Site Supervisor

Job Description

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. Could this be you?  

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: Site Supervisor

We’re excited to welcome a new Site Supervisor to cover our Yorkshire North East region.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive. 

Working Hours & Location 

Administratively based out of Ossett Yard, the day-to-day of this role requires travel across the Yorkshire North East region & East midlands Region on occasion. The post holders will be required to work an annualised hour’s system which is Monday to Friday. Overtime and possible weekend work applicable when reacting to emergency repairs that help to get our waterways open to our customers.

Role Overview 

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys leading from the front, developing others, and building a high-performing, motivated site team while delivering essential works that keep our waterways operational and accessible.

At the Canal & River Trust, we value leaders who combine technical capability with strong people skills, who take pride in mentoring colleagues and creating a positive working environment where teams feel supported, engaged and motivated.

As the Trust continues to evolve and grow, we recognise that delivering excellent customer service and fostering strong team leadership are essential to our long‑term success.

The Canal & River Trust aims to create a sustainable and continually improving canal and river network that is a national treasure—accessible to everyone and valued by all.

Central to achieving this vision, the post holder will champion equality, diversity and inclusive leadership, ensuring that colleagues, customers, partners and volunteers feel respected, included and valued.

As a Site Supervisor, you will play a key leadership role on site, ensuring that work is carried out safely, efficiently and to a high standard, while nurturing a collaborative and positive team culture. You will guide, motivate and support the team, helping individuals perform at their best while maintaining clarity around expectations and accountability.

This role requires someone who is confident in leading a small team, communicating clearly, managing on‑site performance and addressing issues promptly and professionally.

Key Responsibilities

• A hands-on role to carry out construction tasks and supervise a small team of construction site operatives, providing daily onsite supervision of staff while setting clear expectations around performance, safety and teamwork.
• Provide visible leadership on site, ensuring your team understands priorities, work schedules and quality standards, while creating a supportive environment where team members feel confident asking questions and contributing ideas.
• Motivate staff to ensure that outputs are of the standard and quality required. Resolve any onsite staff issues and support the management during holidays and absence.
• Take responsibility for the day-to-day coordination and wellbeing of the team, ensuring work is distributed effectively and individuals are supported to deliver their best performance.
• Promote a positive team culture, encouraging cooperation, professionalism and strong communication between colleagues, contractors and other Trust teams.
• Provide support to Reactive Operations Manager as required. Deputise Reactive Operations Manager if needed to cover holidays and absence, including attendance for meetings if needed.
• Supervise construction works whilst in the delivery phase ensuring that jobs are delivered according to planned schedules and to meet the engineering specifications provided.
• Liaise with other teams, third parties and customers when needed. Organise deliveries and on-site logistics to ensure that jobs are delivered efficiently.
• Act as Temporary Works Supervisor for works. Ensure that temporary works plans are delivered according to provided temporary works designs or according to equipment manufacturers instructions.
• Where reactive works are required, identify solutions and/or work with Reactive Operations Manager to identify solutions. Complete works to required canals to reduce customer disruption.
• Supervise the day-to-day work plans of Heritage, Trainees and/or Apprentices, ensuring they are fully supported, given clear guidance and constructive feedback.
• Ensure day-to-day mentoring and coaching is provided to trainees and apprentices to support their skills development and confidence on site.
• Resolve any minor issues identified by the trainee or in relation to skills development and escalate when appropriate.
• Work with Reactive Operations Manager to ensure that works being undertaken are meeting the training needs of the Apprentice/Trainee and provide feedback on their progress.
• Work with volunteers and ensure that they are able to contribute effectively on site. Ensure that appropriate support and feedback is provided on a day-to-day basis. Contribute to open days as required.
• Liaise with contractors and work in partnership as required. Cultivate strong working relationships between Trust staff and contractors to ensure that works are delivered as efficiently as possible.
• Build and maintain professional working relationships across teams, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and clear communication at all times.
• Provide feedback on any service issues and best practice. Produce Service Information Packs as required.
• Ensure that the Trust’s and hired equipment is utilised correctly and serviced according to agreed standards.
• Work with Managers to ensure that yards are maintained in a safe, tidy and efficient manner.
• Assist the Reactive Operations Manager with appropriate administration tasks. Provide information for weekly cost reports, assist with the ordering of materials and complete other reports when required.

Health & Safety:

• Take responsibility for day-to-day safety leadership on site and actively promote a strong, Positive safety culture among the team.
• Lead by example in maintaining high health and safety standards and ensuring team members follow safe working practices at all times.
• Complete basic safety paperwork where required and assist the Reactive Operations Manager in the creation of more complex safety paperwork when needed.
• Ensure all near misses, incidents and accidents are reported and be part of investigations and improvements as required.

About you

We’re looking for an organised and approachable Site Supervisor who puts people and great customer service at the heart of everything they do. You’ll enjoy leading a small team, supporting their development and maintaining high standards of safety, quality and professionalism.

In this hands‑on role, you’ll plan and deliver maintenance and repair works that help protect and enhance the Canal & River Trust’s network as a valued national asset. You’ll oversee day‑to‑day activities, support new team members, and help create a positive, collaborative working environment.

You’ll bring strong communication skills and the ability to work confidently with different personalities on site, resolving issues professionally and keeping the team motivated.

Experience in carpentry, joinery, bricklaying, stonemasonry or similar construction skills is ideal. A solid understanding of health and safety—particularly risk assessments, method statements and temporary works—is essential.

If you enjoy leading by example, working outdoors and making a visible impact every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Skills & Qualifications

• Recognised safety qualification or proven safety related experience.
• Recognised Qualification or Equivalent experience – e.g NVQ Level 3 or City and Guilds in a particular Craft e.g Carpentry/Joinery, Bricklaying, Stonemasonry or Construction
• Experience of leading, mentoring or supervising a small team, including setting expectations and supporting team performance.
• Experience of working in a Construction environment.
• Ability to use a computer, being proficient in programmes such as Microsoft Office including but not limited to Word, Excel, Teams & Powerpoint. Smart phone and various work-based apps.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and engage a team and build effective working relationships on site.

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 £32,750. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here:  EVP - 1. 

Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits 

INDHP

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. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

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. 

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us

Job Details

• Pay Type
• Salary

• Hiring Min Rate
• 32,750 GBP

• Hiring Max Rate
• 32,750 GBP