Construction Operative

Posted Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 01:00 | Expires Tuesday 10 March 2026 at 00:59

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.

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

We’re excited to welcome a new Operative to our Direct Services team. This role helps maintain, repair, and preserve the UK’s historic canal and river infrastructure. The role is hands‑on, outdoors, and essential to keeping waterways safe, accessible, and operational.

The Direct Services team delivers the essential, on‑the‑groundwork that keeps our waterways running - from planned maintenance and construction projects to emergency repairs and heritage restoration. They combine skilled trades, practical know‑how and a real passion for the outdoors to repair infrastructure, respond to urgent issues, and look after the place’s communities love. Their work makes a visible difference every single day.

This role works under an annualised hours system and typically operates 5 days out of 7, which may include weekends and statutory holidays. At times, operational demands may require working more than 5 days within a 7‑day period.

You will also be part of a 24‑hour operational standby rota
, providing emergency cover when needed. New starters will only join the on‑call rota once they are fully trained and confident in the role.

You’ll be based at our Leighton Buzzard depot and will travel across the London & South East region, with occasional work supporting neighbouring areas.

As a Operative, you’ll undertake essential construction work and help maintain and repair vital canal infrastructure, fit and refurbish lock gates, and collaborate with specialist teams. Your work will support our commitment to safety, heritage, and environmental standards and help keep canals open and alive.

• Working outside, carry out maintenance and repair works to the waterway infrastructure, to maximise network availability.
• Provide customer service through operation of the Trust’s assets (e.g. locks and bridges) in a safe and timely manner.
• Undertake key duties associated with the maintenance of the waterway and waterside e.g. towpath improvement work from repairs to litter removal.
• To protect the natural and historic environment associated with the waterways by ensuring their consideration during all works.
• Provide a first level of response for reactive works to ensure the safety of customers and the availability of the network, participating in an on‑call rota as required.
• Work alongside and lead volunteers, to deliver high quality works, maintaining and building on our high levels of volunteer satisfaction.
• Support asset inspections, identify and report any structure failures, breaches, damage or pollution incidents to Area Operations Manager or Engineers.
• Undertake work in a productive and efficient manner delivering the work to the correct standard and agreed programme.
• Assist in the planning of all work to ensure the correct equipment, materials and plant resources.
• Always display the Trust values and behaviours, linked to professionalism and inclusion.

We welcome individuals with practical skills and a willingness to learn. Whether you come from a specialist background, your experience and enthusiasm will help you thrive in this role.

• A strong focus on doing high‑quality work and taking pride in the standards you deliver.
• Confidence communicating with the public — you’ll be a friendly, respectful representative of the Canal & River Trust.
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills (e.g., Maths and English at GCSE level or…