At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage high-impact engineering projects in the water and utilities sector.
- Company: Join Trant Engineering, a top EPC contractor with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, career development support, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Exciting growth opportunities in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in critical national infrastructure and develop your career.
- Qualifications: NVQ/HND/HNC in Engineering or Project Management; experience in managing engineering projects.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Join Trant Engineering and help shape the delivery of complex, high-impact projects. Trant Engineering is a leading EPC contractor with a strong reputation for delivering innovative engineering solutions across the UK and internationally. Our Water & Process team deliver engineering solutions for water and wastewater utility providers. With over 1,000 employees and a £150m turnover, we’re growing—and now looking for a Project Manager to play a key role in our project delivery teams.
The Role
The Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and delivering assigned engineering projects within agreed scope, budget, and timelines. This role involves managing resources, risks, budgets, and stakeholder relationships to ensure projects meet quality, safety, and commercial objectives. The Project Manager will coordinate closely with internal teams, clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Technical Responsibilities - Project Planning & Execution
- Develop project plans including scope, objectives, schedules, milestones, and resource allocation.
- Coordinate engineering, design, procurement, and site activities.
- Ensure projects comply with technical, safety, and quality requirements.
- Monitor progress and make adjustments to meet project objectives.
- Prepare and manage project budgets, cost forecasts, and cash flow.
- Monitor project costs and report variances to senior management.
- Approve invoices and track subcontractor and supplier payments.
- Identify and mitigate commercial risks.
- Identify project risks and develop mitigation plans.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, statutory, and client standards.
- Oversee quality assurance, inspections, and commissioning activities.
- Maintain Health, Safety, and Environmental compliance on all sites.
- Safety, Health, Environmental, Quality & Compliance
- Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all SHEQ, industry and client standards.
- Ensure compliance with environmental permits.
- Drive delivery of carbon reduction, sustainability and biodiversity targets in line with client commitments.
- Promote innovation in construction methods, digital delivery and sustainable solutions.
- Monitor and audit sites in all aspects of safety, quality and compliance.
- Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned projects.
- Maintain strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and consultants.
- Communicate project progress, risks, and changes to stakeholders.
- Address and resolve project issues or escalations promptly.
- Leadership & Support
- Lead and coordinate project teams, including site engineers, designers, and subcontractors.
- Promote collaboration, accountability, and effective communication across the project team.
- Support the professional development of project staff as required.
Key Interfaces:
- Internal Interfaces
- Senior Management / Directors
- Site Engineers / Site Managers
- Operations & Engineering Teams
- Commercial / Contracts Teams
- SHEQ Teams
- External Interfaces
- Clients / End Users
- Subcontractors / Suppliers
- Consultants / Technical Advisors
- Regulators / Authorities
Core Values
Uphold and promote the Company’s Core Values – Care, Trust, Respect and Sustainability.
What We’re Looking For
- Essential
- NVQ/HND/HNC in Engineering, Construction, or Project Management.
- Knowledge of UK engineering standards, construction practices, and regulatory requirements.
- SMSTS.
- Proven experience managing engineering projects, ideally in water, energy, or utilities sectors.
- Experience delivering projects on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
- Strong experience in stakeholder management, including clients, subcontractors, and internal teams.
- Experience coordinating project teams, including site engineers, designers, and subcontractors.
- Desirable
- Degree in Engineering, Construction, or Project Management.
- Professional project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 Foundation/Practitioner, APM, or equivalent).
- Knowledge of engineering contracts (e.g., NEC, JCT, FIDIC) and commercial management.
- Experience managing multi-site projects or projects with complex logistics.
- Exposure to budget monitoring, cost control, and commercial risk management.
Why Join Trant?
At Trant Engineering, we deliver complex, high-value engineering and construction projects across the UK. From process and water treatment to energy infrastructure upgrades, we play a key role in delivering and protecting critical national infrastructure – shaping the systems that communities and industries rely on every day. Our teams design and deliver full EPC solutions, combining technical excellence with practical, hands-on delivery. We offer end-to-end capabilities – from concept and design through to manufacturing, construction and commissioning utilising a continually evolving in-house expertise. This means you’ll work on projects that are varied, challenging and genuinely impactful. Our multi-disciplinary teams bring together specialists in civil, mechanical, electrical, process, instrumentation, and control & automation engineering, alongside our in-house manufacturing of control panels, MCCs, PLCs and SCADA systems. With over 1,000 people and a strong, growing pipeline of work, it’s an exciting time to join Trant. We are committed to helping our people succeed through our Career Development Association, providing structured support, mentoring and clear pathways to help you reach your full potential. Whether you’re starting out or looking to take your next career step, Trant offers the chance to develop, progress and make a real difference.
Our company benefits package includes:
- Competitive salary.
- Company car or car allowance (some levels).
- Mentored support within our ‘Career Development Association’, to work towards chartership.
- 24 days holiday (increasing with service) + 8 bank holidays.
- Options to buy additional holiday via salary sacrifice.
- Company Pension Scheme.
- Flexible working based on a ‘core hours’ system.
- 1 x Professional Membership paid annually.
- Hybrid working.
- Employee assistance program.
- Free onsite parking.
- Bike to Work scheme.
- Discretionary annual bonus.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply now and be part of something bigger.
Project Manager - Reading and Thames Water Region in Southampton employer: Trant Engineering
Trant Engineering is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises health and safety while fostering employee growth. Located in Southampton, the company provides competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a robust pension scheme, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the engineering sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Manager - Reading and Thames Water Region in Southampton
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Trant Engineering, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Project Manager - Reading and Thames Water Region at Trant Engineering.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Manager - Reading and Thames Water Region in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Trant Engineering
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
