Purpose of the role
To lead a civils crew and remain accountable for the safe, on-time and first-time-right delivery of excavation, installation, repair and reinstatement works on Northumbrian Water clean water and wastewater assets. The Team Leader briefs the job, controls the site, directs plant and labour, coaches operatives, and is the first point of contact for the Site Manager, client representatives, street works inspectors and the public.
Context
Northumbrian Water supplies water and wastewater services across the North East of England. Work is a mix of planned capital and maintenance schemes and reactive repair in live highways, private land and operational sites. The Team Leader is both a working supervisor and the person responsible for crew performance, permits, quality and customer standards on each job.
Key accountabilities
Team leadership
Lead, organise and motivate a civils crew on a daily basis; allocate tasks and remain accountable for output, quality and conduct.
Brief the team on job packs, drawings, permits, risk assessments and method statements before work starts; hold toolbox talks and confirm competence for the task.
Coach and develop operatives, in safe excavation, pipework, reinstatement and Northumbrian Water working practices.
Act as the first point of contact on site for the Site Manager, client representatives, street works inspectors, landowners and members of the public.
Manage time, plant, materials and labour so that planned and reactive work meets programme and service-level expectations.
Remain a working member of the crew, setting the standard on the tools as well as in supervision.
Civils and network operations
Plan and deliver excavation, trench support, pipe laying, jointing, connections, repairs and backfill on water mains, services, sewers, rising mains, chambers, manholes and associated assets.
Direct the installation and repair of ironwork, covers and frames, chambers, ducting and minor civil structures to specification.
Operate and direct plant, including excavator and dumper where ticketed, and ensure only competent people use abrasive wheels and cutting equipment.
Enforce HSG47 safe digging practice, service avoidance and CAT and Genny use before and during excavation.
Identify, record and escalate defects, uncharted apparatus and network risks.
Lead the crew on reactive and emergency work, including bursts, collapses, flooding and dangerous apparatus, including out-of-hours call-out when on rota.
Health, safety, environment and quality
Take charge of the worksite: safe systems of work, barriers, signing, lighting and guarding in accordance with NRSWA / Safety at Street Works and Road Works.
Complete and work to risk assessments, method statements, permits to work, confined-space and hygiene controls; stop work if conditions are unsafe.
Control manual handling, plant movements and public interface so that the crew and third parties are protected.
Protect live services, the environment and water quality; control silt, fuel, spoil and waste; apply environmental mitigation as required.
Ensure quality of workmanship, materials and records so that the client can accept the works first time.
Report accidents, near misses and service strikes immediately and support investigation and learning.
Customer, records and compliance
Represent the company and Northumbrian Water professionally and resolve day-to-day customer and stakeholder issues on site.
Keep accurate daily records: diaries, photographs, materials, plant, measurements, as-built information and timesheets, using client and company systems.
Liaise with planners, supervisors and the client so that possessions, traffic management, access and follow-on trades are coordinated.
Leave sites clean, secure and compliant at the end of each shift and hand over outstanding risks clearly.
Essential requirements
Proven experience as a civils or utilities operative with demonstrated ability to lead a small crew on site.
Hands-on competence in…