Water Network Maintenance and Repair Team Lead

Grade and Salary E (€49,252 - €73,877)

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Role:

The Asset Operations function forms the cornerstone of service delivery to customers, protecting the environment and meeting regulatory standards as well as managing the majority of operational expenditure. The Asset Operations function has responsibility for operational and maintenance strategy, policies, planning and standard operating procedures for Water and Wastewater operations both nationally and regionally, ensuring that value for money and customer service is delivered.

The O&M team is responsible for the national delivery of water and wastewater operational services through the operation, inspection, maintenance & repair of the water and wastewater treatment and network assets. The Regional O&M Team has a regional remit and is responsible for the regional operational management of water or wastewater treatment and network assets and the associated delivery of water/wastewater services through operational, maintenance and repair activities, while managing health and safety. The team is also responsible for the implementation of the regional operations, maintenance and repair plan that forms part of the national operations, maintenance and repair plan, contributing to the development, management, implementation and approval of same. Managing change and transformation activities is a key aspect of this team's responsibility particularly in the initial phases as the regional operations team splits into separate water and wastewater teams and ways of working are standardised.

Reporting to the Water Conservation Lead the Water Network Maintenance and Repair Team Lead has a remit over a geographical area and is responsible for overseeing planned and reactive maintenance and repair activities across the network infrastructure in a safe manner. The Water Network M&R Team Lead will be responsible for leading, supporting and developing a team of Network M&R Operatives and provide them with the necessary direction and skills in order to ensure the provision of maintenance and repair services across the water network.

Out of hours working will be required and appropriate overtime rates will apply.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Operational Responsibilities:

• Responsible for leading and managing the performance of a team of network operatives across the across the water infrastructure and to provide them with the necessary direction and skills in order to ensure the provision of services in a geographical area.

• Ensure data capture on issues that are relevant to contribute to the development of operational, maintenance and repair plans.

• Responsible for the management and replacement of failed or failing assets e.g. repairs of bursts and leaks, water mains replacements, customer boundary box, valves, hydrants, meters, short pipe lengths, booster pumps and all ancillary equipment, in order to deliver consistent customer service. This will include the management of any contractors employed to assist in such works.

• Manage and organise the maintenance and repair of newly commissioned / upgraded assets as required by undertaking appropriate site training and supporting adequate resourcing.

• Develop the skills of team members through provision of coaching and training in all aspects of the operation of relevant works.

• Safeguard the team works in accordance with defined levels of operational competence, hygiene code of practice, health and safety requirements and legislation, QA systems and standard operating procedures using the technology systems provided while ensuring all information is accurately reported and promptly recorded for audit purposes.

• Responsible for undertaking and reviewing administrative tasks, including the review of timesheets, work orders, H&S records and inventory management using the technology systems provided.

• Participate where required in the application of Road Opening Licences and liaising with Operation Support Team of provision of information necessary. This will include any follow ups measures as required including the management of temporary & permanent reinstatement.

• Contribute to the development of task schedules and standard operating procedures for the provision of network services that maximise quality of output, efficiency and support the adoption of processes.

• Responsible for monitoring and reporting KPIs for processes over which they have ownership.

• Participate in out of hours working as required.

Budget Management:

• Responsible for the management of costs associated with the Network Maintenance & Repair team.

• Co-ordinate the effective and efficient use of budgetary resources including inventory management, through team meetings, productivity management, utilisation of vehicles and euipment (both fleet or hired), implementation of work tasks and monitoring of water network operations.

Customer and Incident Management:

• Manage proactive and reactive activities to deliver consistent customer service.

• Responsible for the investigation of complaints regarding water services including various internal and external stakeholder engagement.

• Responsible for inputting updates into the Uisce Éireann outage management system including various internal and external stakeholder engagement as required.

• Support in the coordination of incident and emergency response, ensuring all health and safety standards are met and pollution classifications are consistent, in conjunction with the Pollution Control Coordinator.

Health and Safety:

• Ensure all health and safety inductions are completed and that all equipment is provided, appropriate to the job and necessary calibrations periodically.

• Responsible for the implementation of the Construction Regulations including undertaking of duties assigned under the Regulations, as per Uisce Éireann policies, safety statements and plans. Oversee policy implementation and best practice standards including safe working practices.

• Ensure all health and safety and procedures are adhered to including traffic management plans, risk assessments (Safe System of Work Plan), use of PPE etc.

• Responsible for ensuring personnel have relevant safety skills, training and associated documentation, including Safe Pass cards and, where relevant, Construction Skills Certificate cards

• Identify hazards and assess risks for Operational areas of responsibility.

• Carry out any other duties deemed necessary and / or required which your line manager may reasonably request.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business

• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.

• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives.

• Provide visible leadership for your team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team.

• Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann’s Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information, and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation.

• Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Secondary education or equivalent work experience

• Minimum of 3 years direct relevant experience of working in a similar role within water network & maintenance repair service

• FETAC level 5 / QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate or equivalent – Craft in apprenticeship such as: Craft of Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitting is desirable.

• We work better together- Team Leader skills including capability of building a high performing team and of developing people to realise their full potential and achieve results through effective coaching, delegation, and support.

• Effective communication skills, to engage with a broad range of internal stakeholders and front-line employees.

• Computing skills i.e., ability to create and interpret spreadsheets and databases.

• An understanding of key network infrastructure (e.g., Control Valves, Pumps etc.) is an advantage.

• An understanding of Trunk Main operations, Network Management, DMA Operability etc is an advantage.

• We keep each other safe- Experience / understanding of working within a strong health & safety culture.

• Full clean driving licence

• We aim high - Specialist skills and in-depth knowledge in water treatment and/or the maintaining and repairing of water abstraction and treatment assets is an advantage.

• Experience of managing and controlling costs is an advantage.

• Knowledge of managing process compliance is an advantage

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