Civils Team Leader

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 excavation, pipework or drainage, backfill and highway / private reinstatement.
Valid CSCS card (or equivalent).
Full UK driving licence; ability to travel across the Northumbrian Water region and attend standby / emergency call-out.
Working knowledge of safe excavation near buried services, trench support, and directing plant and labour.
Clear communication: able to brief a team, challenge unsafe work and deal with the public and client staff.
Willingness to work flexible hours, including early starts, weekends and a standby rota.
Desirable tickets and qualifications
NRSWA / Street Works (Operative or Supervisor as appropriate to the role)
Confined space (City & Guilds or equivalent)
Excavator ticket (CPCS / NPORS or equivalent)
Dumper ticket (CPCS / NPORS or equivalent)
Manual handling
Abrasive wheels
First aid
HSG47 – Avoiding danger from underground services (CAT and Genny / service avoidance)
NRSWA Supervisor, SSSTS and EUSR National Water Hygiene / Blue Card with SHEA Water.
Experience on Northumbrian Water or another UK water company network, including isolations and disinfection practice.
Ability to read construction drawings, job packs and utility plans.
Behaviours and competencies
Puts health, safety and water quality first and will stop the job if it is not safe or compliant.
Leads by example: reliable, visible on the tools and fair with the team.
Calm under pressure on reactive jobs and when customers have lost supply or experienced flooding.
Organised: plans the day, looks after plant and materials, and closes out paperwork.
Collaborative with supervisors, client inspectors, traffic management and specialist subcontractors.
Working environment
The role is predominantly outdoor and physically demanding. Work takes place in live highways, excavations, operational treatment and network sites, and private property, in all weather. The post holder must be fit for manual work, prepared to work in muddy, confined or hygienically controlled conditions, and able to wear required PPE including hygiene clothing on clean-water tasks.
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