Canal & River Trust
Civil & Structural Design Engineer

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Join Our Team: Civil Engineer, Design & Development team (London & South East / Wales & South West)
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
We are a team of engineers and technicians that design and/or manage the design of repairs on a diverse range of our historical assets. We are responsible for undertaking designs of technical solutions, preparing specifications and briefing documents for our direct labour force, external contractors and consultants. Our works are focused on conserving and enhancing our precious waterways for future generations.
Our role is to provide design support to maintain, repair and rebuild the Trust’s infrastructure to enable visitors to safely enjoy our canals and rivers and safeguard them for future generations. Our aim is to develop efficient and innovative engineering solutions to the multitude of challenges we face maintaining our waterways and infrastructure day to day.
We are currently looking for a Civil Engineer in the London & South East and Wales & South West. Specifically:
- Investigate, develop and agree engineering and construction solutions considering best value, user requirements and whole life costs, for the maintenance, repair and renewal works.
- Provide technical support to the Trust’s in-house construction teams, contractors and volunteers.
- Acting as Designer under CDM 2015, exercise and document key responsibilities including managing and eliminating risk.
Working Hours & Travel
Our Engineer vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings. Travel throughout the regional waterway network will also be expected to enable site visits and meetings.
Relevant Hubs: London, Leighton Buzzard or Gloucester.
The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage. Regular accessibility to this network is essential.
See our canal network here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network.
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Role Overview
Our Engineers are important to the success of the Canal & River Trust. The role will involve designing and contributing to the planning of repairs on a diverse range of historical assets associated with the canal network. As one of our civil engineers you will be responsible for undertaking designs of technical solutions, preparing specifications and briefing documents for our in-house construction teams, contractors and consultants. It is an extremely varied and interesting role and whether you are coordinating with various stakeholders, delivering innovative solutions or helping to define standards and procedures, you will be working to conserve and enhance our navigable waterways for future generations.
Key Responsibilities
- Investigate and develop clear & concise design and construction solutions ensuring best value, considering user requirements and whole life costs.
- Prepare repair specifications, works packages and drawings to address asset defects using existing standard solutions as well as developing bespoke solutions to more complex defects and engineering issues.
- Acting as Designer under CDM 2015, exercise and document key responsibilities including managing and eliminating risk.
- Work collaboratively with internal teams, specialists and external stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of construction works taking account of all statutory, technical, operational and customer requirements.
- Undertake site inspections and investigations throughout the entire project life cycle to determine the most appropriate engineering solution and ensure construction works are delivered to specification.
- Contribute to the development and the implementation of Design Guidance, Standards and Specifications.
- Provide temporary works designs to support works delivered by our internal construction teams.
About You
You will be a motivated civil engineering professional with a strong technical foundation, practical design experience, and an interest in infrastructure. You will thrive in a collaborative team, confidently communicating technical concepts to varied audiences while contributing to sustainable, high-quality engineering solutions.


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Skills & Qualifications
Technical Skills
- Academic or vocational qualification in civil engineering or associated discipline.
- Membership of ICE/IStructE.
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
- Awareness of environmental considerations in relation to civil engineering design.
- Practical work-based experience of civil engineering design and construction, preferably in a water environment. (Desirable)
- Knowledge and understanding of historic infrastructure, preferably in a water environment. (Desirable)
- Practical experience with AutoCAD. (Desirable)
General Skills
- Experience of working within a diverse and multi-disciplined project team.
- Able to effectively communicate with internal and external contacts, in writing and in person at meetings.
- Good standard of written and verbal communication and proven ability to present technical data to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Proficient in the use of business software e.g. MS Office. Experience of using GIS or mapping systems.
- Confirmation of right to work in the UK (without sponsorship).
- Valid driving licence and access to a vehicle as your work will require you to reach locations not easily accessible by public transport.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of £37,500 - £44,140, we also offer Car Cash Allowance (£390 per month), a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. Applicants based in London will also be eligible for an outer or inner London allowance (£2,000 - £4,000).
For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
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