Network Operations Technician

Kelda Group Limited 0000411940 - Kelda Group Limited; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A major water utility provider in the UK is seeking a Network Operations Technician to join their Customer Field Services department. This role involves delivering first-time fixes for customers, maintaining the sewerage network, and ensuring compliance with health and safety practices. Ideal candidates will possess strong customer service experience and problem-solving skills. The company offers a competitive salary of £30,384 – £37,880 along with various benefits including a bonus scheme, pension contributions, and professional development opportunities. Applications are encouraged from diverse backgrounds.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual bonus scheme

Pension scheme

Annual leave and wellness day

Health cash plan and insurances

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer service role is essential.
• Ability to influence outcomes and make decisions.
• Comfortable working in confined spaces as required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver first-time fix solutions to customers.
• Proactively maintain the sewerage network.
• Collaborate with other teams to resolve operational issues.

Skills

Practical mindset

Customer service experience

Excellent communication skills

Problem-solving abilities

Education

Full valid driving licence

Tools

IT systems knowledge

Job description

Why Join Yorkshire Water?

• Competitive salary: £30,384 – £37,880 for a 40‑hour week.
• Annual incentive bonus up to £1,000.
• Attractive pension scheme – up to 12% company contribution.
• Development opportunities aligned with the Network Operations Technician progression plan.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, plus an extra wellness day (additional days in lieu of bank holidays).
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.
• Health cash plan, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme.
• Online GP service, cycle‑to‑work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more.

Location and Work Type

We currently have vacancies for a Network Operations Technician to join Customer Field Services department to cover Leeds, Colburn, Ripon and York. Applicants should live within a reasonable commuting distance from our Knostrop wastewater site and be part of helping Yorkshire Water provide the best service to our customers.

Work type: 4 permanent opportunities, rotational 40‑hour patterns on a 4 on 4 off basis (no standby included). Work may include late, early and weekend patterns.

What we do!

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire's water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region's health, wellbeing and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers mean that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. Customer Field Services are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

Where you fit in:

As our Network Operations Technician, you will deliver a first‑time fix and same‑day solution to our customers and environmental problems and to deliver the asset plan for network maintenance to eliminate escapes. You will be responsible for ensuring a first‑time fix solution for customers and the environment whilst ensuring quality follow‑on work is raised in accordance with our standards and specifications.

You will always ensure the correct site set up is in place and POWRA are completed prior to and during jobs to ensure all risks are identified and corrective preventive activity is undertaken to stay safe at all times.

To safely proactively and reactively maintain the sewerage network to promote and implement solutions which resolve and/or prevent a sewage escape (flooding and pollution) from the wastewater network and to ensure no repeats take place.

You will be required to work closely with other Yorkshire Water teams and our contracted partners on site to resolve and manage operational issues on the sewer network.

Requirement to operate different vehicle types to complete work, dependent on availability of vehicle and the type of work attending.

You will undertake thorough and timely investigations on our sewerage system to resolve issues and prevent repeat customer contacts and support other operational teams with investigations into sewer asset problems. You will need to be able to utilise IT systems to collate information and relay feedback.

You will also be required to collate data and information for evidence capturing. This also includes assessing photograph, plans and reporting on any escape/issues from the sewer network.

You may be required to maintain and install Customer Sewer Alarms on the network & work with third‑party providers where support is required.

You will ensure Health and Safety working practices & procedures are always complied with. When making day‑to‑day business decisions you will be required to demonstrate financial awareness and provide technical support and first line response to customer contacts to ensure a fix first‑time resolution & ensuring that the most cost‑effective resolution is promoted.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

Essential: It is essential that you have a practical mindset, enjoy working outdoors in all weathers and be comfortable taking a hands‑on approach to work tasks.

Previous experience in a customer service‑related role with face‑to‑face communication with customers is an essential requirement of this role.

The successful candidate will be able to develop and maintain effective internal and external working relationships with colleagues across the business and the ability to influence outcomes and make decisions.

You should be prepared to question unsafe working practices and be confident in reporting these to management.

Excellent communication skills are essential as you will need to capture, evidence and feedback information. You will also need to be able to influence outcomes and make decisions and have experience of delivering against challenging business targets.

You will have the ability to find faults and diagnose the root cause of an issue.

You will also have rational problem‑solving skills and have basic IT skills as you will be using various internal IT systems to capture necessary site information on a Toughbook.

You will be working a variety of rotas in the role to cover our working window. In addition, once fully trained in the role you will need to take part in an out‑of‑hour standby rota, therefore flexibility is an essential requirement of this role.

As part of this role, you will be required to work within confined spaces, any successful candidate must pass strict medical criteria including BMI, vision, blood pressure, hearing and Spirometry tests to ensure your full safety when working in hazardous environments.

A full valid driving licence is a requirement of this role (with no more than 6 points).

You will also benefit from having:

• Understanding of the sewerage system and performance issues.
• Competent in the use of IT systems applicable to Yorkshire Water.
• Previous experience within the water or wastewater sectors or within the broader utilities, process or manufacturing industry sectors or an understanding of drainage and sewerage systems.
• Flexibility for 24‑hour, 365‑day service and job‑share options where possible.

If you have experience in front‑line operations and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.

Closing date: 12th August 2025. Interview dates: TBC. If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre‑employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third‑Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter‑Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance. All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required. We are proud to serve the Yorkshire region and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds to apply. Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible. No agencies please.