Scottish Water
Network Maintenance Operator
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Together we are Trusted to Serve Scotland.
Most people don’t give much thought to how clean water reaches their tap - or what it takes to keep it flowing when something goes wrong.
At Scottish Water, it’s what we think about every day. When you see our branded vans out and about, there’s a good chance you’re looking at one of our Network Maintenance Operators (NMOs) heading out to investigate a problem on the water network. Our nationwide response teams are ready to act quickly to prevent, investigate and resolve customer issues - minimising disruption and keeping people safe.
What you’ll do
NMOs carry out routine checks and maintenance on the water network. When a customer reports a problem, or our control centre identifies something unusual, you’ll head out to investigate what’s happening on the ground, resolve issues and keep water flowing.
- You’ll take control of situations on site, using the specialist equipment we’ll train you on to carry out repairs, identify bursts and put short-term solutions in place to minimise disruption.
- You’ll also complete checks on plant, equipment and vehicles, and accurately record work, performance and updates using mobile systems.
- Health and safety is central to the role. We don’t take shortcuts. You’ll work to established procedures such as Chapter 8 and NRSWA requirements, identifying and managing risks to protect yourself, your colleagues and members of the public.
This is a primarily field-based role. While you’re part of a wider response team, you’ll often work independently during your shifts, taking ownership of situations and keeping customers informed throughout. As part of our 24/7 service, you’ll also take part in an out-of-hours standby rota.
What you’ll need
We’ll provide all the training you need to succeed. To start with, we’re looking for people who are practical, reliable and comfortable working outdoors in all weathers.
To be successful in this role, you'll need:
- A full UK-issued driving licence.
- Confidence working outdoors in all weather conditions across both day and night shifts.
- A calm, practical approach when dealing with customers and unexpected situations.
- The ability to work safely, follow procedures at all times, and have basic IT skills, including using mobile devices to receive updates and record work.
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You’ll be one of the public faces of Scottish Water, often arriving on site when customers are understandably concerned. Being approachable, reassuring and able to explain what’s happening clearly really matters.
Experience in utilities, street works, construction, groundworks, plant or machinery-based roles is welcome, as are practical backgrounds such as agriculture. Qualifications like NRSWA, DOMS or HCOP, CPCS 180/360, or an HGV licence are helpful but not essential - full training and support will be provided.
Character is important to us. Across the whole of Scottish Water, we look for people who are Bold, Responsible, Inspiring and Caring. (And you can expect these characteristics to make an appearance in your interview with us…)
Looking out for you
While the work we do is important, we know it’s not the only thing that matters. That’s why we make sure you have everything you need to find a good work-life balance.
- You’ll get plenty of time to recharge with 38 days of holiday every year (including public holidays). And you can even buy five more if you need a little extra time. You can also take time off to volunteer in your community.
- When it comes to major life events we have family-friendly policies around adoption, maternity, and parental leave. And for the everyday? We embrace flexible working.
- For your future, there’s our pension (the ‘know-what-you’ll-get-when-you’re-retire’ kind), and life assurance.
- As for some nice extras? You will participate in a company bonus scheme. Not to mention access to SW Splash – handy rewards that can save you money on holidays, bills, and shopping.
The not-so-small print
This role will be a Grade 4. If you’re new to Scottish Water, you’ll join us on a starting salary of £31,640. Performance-driven pay progression would then allow you to move through the range to a maximum of £36,460.
If you’re interested in this role – or know someone else who might be - we’ll be accepting applications until midnight on 1st October 2026.
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Job offers at Scottish Water are conditional, and will be confirmed on completion of our pre-employment screening, e.g. referencing, criminal record checks, license checks, etc. Screening is conducted on our behalf by a third party, and must be completed before your start date. Don’t worry - we’ll only start these checks once you’ve accepted an offer.
A few final things worth knowing…
- Research shows that some people avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single criteria. If you’re interested in this job, but don’t tick all the boxes, apply anyway! We hardly ever hire people who can do every part of a job from Day One. Everyone has a learning curve. So don’t rule yourself out!
- Let us know if there are any changes we can make to our recruitment process to help you perform at your best. Lots of our people have disabilities or neurodiverse conditions (including some of our recruiters!). We're also aware that some people might be experiencing temporary challenges because of life events, like menopause. We’re very used to making adjustments, so please don’t be afraid to ask.
- As part of our commitment to developing a flourishing Scotland, it’s important that all our employees are Scottish taxpayers. If you join us, your home address will need to be in Scotland. If you don’t already live here, you'll need to commit to moving here within your first three months.
Candidates should be aware that a valid UK driving licence is required for driving on Scottish Water business and claiming business mileage expenses.
Please note, Scottish Water takes the safety, health and wellbeing of our employees, colleagues and customers very seriously and as such you may be subject to Drug & Alcohol testing in line with our policy.
Finally (finally!), candidates who haven’t submitted an application in the last 12 months will have their records removed from our recruitment database. You won’t need to do anything. Your data will be automatically deleted.
We’re here to help. Ask us anything at SWRecruitment@ScottishWater.co.uk
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