Work alongside and lead volunteers, to deliver high quality works, maintaining and building on our high levels of volunteer satisfaction.
- Support asset inspections, identify and report any structure failures, breaches, damage or pollution incidents to Area Operations Manager or Engineers.
- 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.
About You
We welcome individuals with practical skills and a willingness to learn. Whether you come from a specialist background, your experience and enthusiasm will help you thrive in this role.
Skills & Qualifications
- A strong focus on doing high quality work and taking pride in the standards you deliver.
- Confidence communicating with the public — you’ll be a friendly, respectful representative of the Canal & River Trust.
- Basic literacy and numeracy skills (e.g., Maths and English at GCSE level or equivalent).
- Hands on experience in practical or construction tasks, including the safe use of tools and equipment (such as chainsaws and site plant).
- Relevant health & safety competencies or certifications for operating tools, plant, and equipment safely.
- The ability to read and understand technical drawings.
- A full, valid 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.
What We Offer
We offer a starting salary of £25,850 with opportunities for progression. Enjoy a Outer London Allowance (£2,000), 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(https://canalrivertrust.pagetiger.com/cqhhihy/1)
#INDLP
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
