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Job description

The Skills Academy is a pre-employment training course designed to give you the skills needed to be successful. The Skills Academy is a great way to receive Civil Service specific training to upskill or reskill before returning to the workforce or changing career. Candidates selected to join the programme will get an introduction to Civil Engineering, learn and develop skills and knowledge across surveying, contract management, construction, traffic management, health& safety, personal development, teamwork and collaboration, communication and IT essentials. Participants will be supported through the first steps of and have an opportunity to gain industry recognised accredited qualifications in: National Highways Sector Scheme 12D, Lantra Sector Scheme valid for 5 years. CSR (Construction Skills Register) Health & Safety training valid for 4 years from the date of training completion. OCN NI Level 2 Award in Vocational Skills Opportunity. While successful completion of the Skills Academy training course is not a guarantee of gaining employment, if you successfully complete the Skills Academy training course, you will be invited to a job interview for a post at Trainee Civil Engineering Assistant (TCEA) level in the NICS. CEAs are entry level positions that offer a civil engineering career pathway opportunity. You will have the opportunity to develop as you will be studying part time on a fully-funded and supported Pearson BTEC National Diploma in Civil Engineering 2-year programme at college while gaining on-the-job experience working within DfI. Following successful completion of the Pearson BTEC National Diploma in Civil Engineering 2-year programme and satisfactory service, you will automatically progress to TG (Technical Grade).

Responsibilities

• TCEA posts exist across Northern Ireland and the main job activities will depend on which role you are assigned. Examples of the roles available are: Road Inspector; Contract Manager/Site Supervisor; Private Street Inspector; Laboratory Technician.
• Road Inspector:
• Assist Professional and Technical staff in the management of technical works:
• Inspecting the road and footway surface to identify defects e.g. potholes, trips, white line deterioration
• Grading of defect severity - recognising repair timeframes based on classification of road
• Recording other hazards that will need repair e.g. road traffic signs, fencing.
• Contract Manager/Site Supervisor:
• Assist Professional and Technical staff in the management of site activities:
• Keep a site diary, recording details of site activities, plant and machinery utilised and work completed
• Carryout quality control checks e.g. temperature checks, line and level checks
• Collect and record details of materials delivered to site.
• Private Streets Inspector:
• Undertake routine tasks and inspection duties on Private Street sites, Article 3(4c) sites and Licensed sites as well as updating Private Streets Database and other associated inspection management records
• This involves data collection, input, maintenance and retrieval of records.
• Laboratory Technician:
• Assist in the testing of road construction materials:
• Carrying out material testing including. bituminous mixes, aggregates, soils, concrete, binders etc. in compliance with the relevant British/European Standards, UKAS EN ISO 17025:2017 and lab procedures
• Carry out On-Site Testing including rolling straight edge, sand patch, coring and skid resistance in accordance with the British/European Standards & lab procedures.
• For the full list of job duties, please visit: https://irecruit-ext.hrconnect.nigov.net/

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Have at least 3 GCSEs including a minimum of Grade B in Maths, Grade C in English (or Level 2 Essential Skills in place of GSCE English), Grade C in a Science subject (Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Double Award Science);
• Access to a form of transport - the successful candidate will be required 10 to travel on official duty frequently and regularly throughout Northern Ireland.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date 27th March 2026 at 12 noon Applications from Protestants, females, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC325469)