Resident Lock and Weir Keeper - 17056

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated person to work outside in a customer facing environment. An opportunity has arisen to recruit two resident lock and weir keepers, one at Grafton and one at Rushey Lock, on the River Thames near Bampton. The role requires you to work to a daytime rota, including covering other lock and weir complexes as and when required.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing and regulating water levels.
• Providing safe passage to boaters and managing activities on and around lock sites and associated reaches of river.
• Assisting colleagues and customers with local expertise and knowledge to ensure effective management of the navigation of the river.
• Looking after lock buildings, facilities and grounds to provide a high quality, safe and clean environment.
• Providing a timely and effective ‘out of hours’ service and response to incidents.
• Maintaining and developing health & safety good practice.
• Developing and maintaining a strong customer service and acting as an ambassador for the Environment Agency.
• Undertaking enforcement and regulation activities at Level 1 PACE.
• Ensuring efficient record keeping and information storage.
• Collecting customer payments including license sales and tolls, and reconciling and managing petty cash.

The Thames Waterways department has a responsibility to manage the navigation of the non-tidal River Thames. This includes 45 lock and weir complexes on the river. Our primary aim is to provide a first class service to all our customers. The department comprises lock and weir keepers and support staff in operational, enforcement and business teams. The role advertised is based in an operational team.

• Strong customer focus and communication skills particularly face to face and over the phone.
• Well organised and methodical with attention to detail.
• Able to prioritise and highlight potential issues.
• Achieves results and delivers outcomes.
• Able to use standard IT packages efficiently and to learn specialised systems.
• A quick learner who can work effectively and efficiently on their own or as part of a team.
• Able to swim.
• Able to drive with a clean, valid driving license.

Grafton Lock: Please note the access track to the site is liable to flood in high flows and therefore at times there is restricted access to and from the site.
- Additional allowances will be payable to the successful applicant.
- You will be expected to live on site in the lock house under a service occupancy agreement.
- You will be required to work to a daytime rota which includes weekends.
- Full training will be given once in post.

For further information, please contact Steven Miles 07770794402 or email steven.miles@environment-agency.gov.uk

Communicates Effectively: PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection.

As lock and weir keeper, you will regularly interact with members of the public, internal and external partners, and you need to be able to communicate confidently and professionally.

Please tell us how your personal approach ensures clear and effective communication to others, and also give us an example of how you have dealt with a difficult situation using your communication skills?

Achieves Results: PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection.

In this role you may need to complete a task or piece of work within a specified time frame.

Please tell us about a time when you have had a deadline or time constraint in order to complete a piece of work or a task.

Health Safety & Wellbeing: PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection.

As a Lock and Weir Keeper your role is key to ensuring that the risks to yourself and others are controlled safely and effectively.

Please tell us about your knowledge and/or experience in this, particularly around following procedures, promoting a positive HSW culture and or challenging poor HSW practice.