Graduate Project Controller (Manchester)

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Join the Jacobs Graduate Development Program (GDP) and help shape better environments, communities and societies. Bring your passion, creativity and ambition - and together, we'll create lasting change.

What You’ll Get

Our two‑year Graduate Development Program is designed to accelerate your growth as you begin your Jacobs career. Through blended learning, mentoring, progress reviews and networking, you’ll build capability across four key areas: human skills, consulting skills, championing our strategy, and developing your personal passions. You’ll tailor your learning journey to your interests, career goals and technical strengths — creating a graduate experience that’s uniquely yours. Much of your development will come through real project work, supported by your manager and mentor to ensure you gain the experiences that matter most. The Graduate Development Program isn’t just a steppingstone — it’s a launchpad. You’ll gain the tools, exposure and support to unlock your potential, working on meaningful projects and collaborating with industry leaders to deliver solutions to complex challenges.

About The Opportunity

In Cities & Places and Major Programmes, we deliver today’s most complex, challenging and iconic infrastructure and transformation programmes. We work with our clients, across multiple sectors, to unlock better social, environmental and economic outcomes. Our dedicated teams have the experience and expertise to integrate and manage the scale, complexity and interdependencies that exist within major programmes. We address global challenges in an integrated way, from urbanisation, climate change, logistics and digital proliferation to security, water scarcity, investment partnerships and mega infrastructure.

As a Project Controls Graduate, you will learn and develop your skills in covering cost, schedule, risk, change, reporting, stakeholder management and more. You’ll work closely with clients and internal teams to ensure projects meet scope, time, cost, and quality targets. With the support of your colleagues, mentors and Jacobs Graduate Development Program you will develop your knowledge and capability within:

• Cost Management
• Schedule Management
• Reporting & Performance
• Change control
• Project Management and Coordination
• Risk Management
• Project Delivery and Execution
• Leadership

What’s In It For You?

• Career Growth: Work with a global leader on projects that shape industries and communities.
• Collaboration: Partner with world-class SMEs, delivery teams, and clients to drive success whilst enabling your development across the project controls discipline.
• Flexibility: Hybrid working plus the opportunity to travel to client sites and stay overnight when needed—because your impact goes where the projects are.

The start date for this position is September 2027.

Here’s what you'll need:

• Be working towards a relevant Degree or Master’s level qualification in Construction, Engineering, Data Analytics, Data Science or Mathematics.
• A flexible, proactive mindset and motivation to drive your career forward.
• Adaptability and enthusiasm for learning.
• Permanent right to work in the UK.

Selection Process

Solo Video Assessment Interview.

For further information, please see our brochure.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees. With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

Find out more about life at Jacobs. We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role. We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process, please contact the team via Careers Support.