2026 Graduate Programme - Communities - Local Government (Project Management)

WSP; Leeds; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Leeds is looking for a Graduate Project Manager. You'll coordinate infrastructure projects for Local Government clients, manage project phases, budgets, and engage with stakeholders. The role offers a two-year Graduate Development Programme including mentoring and professional registration support. Ideal for graduates with a 2:2 in Project Management or related fields, emphasizing collaborative work and career development.

Benefits

Work-life balance

Hybrid working policy

Health and Wellbeing support

Flexibility in working arrangements

Development and training opportunities

Qualifications

• Graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master's or bachelor's degree in project management.
• Passion for consulting and Project Management.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure timely project delivery.
• Manage budgets, resources, and procurement activities.
• Monitor project progress and prepare status reports.

Skills

Project Management

Budget Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Risk Management

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Project Management

Job description

Overview

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

We are looking for Graduates for our Communities Project Management team, who have a flexible approach and an appetite to learn in a leading Engineering and Professional Advisory services consultancy. We want you to enjoy working in a collaborative environment where you can apply your skills working for a diverse range of clients and projects.

Location: Leeds

A little bit more about your role and the team…

Role and team scope

Across the UK, our communities teams provide local authorities with advice on everything from transport to urban regeneration, and flood risk to securing funding. Our Communities Project Management team in Leeds are currently looking to recruit a Graduate into their team. As we work in partnership with local councils, we are unable to offer flexibility on this location.

As a Graduate Project Manager within our Communities team in Leeds, you\'ll play a key role in coordinating the delivery of a variety of infrastructure projects for our Local Government clients. Projects range in size, complexity and value from an inspection scheme to award winning multi-disciplinary projects such as Regent Street Flyover. Working in this team, you will be helping deliver projects such as:

Projects

• Regent Street Flyover
• Kex Grill
• Leeds City Council
• City of York Council
• North Yorkshire Council

Graduates in the past have worked on a number of projects, including packages of principal bridge inspections, bridge assessments and design work for roads and structures. Our graduates have also worked on highway maintenance schemes, junction improvement schemes and large-scale projects, such as Kex Gill.

Responsibilities

You'll be immersed in the full lifecycle of project delivery, managing workflows, supporting delivery teams and project managers with contract and project administration and financial tracking and reporting. You'll play an active role in project delivery, with direct exposure to clients, contractors, and key stakeholders.

Day-to-day activities could include:

• Coordinating internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of project phases.
• Assisting in managing budgets, resource allocation, and procurement activities.
• Monitoring project progress and prepare status reports for clients and senior leadership.
• Facilitating meetings, track actions, and ensure documentation is up to date and compliant.
• Contributing to risk management, change control, and quality assurance processes.

Graduate Development Programme

You will join an enthusiastic and supportive team, providing you with a challenging and fulfilling career. In this team, you will be dealing with internal and external stakeholders, collaborating with colleagues and adapting to dynamic project environments.

Our two-year Graduate Development programme is designed to support personal and professional development and growth through an engaging blended learning experience. The programmes include core business and professional skills training, career development workshops and resources, valuable networking opportunities, mentoring for professional registration and a breadth of on-the-job experience.

To find out more, please visit: Who we are - ECP

Our teams are committed to your career progression, encouraging growth from the very beginning. Many employees have started as graduates and successfully advanced within the company. We encourage you to achieve chartered status with professional bodies such as the Project Management Qualification (PMQ) and NEC accreditation, ensuring your development is a priority. You will be fully supported through enrolment in a professional institution\'s training agreement, guiding you towards chartered or incorporated status.

To find out more about Sectors and Specialisms we recruit our Graduates into, as well as qualification requirements, please visit our Graduate brochure or Graduate website.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

You\'ll have graduated with at least a 2:2 in a master\'s or bachelor\'s degree in project management. To assist you in finding potential areas of the business that are relevant to you, please visit our Graduate brochure or website.

• Candidates must complete the application form in full answering all specific questions. This requirement applies to all candidates, inclusive of their background. Successful completion of this stage is mandatory. Candidates who pass this initial stage will then be required to complete an online skill enabler assessment. Both the application form and the skill enabler assessment are essential parts of the early career\'s recruitment process.
• You'll be looking to start work in September 2026.
• You'll have a passion for consulting and Project Management.
• You will have the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines and stakeholders with precision.
• You'll be comfortable engaging with clients, consultants and technical teams across all stages of a project.
• You'll want to ensure accuracy in documentation, reporting and contract administration, especially within NEC frameworks.
• You'll have an enthusiasm for creativity and a drive to solve problems.
• You\'ll want to inspire us, sharing new ideas you have and seeking out opportunities to contribute.
• You\'ll want to pursue APM qualifications and/or NEC accreditation.

Don\'t quite meet all the criteria? Should you have the right qualifications for our positions, apply and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities we have available for our Graduate programme.

Application and Selection

For further information regarding our Application & Selection process, including timelines for recruitment, please visit our Early Careers brochure - Application & Selection.

We review applications for our Early Career opportunities on a rolling basis, which means we begin progressing some candidates to the final stages before the application closing date. To ensure your application receives full consideration, we recommend submitting it as early as possible.

What Next

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can apply today.

About Us

We are one of the world\'s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

What\'s in It for You?

Work-life balance
At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It\'s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging
We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing
We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time
To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development
We understand the importance of development and training to you. That's why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP
Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.