Civil Engineer Industrial Placement

West Sussex County Council; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in England is seeking a Civil Engineering Student for a one-year Industrial Placement in their Highways directorate. This full-time role involves assisting in planning, design, maintenance, and construction in civil engineering. Candidates should be currently pursuing a level 6 degree in Civil Engineering and possess strong organisational and communication skills. The position offers hands-on experience and mentorship, with competitive salary and supportive work environment.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Flexible hybrid working model

Coaching and mentoring schemes

Qualifications

• Currently undertaking a level 6 degree in Civil Engineering with a placement year requirement.
• Five GCSE's at grade A*-C or equivalent qualifications with Maths, English and Science.
• Strong interest in engineering and project management is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the planning, execution and management of projects relevant to civil engineering.
• Collaborate with team members to support project objectives and conduct research.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and documentation related to project activities.

Skills

Organisational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Interest in engineering

Education

Level 6 degree in Civil Engineering

Five GCSE's at grade A*-C including Maths, English and Science

Job description

The Opportunity

We're looking for a Civil Engineering Student to join our Highways directorate on a one-year Industrial Placement (year in industry). This is a fantastic opportunity to join a customer focussed local Council on our placement programme, providing you with the experiences and tools needed for progression within your chosen career.

Salary: £25,583 to £ 25,989 per annum.

Location: Based at County Hall, Chichester. The role will also require regular attendance at our other offices and depots located across West Sussex.

Contract: 1-year fixed term

Working pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week.

Closing/Interview date: Friday 30 January 2026. We will review applications once the advert has closed and will be holding interviews in person at County Hall Chichester on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

About the Role

As an Industrial Placement Civil Engineer in our Planned Delivery team of Highways, you will be assisting in the planning, design, maintenance and construction of roads, footways, drains, traffic signals and Council owned structures such as bridges.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands‑on experience, receive mentorship from experienced professionals and develop a strong foundation in practical civil engineering principals.

Find out more about Civil Engineer careers at West Sussex County Council here!

Day to day duties in this role may include:

• Assisting in the planning, execution and management of projects relevant to your field of study
• Collaborating with team members and stakeholders to support project objectives
• Conducting research and analysis to inform project decisions and strategies
• Preparing reports, presentations, and documentation related to project activities
• Participating in team meetings and contribute to problem-solving and decision-making processes.

Career Progression

We strive to support your career advancement during your tenure at West Sussex County Council. Please click here to view our current staff career paths, which illustrate our commitment to individual development.

About You

Some of the key skills, experience and qualifications required for this role include:

• Currently undertaking a level 6 degree in Civil Engineering, with the option or requirement to complete a placement year from 2026 - 2027
• Five GCSE's at grade A*-C or 9-4, including Maths (with a minimum Grade B or 5-6), English and Science, or equivalent vocational qualifications
• Strong interest in engineering and project management
• Good organisational and time management skills to meet deadlines
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to enable you to deliver a service to others
• You will need to be able to travel independently around the county, including to areas that may not be easily accessible by public transport. Pool cars and pool bikes are available.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Benefits

As an employer, we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, coaching and mentoring schemes, networking opportunities and various discount schemes.

Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is EIE01485.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Lucy Allen (Workforce Development Lead - Highways, Transport and Planning) at

For issues or queries regarding your application please contact .

To apply, please follow the links below upload your CV and write a covering letter which clearly demonstrates how you meet the key skills of the job description, details your motivations for applying for this 1-year in industry placement and

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to 3 years referencing and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.

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