Mechanical Operator and Maintainer - 32439

Mechanical Operator and Maintainer - 32439
1
East of England
Halstead , Newmarket
DEFRA GRP EA WIXOE DEPOT, CO9 4BS
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Engineering, Operational Delivery
Full Time
£34,320

12/01/2026, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
We are looking for motivated and skilled mechanical engineers to join our dedicated team and assist with the operation, maintenance and repair of our strategically important Water Resources assets in East Anglia.

We are very proud of what we do. It matters. Our impressive assets ensure water is available when it is needed. You will be responsible for ensuring our infrastructure is able to operate when required by delivering our planned preventative maintenance programme, as well as carrying out inspections and repairs. You will report on your maintenance delivery and any operational or safety issues that arise on site. You will be trained to maintain and operate the assets and respond to asset failures. There will also be some involvement in the delivery of asset upgrade/refurbishment projects, coordination with contractors and site management.

We are continuously improving our asset management practices. Embracing new technology and adopting new ways of working to target our maintenance activities to where they can provide the greatest benefit (and reduce our use of carbon). You will be part of this evolution, and we value your opinion.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate. You will join the team standby roster. This is £167.62 per week. There are additional payments if you are called out. There are also likely to be opportunities to work overtime.

In East Anglia we want to create a diverse workplace where people are respected, valued and listened to. We’re all different, and by embracing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) we can become an equal opportunity employer where jointly we all grow and learn together.

It is our ambition to champion diversity through building a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve.
The Water Land and Biodiversity Strategically Important Asset team sits within Local Operations and leads the operation and maintenance of the Ely Ouse to Essex Transfer Scheme and other pumped groundwater schemes in the area.

EOETS is a large scheme, transferring water from Denver to Essex reservoirs, using a combination of pumping stations, pipelines and in-river transfer, for the purpose of public water supply and environmental support.
Essential:

-Qualified to a minimum of NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) in a mechanical engineering discipline, providing the practical skills needed.
-Full UK driving licence (Travel to sites around East Anglia almost daily. A badged vehicle will be available for this)
-Living within 1 hour of Kennett Pumping Station (Newmarket) or Wixoe Pumping Station (Haverhill)
-Good IT skills
-Able to work both within a team and without supervision
-A desire to learn and participate in improving ways of working
-Able to join a roster for out of hours asset response (1 week every 6-8 weeks).

It would be desirable if you had a proven track record of mechanical maintenance/repair/inspection experience preferably in the industrial sector and or working on pumped systems.

You'll be given the IT, tools, PPE, transport, support and training needed to enable you to complete your job both safely and to the high standards we set ourselves
Base location is either Kennett Pumping Station, Newmarket, CB8 7QL or Wixoe Pumping Station, Halstead, CO9 4BB.

We offer a fantastic benefits package including an attractive salary, flexible working, 25 days annual leave, and an award-winning Pension Fund. See the candidate pack for more details.

The candidate pack and generic role profile should be read along with the advert to understand the key accountabilities and skills needed.

Please note this role does NOT qualify for skilled worker sponsorship. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration where you can seek professional expert advice.

Interviews are planned to be held in early February, at Kennett Pumping Station.

If you have any questions, please do contact Emma Phillips who will happily answer any questions via: emma.phillips@environment-agency.gov.uk
MEICA - Maintenance and work management systems
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses. You have up to 250 words so please do use them to tell us what we need to know about you. See Candidate pack for more details and a link to our capability dictionary.

In order to carry out maintenance work on our mechanical assets, you will need to be qualified to a minimum of NVQ level 3 or equivalent (qualifications providing practical engineering skills, not just theoretical knowledge). Please provide details of your relevant qualification and give an example of how you have put your technical knowledge into practice, demonstrating your ability to maintain MEICA assets skilfully and solve problems.
Field Delivery
Our maintenance is critical to ensuring our strategically important assets are available to operate when needed. In this role you will be required to deliver the annual recurring planned preventative maintenance programme. You will also carry out reactive work.

Please explain what kind of mechanical maintenance work in the past, how you delivered it and how you ensured it was to the required specification, and quality standards.
Site Management
In our team, we don’t just operate and maintain the assets. We manage the sites we are responsible for in their entirity, making sure they are compliant, secure, clean and safe places to work. We keep accurate records of our maintenance and checks to provide evidence and assurance.

Please provide and example of where you have carried out maintenance or checks, how you organised your tasks and how you reported that they were complete.
Manage your health and safety
The work you will be doing on our MEICA assets come with their own inherent risks. How do you keep yourself and others safe while you are carrying out maintenance tasks?
Driving Licence - Eligibility for lease cars is made based on the role. Internal candidates ensure you check the lease car policy and consider its impact before applying.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the  Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.