Technical Operations Lead – Confined Space Rescue

Job description

Location: Poling, West Sussex (BN18 9QA), with travel to customer sites across the UK

Employment Type: Full-time

Reports to: Technical Operations Manager

About the Role

We are looking for two Technical Operations Leads to join a specialist confined space

rescue team. The Technical Operations Lead is a senior technical and operational position, reporting

to the Technical Operations Manager.

The role acts as a technical expert and trusted advisor to customers and operational teams, providing specialist guidance on confined space rescue, risk reduction, and operational requirements.

This is primarily an office-based position in Poling, West Sussex, with regular travel to customer sites, mainly across the South East of England, with occasional national travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical advice and consultancy on confined space safety and

rescue.

• Understand customer requirements and advise on appropriate rescue

arrangements and team sizes.

• Gather information through customer discussions, photographs, documentation,

and site visits to prepare comprehensive RAMS and rescue plans.

• Write, review, and critically assess RAMS, method statements, rescue plans, and

scopes of work.

• Act as the main technical point of contact for onsite rescue technicians.
• Provide technical support during live operations and assess changes in risk as

site conditions develop.

• Conduct site visits, health & safety audits and operational assessments
• Assess onsite technicians and support their ongoing training, development and

CPD.

• Support the planning and development of operational teams.
• Build strong technical relationships with customers and provide ongoing

technical guidance.

• Attend customer meetings, site reviews and project close-out meetings when

required.

• Work collaboratively with operations, coordination, sales and management

teams.

• Help manage and develop operational personnel, including individuals from

firefighter and ex-military backgrounds.

• Participate as an onsite rescue technician in emergency situations when

required.

• Review and improve existing operational processes, procedures and standards.
• Ensure all activities meet appropriate health & safety, quality, compliance and legislative requirements.

Requirements

• Proven professional experience working in confined spaces and confined space

rescue.

• Strong practical understanding of confined space rescue operations.
• Experience preparing and/or reviewing RAMS, rescue plans and method

statements.

• Ability to assess risks and determine appropriate rescue arrangements.
• Experience conducting site assessments, audits or operational reviews.
• Strong customer-facing and communication skills.
• Ability to explain technical information clearly and confidently.
• Strong organisational and multitasking abilities.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Experience supporting, mentoring, assessing or developing operational

personnel.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Full, clean manual driving license.
• C&G 6160 suite qualifications – desirable.
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent H&S qualification – desirable.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with practical confined space rescue experience. You should understand not only the theory behind confined space rescue, but also how that knowledge is applied in real-world environments. You will be confident working with customers, challenging assumptions when necessary, identifying what they actually need, and providing practical solutions that improve safety and reduce risk.

You should also be comfortable working with highly experienced operational personnel,

including individuals from firefighter and ex-military backgrounds, and have the communication and leadership skills to get the best from these teams.

Reporting Structure

The Technical Operations Lead reports directly to the Technical Operations Manager and works closely with the wider operational, coordination, sales and management teams.

The role provides technical guidance and support to onsite confined space rescue technicians but does not sit above the Technical Operations Manager.

If you have strong confined space rescue experience and are ready to take on a senior technical role with significant responsibility, we would like to hear from you.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Poling

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

25-08-2026

Profession type

Logistics jobs

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English