Craft Operative, multi-skilled generalist (Joiner/Carpenter/Brickwork)

Canal & River Trust; Stafford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading charity as a Craft Operative to maintain and preserve the UK's historic waterways. This role involves outdoor repairs, working with heritage-sensitive solutions, and requires skills in bricklaying and carpentry. Enjoy a starting salary of £26,904 with benefits including paid holidays and a pension scheme.

Benefits

Contributory DC Pension scheme

25 days paid holiday plus Bank Holidays

Annual £200 learning & growth award

Access to counselling services

Employee discounts and benefits

Two days paid volunteering leave annually

Free fishing across our network

Qualifications

• Apprenticeship or equivalent qualification required.
• Experience in building trades or joinery preferred.
• Ability to read technical drawings is essential.

Responsibilities

• Perform outdoor maintenance and repairs to waterway infrastructure.
• Utilize bricklaying skills for manufacturing and refurbishment tasks.
• Supervise and work alongside volunteers.

Skills

Bricklaying

Carpentry

Technical Drawing

Plant Handling

Education

City & Guilds Level II

NVQ Level II

Tools

Chainsaws

Power Tools

Forklifts

Job description

Job Purpose

The Canal & River Trust is one of the UK’s largest charities, maintaining 2,000 miles of historic canals, rivers, docks, reservoirs, museums, archives, and a significant collection of protected historic buildings—preserving them for future generations. Our waterways are vibrant, exciting places to work.

We are seeking an experienced Craft Operative (Multi-skilled) to join our West Midlands team.

As a Craft Operative on our waterway, you will play a vital role in improving, maintaining, and preserving our network for our customers. This includes undertaking refurbishment or repair of canal infrastructure such as locks, bridges, aqueducts, towpaths, and related equipment, always working efficiently within safety, environmental, and heritage standards.

The role requires working an annualized hours system, including any 5 days out of 7 rota, covering statutory holidays and weekends. While each Craft Operative is responsible for specific stretches of waterways, support across other areas may be needed, so own transport and a valid UK driving license are essential.

Reporting to the base at Gailey Wharf (ST19, 5PR), this role involves regular travel along the regional canal network. Occasionally, work may be required in other parts of the West Midlands region (details here).

See our network here: Waterway Network

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

The role involves maintaining and preserving the waterway network, including working with heritage-sensitive solutions. You will be responsible for fitting new lock gates, refurbishing existing ones, and working with specialists to ensure our assets are functional and preserved for future generations.

Key responsibilities:

• Perform outdoor maintenance and repairs to waterway infrastructure, ensuring maximum network availability and adherence to heritage and safety standards.
• Utilize bricklaying skills for manufacturing and refurbishment tasks, meeting standards and schedules.
• Operate machinery, tools, and equipment safely, supporting in-house maintenance where appropriate.
• Maintain personal and workshop equipment, ensuring safety and cleanliness.
• Respond promptly to customer queries and emergencies.
• Ensure equipment (PPE, plant, materials) is suitable for tasks.
• Assist in measuring locks and lock gates, working with specialists to learn heritage skills.
• Interpret technical drawings for production purposes.
• Supervise and work alongside volunteers, ensuring resource adequacy and volunteer satisfaction.
• Display flexibility to travel regionally for prioritized works, including occasional longer trips.

About you

You should have operative skills, with the ability to learn additional skills on the job. A background in building trades or joinery, with experience in measuring, cutting, and joining, is desirable.

Skills/Qualifications/Experience:

• Apprenticeship or equivalent qualification (e.g., City & Guilds Level II, NVQ Level II) or relevant experience.
• Experience handling plant and equipment such as chainsaws, power tools, or forklifts.
• Relevant discipline experience (e.g., bricklaying, carpentry).
• Ability to read technical drawings.
• Full UK driving license, with the ability to respond across the region.

To Apply: Click the "Apply for this job" button, complete the application form, and upload your current CV. For questions, contact [e-mail].

Planned recruitment timeline:

• Applications close: 6th January 2025
• Interviews: w/c 13th January 2025

Note: The vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received. Early application is encouraged.

What We Offer

Starting salary at £26,904, with opportunities for salary progression. Benefits include:

• Contributory DC Pension scheme (we will double contributions up to 10%).
• 25 days paid holiday plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Annual £200 learning & growth award.
• Access to counselling services.
• Employee discounts and benefits.
• Two days paid volunteering leave annually.
• Free fishing across our network.

We value diversity and are committed to equal opportunities. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Join us to help preserve our waterways for future generations. More about us at our website.