Gas Operative - Special Operations in Sunderland

Gas Operative – Special Operations

Join to apply for the Gas Operative – Special Operations role at Northern Gas Networks.

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Pay range

This range is provided by Northern Gas Networks. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay

Gas Operative – Special Operations
Salary from £33,308
Operational Incentive Scheme
41.25 hours work pattern over 7 days – including standby/callout rota
Three positions available across the NGN Network
Start Date – 12th January 2026

We have an exciting opportunity to join us as a Gas Operative (GO). You will play a huge part in ensuring the areas in our network have hot water and heating throughout the year, providing a customer‑first focused approach. We offer full training and qualifications in this role and throughout your career at Northern Gas Networks (NGN).

Our Gas Operatives are at the heart of NGN, making a real difference to the lives of our customers and communities by helping keep homes warm and safe. This role is ideal for hardworking, committed individuals who are flexible and ready to work early mornings and evenings (rotas provided in advance). You will be working outdoors in all weather conditions, so resilience and a positive attitude are key.

A full UK driving licence is essential. The role involves travel across NGN’s operational area, including major cities such as Newcastle, Sunderland, Leeds, York, Hull, and Bradford, as well as rural regions like North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Carry out mains and service replacement work, repairs to public‑reported gas escapes, and other gas distribution tasks.
• Support the Team Leader with excavation, pipe laying, jointing, connection, and repair activities to maintain network integrity.
• Operate mobile plant and mechanical equipment safely and competently (e.g. mini excavators, pneumatic tools), following training and maintenance procedures.
• Work in full compliance with HSE legislation, company standards, and codes of practice.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, customers, and members of the public to support safe and efficient operations.
• Perform driving duties, including transporting materials and equipment as required.
• Maintain a professional and customer‑focused approach in all aspects of the role, contributing to a positive experience for those we serve.

What We Are Looking For

• A self‑starter who values safety and consistently delivers excellent customer service.
• Willing to work variable shift patterns and participate in out‑of‑hours standby rotas.
• Physically fit and comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• A team player with a positive, can‑do attitude and strong communication skills.
• Comfortable engaging with customers to understand and meet their needs.
• Reliable and committed to maintaining high standards in all aspects of the role.

What We Offer

• Salary from £33,308 per annum.
• Operational Incentive Scheme.
• 25 days annual leave (plus recognised bank holidays and 2 half days over the Christmas period).
• SSP for the first 2 calendar days then occupational sick pay.
• Flexible benefits and salary sacrifice options – discounts on a variety of UK attractions, gym membership, restaurant discounts, experience days, and more.
• Family‑friendly policies, including 6 weeks’ paternity leave (eligible employees) and 6 months’ full pay for employees on maternity leave (eligible employees), as well as shared parental leave and many more.

We are Northern Gas Networks. We deliver gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses in the North East, Northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire. That’s around 6.7 million individual customers. We don’t generate or sell the gas, but we transport it to homes and businesses in our region through a vast network of underground pipes. In fact, we own and maintain more than 37,000km of gas pipes – enough to stretch from Leeds to Sydney and back again. We cover large cities like Newcastle, Sunderland, Leeds, York, Hull, and Bradford, and our work extends to rural areas like North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Our Values are at the heart of what we do. In addition to your key responsibilities, you will incorporate these into the daily life of your role. We are Trailblazing, Empowered, Heartfelt, Community Focused, Intellectually Curious and most of all we are Happy!

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion culture at NGN is embedded in everything we do. We will be delighted to hear from a diverse range of applicants, so we can continue to grow our great team of people. We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant, helping ex‑services personnel back into employment, as well as being members of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and we are committed to delivering our ‘Opportunity Action Plan’ having signed the Social Mobility Pledge campaign, whereby we will establish our business as a ‘force for good’ in the communities that we serve.

Next Steps

Please apply by clicking apply and uploading your CV. We love to see how your experience and skills are transferable to this role so please ensure these are all included in your application. Once the advert has closed, we will contact you within one week to let you know if you have progressed to the next stage. We are looking to hold interviews for this role at the end of November.

If you require adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process, we want to hear about how we can help. Any applicant that requires reasonable adjustments from initial application through to interview are asked to contact the Recruitment Team at NGNCareers@northerngas.co.uk.