Highways and Drainage Operative
Reading Borough Council
A complete application in a minute
Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Reading Borough Council is seeking a reliable Highways & Drainage Operative to join our Highways & Drainage Team. This hands-on role maintains and improves the highway network, keeping roads, footpaths and drainage systems safe, serviceable and resilient for residents, businesses and visitors.
The role is based at Bennet Road depot in Reading, requires practical, physically fit teamwork, and a flexible approach to out-of-hours duties. A full UK driving licence is required.
Qualifications
- Experience of highways, drainage or construction-related work (or willingness to train).
- Physically fit and able to work outdoors in all weather.
- Understands health and safety in a highways environment.
- Team player with ability to follow instructions and adapt to standby/out-of-hours duties.
- Holds a full UK driving licence (HGV desirable depending on role).
Responsibilities
- Carry out highway and drainage maintenance works including cleansing gullies and minor repairs.
- Install and repair street furniture and respond to emergencies affecting public safety.
- Work outdoors with varied tools and machinery and follow traffic management procedures.
- Participate in winter maintenance and standby/on-call rotas when required.
Skills
Tools
Job description
We are looking for a reliable and hardworking Highways & Drainage Operative to join our Highways & Drainage Team. This is a hands-on role maintaining and improving the highway network, helping to keep roads, footpaths and drainage systems safe, serviceable and resilient for residents, businesses and visitors.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About The Role:
Based at our Bennet Road depot - 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX
As a Highways & Drainage Operative, you will carry out a wide range of practical highway and drainage maintenance works. This includes cleansing and maintaining gullies and drainage systems, carrying out minor carriageway and footway repairs, installing and repairing street furniture, and responding to emergency call-outs such as flooding, blockages and storm damage.
You will work outdoors in all weather conditions, using a variety of tools, plant and machinery, and will be expected to follow safe working practices at all times, including traffic management and health and safety procedures. The role also involves working as part of a team to deliver programmed works as well as reacting quickly to urgent issues that affect public safety.
You may also be required to support winter maintenance activities, including gritting and snow clearance, and to participate in standby or out-of-hours rotas to ensure the network remains safe and accessible.
About You:
We are looking for someone who:
Has experience of highways, drainage or construction-related work (or is willing to be trained)
Is practical, physically fit and comfortable working outdoors
Understands the importance of health and safety in a highways environment
Can work well as part of a team and follow instructions
Has a flexible approach to work, including emergency and out-of-hours duties
Holds a full UK driving licence (HGV licence desirable, depending on role)
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we doDrive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Depot at 19 Bennet Road in the heart of Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position please contact Steve Rendell, Highways and Drainage Manager at steve.rendell@reading.gov.ukClosing Date: Sunday 15th November 2026Interview Date: To be confirmedInterview Setup: In person at 19 Bennet Road, Reading
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Company: Reading Borough Council Salary: from £29,071 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Reading, RG2 0QX Working pattern: On-site Job type: Permanent Posting date: 4 Nov 2026 Closing date: 15 Nov 2026
We are looking for a reliable and hardworking Highways & Drainage Operative to join our Highways & Drainage Team. This is a hands-on role maintaining and improving the highway network, helping to keep roads, footpaths and drainage systems safe, serviceable and resilient for residents, businesses and visitors.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About The Role:
Based at our Bennet Road depot - 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX
As a Highways & Drainage Operative, you will carry out a wide range of practical highway and drainage maintenance works. This includes cleansing and maintaining gullies and drainage systems, carrying out minor carriageway and footway repairs, installing and repairing street furniture, and responding to emergency call-outs such as flooding, blockages and storm damage.
You will work outdoors in all weather conditions, using a variety of tools, plant and machinery, and will be expected to follow safe working practices at all times, including traffic management and health and safety procedures. The role also involves working as part of a team to deliver programmed works as well as reacting quickly to urgent issues that affect public safety.
You may also be required to support winter maintenance activities, including gritting and snow clearance, and to participate in standby or out-of-hours rotas to ensure the network remains safe and accessible.
About You:
We are looking for someone who:
Has experience of highways, drainage or construction-related work (or is willing to be trained)
Is practical, physically fit and comfortable working outdoors
Understands the importance of health and safety in a highways environment
Can work well as part of a team and follow instructions
Has a flexible approach to work, including emergency and out-of-hours duties
Holds a full UK driving licence (HGV licence desirable, depending on role)
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
£32,293 to £38,626 per year
Reading Borough Council
Reading, Berkshire
On-site Permanent Full time
£32,293 to £38,626 per year
Reading Borough Council
Reading, Berkshire
On-site Permanent Full time
TRL Limited
Permanent Full time
Browse more jobs
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
