Health, safety, environment and quality

• Work to the safe system of work, risk assessment, method statement and permits briefed by the Team Leader.
• Help set out and maintain barriers, signing, lighting and guarding in accordance with NRSWA / Safety at Street Works and Road Works.
• Work safely in excavations and, where trained, support confined-space activities under a written safe system of work.
• Use correct manual handling techniques and mechanical aids; do not lift beyond capability.
• Protect live services, the environment and water quality; control silt, fuel, spoil and waste.
• Stop work and report immediately if conditions are unsafe, a service is struck, or a near miss occurs.
• Leave a clean, secure and compliant site at the end of each shift.

Customer and records

• Represent the company and Northumbrian Water professionally on customers’ property, in the highway and on operational sites.
• Complete personal timesheets and support site records, photographs and materials returns as directed.
• Follow instructions from the Team Leader and raise issues early if the job cannot be completed as planned.

Essential requirements

• Experience as a civils, utilities or groundworks operative, ideally on water, drainage or highway works.
• Ability to work safely as part of a small crew on live sites and in public areas.
• Valid CSCS card (or equivalent).
• Full UK driving licence; ability to travel across the Northumbrian Water region and attend standby / emergency call-out.
• Physically fit for manual work and prepared to work outdoors in all weather.
• Reliable, safety-focused and willing to work flexible hours including early starts, weekends and a standby rota.

Desirable tickets and qualifications

• NRSWA / Street Works (Operative or Supervisor as appropriate to the role)
• Confined space (City & Guilds or equivalent)
• Excavator ticket (CPCS / NPORS or equivalent)
• Dumper ticket (CPCS / NPORS or equivalent)
• Manual handling
• Abrasive wheels
• First aid
• HSG47 – Avoiding danger from underground services (CAT and Genny / service avoidance)
• EUSR National Water Hygiene / Blue Card and SHEA Water.
• Experience on Northumbrian Water or another UK water company network.

Behaviours and competencies

• Puts health, safety and water quality first and will speak up if something is wrong.
• Takes pride in workmanship and leaves sites tidy.
• Works well in a team and follows briefings without cutting corners.
• Calm and polite with customers, even on reactive or disruption-related jobs.
• Willing to learn Northumbrian Water specifications, hygiene rules and new tickets.

Working environment

The role is predominantly outdoor and physically demanding. Work takes place in live highways, excavations, operational treatment and network sites, and private property, in all weather. The post holder must be fit for manual work, prepared to work in muddy, confined or hygienically controlled conditions, and able to wear required PPE including hygiene clothing on clean-water tasks.

Additional information

A full occupational driving assessment, drugs and alcohol screening, and baseline health surveillance may be required. Training will be provided on Northumbrian Water systems, specifications and hygiene protocols where these are not already held. The employer reserves the right to amend duties in line with operational need across AMP programmes and reactive networks contracts.

This job description is not exhaustive. The post holder will be expected to undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the level and nature of the role.

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