Principal Superintendent – Richmond Lock

Job Description

Department: Civil Engineering, Department of Marine Operations
Reporting to: Head of Civil Engineering
Grade: 2
Salary: £66,371.20-£73,264.80 per annum (part-time equivalent) plus car allowance
Base: Richmond Lock & Weir
Contract Type: Part-time (28 hours per week)
Closing date: 23 September 2024
Interview date: 9 October 2024

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Who we are:

The Port of London Authority is the statutory harbour authority for the tidal Thames and responsible for 95 miles of the River Thames from the Estuary to Teddington Lock in West London. We work to keep river users safe, protect and enhance the environment and promote the use of the river for trade and travel.

Under the Port of London Act, the PLA are required to maintain a minimum water level above Richmond lock and weir. The PLA utilises the weirs to achieve this, with the lock being used for vessel navigation when the weirs are down. Richmond Lock and Weir was opened in 1894 and is now a grade 2* listed structure.

The PLA have a strategy in place to maintain the vital operation of the weirs and lock at all times and preserve the listed structure. Currently this role is spread across multiple departments and employees and the PLA are looking to streamline this by employing a single point superintendent to ensure the delivery of the Asset Management Strategy and ongoing operation.

The role:

The postholder will be accountable for, and manage activities for, all the engineering, development and maintenance at the Richmond Lock and Weir facility. Planning and supervising regular maintenance activities and planned works in line with the Asset Management Strategy. Undertaking regular surveys, defect identification, scoping and delivering defect corrections and responding to emergency defects as required.

In addition, the postholder will provide support to projects elsewhere in the PLA that may benefit from naval architecture input, e.g. vessel procurement and refits, pontoon construction and maintenance, and floating piers.

What we are looking for:

You will have a degree qualification in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering or similar discipline, with a minimum of 15 years subsequent experience in naval architecture or hydraulic engineering, including management of assets involving both civil and mechanical engineering.

Experience working with historic or other listed structures is preferred, and you will have sound knowledge of construction, mechanical workings and maintenance gained through experience in a working environment.

Role and responsibilities:

• Act as asset manager for the Richmond Lock and Weir structure, acting as a representative of the Civil Engineering team for all related communications with the harbourmasters/lock foreman team.
• Plan and manage the quality and safety of the delivery of regular maintenance activities in line with the Asset Management Strategy.
• Administer various maintenance and construction contracts associated with the regular maintenance activities.
• Plan and manage the quality and safety of planned works in line with the Asset Management Strategy for the “Draw off” period works or as required.
• Undertake regular asset inspections and surveys in line with the Asset Management Strategy. Producing detailed reports based on the outcomes of those surveys.
• Analyse and prioritise remediation of defects identified from the surveys, including design and specification of required solutions.
• Plan and manage the quality and safety of the defect correction works.
• Supporting the PLA procurement team to procure and contract the above works in line with the PLA Procurement Strategy.
• Supervise all works on site including from a technical, commercial and safety perspective.
• Produce budget forecasts for future asset related spend.
• Monitor performance of the Asset Management Strategy and implement improvements or changes as required.
• Allowing for leave or sickness, be on call to respond to emergency breakdowns or defects as required. Diagnosing the problem and organising timely repairs.
• Required to work from Richmond Lock and Weir facility with scope to work from home as duties allow.

Benefits package:

• 30 days annual leave
• Premier Healthcare Scheme (Bupa)
• Generous pension
• Onsite parking with electric charging
• Access to Occupational Health, Mindfulness, Counselling and Physiotherapy
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to MyGymDiscounts

For further information or if you would like to have an informal discussion about the position, please contact James Palmer, Head of Civil Engineering on 01474 562236 or james.palmer@pla.co.uk.

The PLA are not registered with the UK Home Office and do not sponsor candidates who require a visa or work permit to work in the UK, therefore an offer of employment cannot be made unless you currently hold the rights to live and work in the UK.