Lead Rotary Driller

Ground Control; Dartford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Online GP service

Life insurance

Subsidised gym membership

Holiday buy scheme

Job summary

Ground Control is seeking an experienced Lead Rotary Drilling Operative to join our Geotechnical team. You will lead on-site teams, operate rotary drilling rigs, and ensure safe, efficient ground investigations across varied projects.

The role combines hands-on drilling expertise with leadership to develop less experienced operatives. You will manage site operations, ensure compliance, and support multiple drilling methods in dynamic conditions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in rotary drilling and ground investigation works.
• Experience in open-hole drilling, core drilling and wireline coring.
• Experience operating and maintaining rotary drilling rigs.
• Understanding of geotechnical investigations, soil mechanics and geological materials.
• Knowledge of in-situ testing and installations.
• Experience supervising teams and planning daily site activities.
• Good understanding of HSE, CDM requirements, RAMS and safe working practices.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain rotary drilling rigs, including the Geobore S system.
• Lead and supervise on-site drilling operatives and support staff.
• Prepare drilling sites and ensure equipment and materials are ready for use.
• Collect, handle and record soil and rock samples for analysis.
• Maintain accurate drilling records, logs and site progress updates using digital systems.
• Liaise with clients, landowners and project teams; escalate concerns when necessary.
• Support other field operations when required, including related drilling activities.

Skills

Rotary drilling

Lead on-site teams

Open-hole drilling

Core drilling

Soil/rock sampling

HSE & RAMS

Education

NVQ Level 2/3 in Land Drilling

SSSTS/SMSTS

Tools

Geobore S system

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Lead Rotary Drilling Operative to join our Geotechnical team, delivering ground investigation works across a range of projects. You'll operate rotary drilling equipment, lead on-site teams and ensure drilling activities are completed safely, efficiently and to a high standard. This is a hands-on leadership role, combining technical drilling expertise with the opportunity to support and develop less experienced operatives.

What you'll do

• Operate and maintain rotary drilling rigs, including the Geobore S system.
• Carry out open-hole drilling, core drilling and wireline coring.
• Prepare drilling sites and ensure plant, equipment and materials are ready for use.
• Collect, handle and record accurate soil and rock samples for laboratory analysis.
• Lead and supervise drilling operatives and support staff, allocating tasks and providing on-the-job training.
• Complete equipment checks, routine maintenance and minor repairs, reporting defects when required.
• Ensure all site activities comply with HSE requirements, RAMS and relevant regulations.
• Maintain accurate drilling records, daily logs and site progress updates, using digital systems where required.
• Liaise professionally with clients, landowners and project teams, resolving issues and escalating concerns where necessary.
• Support other field operations when required, including Cable Percussive, Windowless Sampling, Dynamic Probing and Concrete Coring.

What you'll get

• The opportunity to work on varied geotechnical and ground investigation projects.
• A hands-on leadership role with responsibility for developing and supporting a site team.
• Opportunities to broaden your technical experience across different drilling methods.
• Ongoing training and development.

Requirements

• Proven experience in rotary drilling and ground investigation works.
• Practical knowledge of open-hole drilling, core drilling and wireline coring.
• Experience operating and maintaining rotary drilling rigs.
• Understanding of geotechnical investigations, soil mechanics and geological materials.
• Knowledge of in-situ testing and installations.
• Experience supervising teams and planning daily site activities.
• Good understanding of HSE, CDM requirements, RAMS and safe working practices.
• Experience working on infrastructure, utilities or construction projects.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• A reliable, hands-on approach and the ability to work outdoors in challenging conditions.

Desirable

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Land Drilling, or an equivalent qualification.
• SSSTS or SMSTS.
• First Aid certification.
• Full clean UK driving licence.
• Experience with ground investigation logging software, including Key logbook, or other digital data collection tools.

Salary and Benefits

• Competitive salary - aligned with your skills and experience
• Pension scheme - helping you plan for the future
• Recognition schemes - celebrating and rewarding great work
• Online GP service - fast, convenient access to medical support
• Life insurance - providing added peace of mind
• Subsidised gym membership - supporting your health and wellbeing
• Holiday buy scheme - purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave

Equal Opportunities Statement

At Ground Control, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010. We actively support and promote an inclusive culture, ensuring fair and equitable treatment throughout the recruitment process and across all stages of employment, including training, development, promotion, pay, and termination. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and employees, and to creating a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, or victimisation. We expect all colleagues to uphold our values of dignity, respect, and inclusion. We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discriminatory behaviour and are committed to continuous improvement through training, inclusive policies, and accountability at all levels. #Drill