Black Hat Riggers

EDF; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 days annual leave

Bank holidays

Pension contributions

Cycle to work

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

EDF at Hinkley Point is seeking an experienced Black Hat Rigger to lead and coordinate lifting, rigging, installation, and mobilisation across complex projects. You will work with Appointed Persons, Crane Supervisors and site teams to ensure lifts are executed safely and in line with lift plans.

You will oversee equipment inspections, ensure compliance with RAMS and industry standards, and mentor rigging personnel to promote a proactive safety culture.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Black Hat Rigger or senior rigging lead in heavy lift/construction/industrial environments.
• Extensive knowledge of lifting operations, RAMS, lift plans and relevant standards including LOLER/PUWER/BS 7121.
• Ability to interpret lift plans, drawings, risk assessments and load charts.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate site rigging activities in line with procedures, RAMS, lift plans and industry standards.
• Supervise rigging teams, provide technical guidance and ensure safe, effective work.
• Oversee preparation, inspection, installation and use of lifting equipment per manufacturer instructions.

Skills

Black Hat Rigger

Lead Rigger

Rigging leadership

Safety leadership

Lifting operations

Team mentoring

RAMS

Lift plans

Industry standards

Tools

Rigging gear inspection

LOLER/PUWER knowledge

Job description

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The HPC Jobs Service supports local people into exciting, long-term careers across our Project.

About the role

Osprey believes that innovative, precision-engineering logistics, by land and by water, can transform the way critical UK infrastructure is built. We bring together the very best multi-disciplinary engineering and delivery team to accelerate projects, enhance safety, and work side by side with clients to solve the most complex construction challenges.

We are seeking an experienced, safety-conscious, and motivated Black Hat Rigger to lead and coordinate lifting, rigging, installation, and mobilisation activities across a range of project environments. Working closely with Appointed Persons, Crane Supervisors, and project teams, you will oversee rigging operations, provide leadership and technical guidance to rigging personnel, and ensure all lifting activities are executed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with approved lift plans, company procedures, and industry standards. This role is ideal for a highly experienced rigger looking to apply their expertise in a senior leadership capacity while supporting the successful delivery of complex lifting operations and key project milestones.

Location –

Location – Hinkley Point, Bridgwater

Work Rotation –

Work Rotation – Various Rotations

What You’ll do

• Lead and coordinate site rigging activities in line with Osprey procedures, RAMS, lift plans, and relevant industry standards.
• Supervise and provide technical guidance to rigging teams, ensuring all personnel work safely and effectively.
• Oversee the preparation, inspection, installation, and use of lifting and rigging equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions and operational requirements.
• Ensure all lifting equipment and accessories are inspected, fit for purpose, correctly configured, and maintained to the required standard.
• Verify the selection and application of appropriate lifting accessories, including slings, shackles, spreader beams, lifting frames, and specialist rigging equipment.
• Coordinate lifting operations and maintain effective communication with Appointed Persons, Crane Supervisors, Crane Operators, engineers, and site personnel.
• Conduct pre-lift briefings and ensure all rigging personnel understand the lift plan, sequence of operations, and associated hazards.
• Monitor lifting activities to ensure compliance with approved lift plans, risk assessments, and safe systems of work.
• Stop operations and escalte concerns where unsafe conditions, practices, or deviations from approved plans are identified.
• Review and complete lift records, inspection reports, and operational documentation accurately and in a timely manner.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience working as a Black Hat Rigger, Lead Rigger, or in a senior rigging role within heavy lift, construction, industrial, energy, utilities, marine, or offshore environments.
• Extensive knowledge of lifting operations, rigging principles, RAMS, lift plans, and relevant legislation and industry standards, including LOLER, PUWER, and BS 7121.
• Strong ability to interpret lift plans, engineering drawings, method statements, risk assessments, load charts, duty charts, and other technical documentation.
• Demonstrable experience leading and coordinating rigging teams during complex lifting and installation operations.
• Extensive experience selecting, inspecting, and verifying lifting accessories, including slings, shackles, spreader beams, lifting frames, and specialist rigging equipment.
• Strong ability to identify hazards, assess changing site conditions, and implement effective control measures to ensure safe lifting operations.
• Proven experience working closely with Appointed Persons, Crane Supervisors, Crane Operators, engineers, and client representatives to coordinate lifting activities safely and efficiently.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to mentor rigging personnel, conduct pre-lift briefings, and promote a proactive safety culture.

Benefits

• 20 days’ annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays
• Enhanced employer pension contributions and salary sacrifice schemes
• Performance-related pay scheme
• Enhanced parental leave benefits
• Cycle to work scheme
• Family friend policies
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Get Active from Aviva – Gym discounts up to 40% off
• Support your career development through our success management process

For this role you must have evidence of right to work in the UK. As a project, we do not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, colour, religion, disability or sexual orientation, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Why Join Us?

For more than 60 years, nuclear power stations in the UK have been quietly keeping Britain fuelled with massive amounts of home-grown energy.

Our teams up and down the country are proudly continuing to serve the nation – but they also have an eye on the future.

EDF is leading the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C and plans for a new power station at Sizewell C in Suffolk.

Nuclear power is the most reliable, low‑carbon energy source currently available to the UK. EDF is playing a key role in the development of nuclear sites, while Hinkley Point C will provide low‑carbon electricity to meet 7% of the UK demand. The project is already making a positive impact on the local and national economy as well as boosting skills and education.

We’re not just building new nuclear power stations. We’re developing careers, upskilling generations and creating thousands of employment and apprenticeship opportunities across a variety of skills areas.

It takes a special kind of person to work in the nuclear energy industry and although we have thousands of them there’s always a need for more.

Our industry has a mind-boggling range of opportunities and more jobs, and in more places, than you might think. But it’s also an industry which is changing.

We’re a responsible business and proud to be Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity. With size, age and experience, we believe we can do even more.