Regional Engineer

About the Trust
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. 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.

Join Our Team: Regional Engineer Opportunity (West Midlands)
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive. We’re excited to welcome a new Regional Engineer to the Trust. This role plays a vital part in safeguarding the long‑term resilience, safety, and performance of our waterways. As the Sponsor of the planned programme, you’ll be responsible for determining the needs of our assets and ensuring that every delivered output meets the required standards through our five‑stage Gateway process.

You’ll lead a regional team of Engineers and Inspectors, shaping the development of the Trust’s Asset Management Strategies and be accountable for the condition and performance of all engineering assets within your area. The role also supports the delivery of specialist engineering services nationally, helping ensure our infrastructure remains safe, reliable, and ready for future generations.

This role follows a 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The opportunity will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main regional hub spaces as needed. Relevant Hubs: Birmingham, Hatton.

The Regional Engineer is responsible for effective risk management across the Trust’s operational estate. You will ensure robust processes are in place to identify, assess, and prioritise defects - setting out the works needed to protect and enhance our asset inventory in line with agreed strategies. This role is also central to supporting the Regional Director’s customer-facing and operational teams. You’ll work closely with colleagues to manage customer and multi‑stakeholder experiences, ensuring our waterways are not only safe, but also deliver great visitor experiences and uphold the Trust’s reputation.

Key responsibilities:

• Role model health & safety, ensuring strong practice across the team and all construction activities, including CDM and Temporary Works.
• Provide effective leadership to a regional technical team, building expertise, competence and a high‑performing culture focused on operational excellence and customer service improvement.
• Manage infrastructure risk, ensuring effective processes for identifying, assessing and prioritising defects, and overseeing inspection, maintenance and construction programmes within delegated authority.
• Act as the Trust’s expert advisor, providing authoritative guidance on complex engineering issues, nominating and authorising technical specialists, and ensuring robust quality control across all works.
• Contribute to Asset Management Strategies and Business Planning, using data, risk insights and customer needs to inform priorities, optimise expenditure and improve asset performance.
• Produce and review technical documentation, including Work Information Packages, and ensure all works meet statutory, technical, operational and customer requirements.
• Regularly engage with stakeholders and customers, representing the Trust at external meetings, aligning engineering plans with customer expectations and the Trust’s strategic aims.
• Support operational and commercial functions, advising Regional and Customer Operations teams on infrastructure issues, supporting Enterprise activities to protect and enhance the network, and working with utilities to optimise financial opportunities.
• Display the Trust values and behaviours at all times, ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life.

About You
We’re looking for a chartered civil engineer with strong technical judgement and a commitment to safe, reliable infrastructure. You’ll be confident managing asset risk with the proven ability to lead and support a multidisciplinary team. You’ll be comfortable interpreting asset data, overseeing inspection and maintenance activity, and ensuring quality and compliance across all works. Clear communication is essential as you’ll work closely with colleagues, customers and stakeholders to balance priorities, explain engineering issues and support informed decision‑making.

Skills & Qualifications
Chartered Engineer (CEng MICE) with significant post‑chartered experience. Full membership of a relevant professional body, ideally with a second qualification (e.g., CIWEM, APM, IAM). Active member of a professional body and certified as a Supervising Civil Engineer (ICE) to support professional development within the team. Proven experience delivering complex engineering activities and assessing infrastructure risk. Strong understanding of quality management techniques and commitment to continuous professional development, applying advanced engineering concepts. Experience leading and line‑managing multidisciplinary teams, including professional engineers. Demonstrable success in cross‑functional working to deliver performance improvements. Strong negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders. Excellent understanding of Trust infrastructure, Health & Safety requirements, governance, and financial/compliance systems. Ability to balance business priorities, support wider teams appropriately, and manage conflicting or cross‑functional risks using sound judgement. Commitment to delivering excellent customer service standards.

Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer
We offer an annual salary of £65,000 - £70,000 plus cash car allowance £5,820 annually. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits.

Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes. All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception – are made by our hiring managers.