Water Network Maintenance & Repair Senior Operative

Grade and Salary Grade F (€40,438 - €60,657)*

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 Water and Wastewater Operations team is responsible for the regional delivery of water and wastewater operational services through the operation, inspection, maintenance & repair of the treatment and network assets. 

The Water Network Maintenance & Repair Senior Operative is responsible for supporting the delivery of planned and reactive maintenance and repair activities across the water network infrastructure in a safe manner. The Senior Operative role provides day to day leadership and direction on the ground to ensure consistent delivery of water services.

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

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervise the planned and reactive maintenance and repair activities across the water network infrastructure in a safe and hygienic manner including repairs of bursts and leaks, water mains and services and associated fittings replacements, water meters and customer boundary box, cleaning of service reservoirs, replacing valves and hydrants, and undertake tests following repairs to pipes and pumps, in order to deliver consistent customer service. 
• Ensure the prompt response to alarms, the provision of emergency cover and resolution of issues and incidents on water network infrastructure assets.
• Undertake supervisory work relating to Mains Rehabilitation, Main laying, Connection and Meter Installations and other work on the Water Network as required and in line with your skills and expertise.
• Ensure the regular checking of the chemical dosing measures at pumping stations and other odour control activities and support Water Compliance and Sampling teams in operational sampling activity including new mains, burst repairs and failures and report on results of the analysis as required.
• Direct the maintenance and repair of non-domestic water meters, including undertaking site investigations and removing and replacing meters, liaising with the Metering Services team as appropriate.
• Supervise the teams to inform the customer about issues and resolutions, investigate and follow up on escalated customer complaints/local representative in order to support the delivery of a consistent customer service and manage the risk associated with public health and compliance.
• Support Customer teams including Key Account Managers and Customer Service with any customer issues/queries or where works impact customer service delivery in the area.
• Oversee teams to promptly record and accurately report relevant information in relation to the operation of the water network using the technology systems provided including logging investigations and raising requests for follow on work orders and updating H&S records and inventory management where required.
• Monitor all works undertaken, manage the requisitions for materials in your teams and ensure details are accurately recorded on or off system as required ensuring all incidents are recorded in detail with the circumstances of same.
• Ensure adherence and compliance with all health and safety procedures and perform risk assessments (Safe System of Work Plan), use of PPE, and required duties under the Construction Regulations
• Ensure the operations of Uisce Éireann vehicles and machinery in a responsible manner in line with all relevant Uisce Éireann vehicle, health, safety and security policies, ensuring stock levels in vehicles are sufficient to perform work where required.
• Ensure adherence of teams to allocated task schedule, standard operating procedures and close out of work orders on completion of task, supporting the roll out and development of standard operating procedures when required.
• Work with third parties/contractors to support undertaking activity on the network.
• Issue permits to work to all relevant contractors and ensure they follow health and safety procedures.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders as required. For example, Landowners, relevant Uisce Éireann personnel, third parties/contractors.
• Ensure the tracking and monitoring of team activities, update timesheets, sign off on time and attendance and performance evaluation and support your line manager with the generation of any ad hoc reporting and/or performance management as required
• Drive the efficiency of all the works carried out by teams under your leadership, regularly inspecting works carried out and tracking the training required to be delivered to your teams.
• Provide cover and support to other water operations teams as required which may involve taking additional duties to cover annual leave or sickness etc.
• 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.
• Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Secondary level education or equivalent work experience 
• Minimum two years relevant experience working in a similar role 
• We keep each other safe - previous experience of supervising or managing teams working in health and safety culture preferred and in a water or wastewater networks environment an advantage
• Knowledge of the water/wastewater network, infrastructure and operations 
• Sound knowledge and experience of all skills required for maintenance and repair of the network preferable
• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence is minimum requirement. Additional Driving License categories an advantage. A clean driving licence is defined as meaning that the applicant has not been convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts (other than an offence for which the penalty is the imposition of penalty points).
• Proactive, with ability to work on own initiative and with others to ensure success in the performance of a team
• We work better together - proven ability to create and develop good working relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals, coupled with the ability to gain commitment from others 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to convey messages in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to set up ongoing processes and procedures to collect and review information
• Flexible with regard to working in a changing environment and the ability to adjust to new work structures, processes and requirements as necessary
• We aim high - proactively identifying new areas of learning and using newly gained knowledge and skills on the job
• Striving for quality and ensuring consistent high standards of work
• Strong Computer skills with a proficient working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• We deliver for customers and communities - strong customer service skills with demonstrable experience of dealing with customer
• With full training and risk assessment, the role holder must have the ability to work in an environment that is sometimes uncomfortable or potentially hazardous such as: working with hazardous chemicals; sewage; confined spaces; lone working; remote working; deep water; animals; vermin; noise; hand and arm vibration, etc. This involves successful completion of occupational health assessment confirming suitability to work in such environments 
• Experience working within Water Services and/or other Utilities an advantage

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