About the Trust

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: CNC Operator/Programmer opportunity

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Our Bradley Workshop (Bilston, West Midlands) plays a vital role in preserving and maintaining the nation's waterways, manufacturing and repairing lock gates and other critical infrastructure that keep the network operating safely and efficiently. This is an exciting time to join the Trust as we invest in a new generation of manufacturing capability, including the introduction of state-of-the-art Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) technology, helping to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering techniques to support our historic waterways for years to come.

We currently have an excellent opportunity to join the Trust as a CNC Operator/Programmer. In this role, you will be contributing to the building/supplying/repairing complete lock gate and lock gate parts in line with safety requirements, Trust policies and heritage standards. We are looking for an organised and experienced CNC Operator/Programmer, who demonstrates the required skills & experience in operating a state-of-the-art CNC machine, where Health and Safety standards high levels of quality and efficient working practices are central to how they work.

This is a brand-new role for the team, created to support the introduction of a new CNC machine due to arrive in January 2026. Joining the Trust in Autumn 2026, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in our operations, heritage assets, and manufacturing processes while undertaking orientation, training, and familiarisation. Working closely with colleagues across the workshop, you'll play a key role in helping shape our CNC strategy, processes, and ways of working as we establish this exciting new capability for the future.

To see how we do this, click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD5wtd36NHc) AND here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGucbWhD5s8).

Further information here (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/engineering/building-lock-gates).

Working Hours & Travel

You will be based in our Bradley Workshop, Bradley Lane, Bilston, West Midlands. WV14 8DW.

Role Overview

Our CNC Operator/Programmer will operate and programme a brand new, purpose built and state of the art 5 axis CNC machine and be responsible for the efficient machining of component parts to produce lock gates in Green Oak and tropical hardwoods such as Ekki and Greenheart in line with production programme requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Program, set up, and operate CNC woodworking machinery to manufacture lock gate components including gate leaves, balance beams, heel posts, quoins, and structural timbers.
• Produce and amend CNC programs from drawings, CAD models, and engineering specifications.
• Machine large section hardwood timbers to required tolerance, ensuring correct fit, function, and longevity of assets.
• Carry out first off and in process quality checks, supporting asset integrity and safe operation.
• Work alongside Engineers, Lock Gate Technicians, CAD Technicians, Joiners, Fabricators & installation teams to support efficient manufacture and assembly.
• Safely handle and position heavy timber components using appropriate lifting equipment.
• Complete routine machine checks, cleaning, and basic preventative maintenance.
• Comply with all Trust health, safety, and environmental procedures, including PUWER, LOLER and COSHH.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of CNC processes, tooling, and efficiency.
• Support training or mentoring of apprentices and less experienced colleagues when required.
• Safety – Ensuring the machine is safe to run based on maintenance, tool wear and calibration and in full compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, provided training and in compliance with the Safe Operating Procedures.
• Programme Optimisation – Ensuring that the correct tooling, tool paths, spindle speeds, sequencing and scheduling is identified to ensure that the optimum cycle time is achieved.
• Quality Control – Ensuring the correct quality is achieved through determining tolerance verification, choosing the correct inspection methodology and accepting or rejecting a machined component based on the completed inspections.
• Always Displaying the Trust Values.
• Ensuring that diversity, equality and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values.