Permanent Working Supervisor / Ganger

Fawkes & Reece London; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation provided

Overnight allowance £30 per night

Long‑term opportunity

Job summary

Fawkes & Reece London is seeking an experienced Permanent Working Supervisor / Ganger to lead gangs on water‑main and civil projects along the M4 Corridor. The role is hands‑on, requiring setting out, drawing interpretation and safe, quality delivery.

Based along the M4 Corridor, with regular travel for sites across the Water Framework Programme. Accommodation is provided when working away, with an overnight allowance of £30 per night.

Qualifications

• Experienced Working Supervisor or Ganger in water/civils.
• Water-main installation and deep excavation supervision.
• Knowledge of excavation safety and shoring systems.
• Ability to read drawings and setting-out information.

Responsibilities

• Supervise gangs on water-main and civil projects.
• Plan daily activities, labour, plant and materials.
• Oversee deep excavations, shoring and pipe installation.
• Set out routes, levels and gradients from drawings.
• Read civil, structural, pipework drawings accurately.
• Ensure safety, quality and documentation compliance.
• Coordinate lifting operations and plant usage.
• Deliver toolbox talks and maintain site records.
• Coordinate with Site Managers and client reps.

Skills

Supervisory leadership

Water mains

Deep excavation

Reading drawings

Lifting operations

Health & safety

Team motivation

Client coordination

Education

NVQ Level 3/4 in Occupational Work Supervision or Construction Site Supervision

CSCS Gold Supervisor Card

Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS)

CPCS/NPORS Slinger/Signaller

CPCS/NPORS lifting ops qualifications

Appointed Person qualification

Water Main Layer / Network Construction Ops qualification

Confined Space training

NRSWA Supervisor qualification

Job description

Fawkes & Reece are currently recruiting for an experienced Permanent Working Supervisor / Ganger to join a major contractor delivering works across the Water Framework Projects along the M4 Corridor.

This is a hands‑on supervisory position, ideal for an experienced Working Supervisor, Ganger or Site Supervisor with a strong background in water, civils, deep excavation and water‑main installation.

You will be responsible for supervising the workforce on a day‑to‑day basis while remaining hands‑on with the delivery of the works. The successful candidate will need to be confident organising labour, coordinating plant and materials, setting out works, reading drawings and ensuring that all activities are completed safely and to the required quality standards.

The ideal candidate will be based along the M4 Corridor.

Working away from Home will be a high possibility, accommodation provided and overnight allowance paid at £30 per night

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate gangs working on water‑main and civil engineering projects.
• Plan and organise daily activities, labour, plant and materials.
• Supervise deep excavations, shoring, pipe installation, chambers and backfilling.
• Set out pipe routes, chamber positions, levels and gradients.
• Read and interpret civil, structural, mechanical and pipework drawings.
• Use levels, rotating lasers, pipe lasers and survey information.
• Manage permits to dig and ensure appropriate service locating and trial‑hole procedures are followed.
• Ensure excavations are safely supported, accessed and inspected.
• Monitor ground conditions, water ingress, surcharge loading and excavation stability.
• Coordinate lifting operations and ensure approved lift plans are followed.
• Supervise the installation of ductile iron and HDPE water mains.
• Oversee precast and cast‑in‑situ chamber construction.
• Check pipe bedding, alignment, gradients, cover, jointing and restraint.
• Coordinate concrete pours and inspect reinforcement, formwork and cast‑in items.
• Ensure quality hold points and inspections are completed before works are covered.
• Assist with pressure testing, chlorination, flushing, sampling and commissioning activities.
• Deliver daily briefings and toolbox talks.
• Maintain site diaries, inspection records, pipe‑joint records, photographs and as‑built information.
• Coordinate with Site Managers, Engineers, client representatives and other contractors.
• Identify and escalation any technical, safety, quality or programme issues.
• Plan upcoming labour, plant, materials and temporary‑works requirements.

Requirements

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Proven experience as a Working Supervisor, Ganger, Site Supervisor or similar within water/civils.
• Strong experience supervising water‑main installation and deep excavation works.
• Good knowledge of excavation safety, temporary works and shoring systems.
• Experience working with ductile iron and HDPE pipework.
• Ability to read drawings and understand levels, gradients and setting‑out information.
• Experience coordinating lifting operations and plant.
• Strong understanding of health & safety and quality requirements.
• Good communication skills with the ability to lead and motivate a workforce.
• Ability to work closely with Site Management, Engineers and client representatives.

Essential Qualifications

• SMSTS or SSSTS or equivalent recognised Supervisor qualification.
• Relevant Supervisor/Gold Card or appropriate competency card.
• Excavation safety / competent‑person inspection training.
• Emergency First Aid at Work.
• Full UK driving licence where required for travel between sites
• NVQ Level 3/4 in Occupational Work Supervision, Construction Site Supervision or Civil Engineering.
• CSCS Gold Supervisor Card.
• Temporary Works Supervisor (TWS).
• CPCS/NPORS Slinger/Signaller.
• CPCS/NPORS lifting operations qualifications.
• Appointed Person qualification.
• Water Main Layer / Network Construction Operations qualification.
• Confined Space training.
• NRSWA Supervisor qualification.

What's on Offer

• Permanent role
• Salary £45k to £52k depending on experience
• Whilst working away all travel, accommodation will be catered for plus an overnight allowance of £30
• Long‑term opportunity working on a major Water Framework.
• Projects across the M4 Corridor.
• Opportunity to work with an established civil engineering and water contractor.
• Competitive freelance/contract rate, dependent on experience.
• Potential for ongoing work for the right candidate across the UK