Graduate Project Manager 2027 - SPA in Peterborough

The role of the Project Manager is dynamic and stimulating. As a Graduate Project Manager, you will assist the Project Manager and other members of the project team in planning, executing, and closing change initiatives, bids and business development activities, ensuring they achieve the successful delivery of the solution, to time, and on budget.

The Project Manager is a key interface between the client, design team, consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders. The Project Manager helps to ensure actions are carried out by the appropriate parties at the right times to ensure deadlines are met and that value is added to the client's projects.

Gain a holistic 360 degrees understanding of the SPA alliance by completing rotational placements around Project Delivery, Commercial, Engineering, Solutions and Site/Commissioning. Gain involvement in a host of projects and continuous improvement processes which champions collaboration and innovation to ensure the SPA alliance not only remains industry leading but continues to push the boundaries and outperform. We foresee our Generalist Graduates to be future Project Manager, Senior Project Manager and beyond job holders in the alliance to truly enhance our project management expertise in-house. During the rotational placements, the job holder may realise where their passion and flair lies and may develop a particular bias but by building a more rounded senior leadership team for the future, we believe we can create more synergy across the alliance.

The programme will focus on helping you to grow your personal and leadership skills, alongside business and of course, the technical skills you will learn day-to-day on the job. The programme is delivered in a variety of formats throughout the 2 years and will allow you to establish a network of contacts that will help and support you through the first 2 years and beyond. There may be opportunities to rotate to another project or sector of the business after 12 months in the business, for you to fully understand the depth and breadth of the services offered by the company. Our line managers are fully supportive of the Graduate Development programme and will be involved in helping you along the way. In addition to the programme, we offer mentoring and support in every area of work, as well as structured training programme to enable graduates to work towards achieving Chartership.

Responsibilities

• Develop project schedules and monitor against the schedule goals for a small project or several work packages.
• Develop an understanding of project management techniques in the alliance whilst adding your own input/spin on approaches.
• Create synergy and a 'joined up' approach to project management across teams to enhance efficiency.
• Gain an understanding of current challenges and obstacles across teams.
• Using theory, innovation and investigatory techniques, underpinned by data and evidence, suggest new ways of working/approaching work.
• Develop and monitor cost and schedule baseline (budgets, management reserve, undistributed budget, network schedules, and scope changes) for projects.
• Conduct effective Risk Management, ensuring that risks are recorded, managed and tracked to closure.
• Analyse available performance metrics to validate reported Programme and Project progress.
• Establish and maintain Client satisfaction by developing and maintaining relationships with relevant Client stakeholders.
• Co-ordinating the activities of the team by establishing the appropriate communication mechanisms, including meeting and reporting requirements.
• Ensure adherence to safe working practices including completing audits in line with schedule.
• Monitor and maintain compliance with the Working Time Directive.
• Supporting bids and other business development activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

• An interest in the industry and Costain.
• A minimum 2:2 degree qualification in Business Studies / Project Management or relevant subject.
• Good IT literacy.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.
• A willingness to learn with appropriate instruction.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbally.
• An organised individual that can work well to deadline.
• Building and maintaining positive working relationships.
• Someone that enjoys challenges and problem solving in their day-to-day work.

Desirable

• Good MS Office skills.
• Familiarity with the fundamentals of project management and/or project controls would be an advantage; namely work scope, scheduling, resourcing, budgeting, progress assessment, analysis, reporting and change.

Qualifications

Essential

• Equivalent of 5 GCSEs, grades A*-C or 9-4 including Science, English, ideally with a Grade B or above in Maths.
• Bachelor’s degree or working towards a degree in Project Management, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering or Engineering is preferred.
• Currently pursuing or recently completed a diploma or degree in Project Management, Project Controls, Data Analytics, Construction, Engineering, or a related field.