Graduate Project Management (Engineering)

SevernTrentLife; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK water utility company is seeking a Graduate Project Manager in Derby to join their diverse team. You will undertake a 27-month programme with 3 placements across capital delivery and engineering areas. The role offers hands-on experience, mentorship, and a chance to contribute positively to the community. A relevant degree is required, along with a driving license and enthusiasm for learning. Competitive salary and benefits included.

Benefits

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Annual bonus scheme

Leading pension scheme

Electric vehicle scheme

Two paid volunteering days per year

Dedicated training and development

Qualifications

• Passion for making a difference in service delivery.
• Driving licence and access to own vehicle.
• Ability to travel freely across sites.

Responsibilities

• Complete 3 placements in various departments.
• Participate in project lifecycle activities.
• Manage project outcomes and engage with teams.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Problem-solving abilities

Ability to adapt

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Project Management, Construction or Engineering degree

Job description

Graduate Project Management (Engineering)

LET’S CUT STRAIGHT TO IT

At Severn Trent, we believe everyone deserves more. More care for the environment, more sustainable initiatives, and more support for the communities we serve. That's why we're on a mission to deliver bigger and better things, and we passionate graduates like you to help us achieve our goals.

Our people and culture are the heart of our success. We're proud to be in the top 5% of utility companies worldwide for employee engagement and ranked as a Top 50 UK Employer on Glassdoor. With nearly 10,000 dedicated colleagues, we're looking for more brilliant people who are eager to turn challenges into opportunities for a better future.

If you're excited to learn, and ready to make a real impact, we want you on our team.

LET’S TELL YOU MORE

Our Project Management (Engineering) Graduate Programme offers the perfect blend of personal professional development, exposing you to the frontline and the core of our business. Being part of the programme will enable you to spend time in different areas of our capital delivery and engineering teams through 3 inspirational placements. Covering all areas of project management such as the end-to-end process of project and programme life cycles, water/waste networks design and delivery, and water/waste treatment asset design and delivery.

As a graduate project manager, you’ll build your experience and knowledge. Guided and mentored by expert industry professionals, you’ll explore the full lifecycle of project delivery, planning and management.

You’ll get an insight into our water and wastewater treatment, learn about different aspects of our business whilst working on a range of projects which will help address real life challenges and drive tangible change.

We’re not seeking technical knowledge, we’re after the right people. We’re after those with drive, a get up and go attitude, a willingness to learn, passion, and pro-activeness.

We welcome all graduates from diverse backgrounds, as we know diverse minds bring new ideas and a different way of thinking. We are looking for someone who wants to build their career with us and grasp new opportunities, and in return we will support you with varied experiences, training and development to provide a grounding for your future career.

HOW WILL THE PROGRAMME WORK?

You will be based at Pride Park in Derby, the heart of our patch. The programme requires you to complete 3 placements throughout your time in the role, gaining exposure in different areas of the department so that you are equipped with the right skills to build your career here at Severn Trent.

You will be working within one of our Capital and Commercial or Chief Engineer teams.

In this exciting programme, you will have the chance to discuss your development and career ambitions in your 1-1 meetings with business leads, mentors, a study buddy, the cohort leader, and the New Talent Team.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

We want individuals to fully immerse themselves in their development and build long-term capability. Throughout the programme, you’ll receive coaching and mentoring to help you grow. You’ll learn how to take a proactive approach to delivering project outcomes—leading meetings, capturing outputs and actions, engaging teams and contractors, and driving progress as outlined in your project plans. You’ll also develop the ability to identify solutions to project challenges, seek support from management when needed, and ensure actions are completed within required timeframes to move projects forward.

As part of your growth, you’ll be expected to complete contract actions on time and demonstrate confidence and control in managing your projects. You’ll learn to understand and process both technical and non-technical issues, creating clear action plans to overcome obstacles. The programme will help you build a resilient and driven mindset, enabling you to tackle challenges by leveraging your network and project stakeholders. You’ll also develop personal robustness and maturity in handling complex or unfamiliar situations, including interactions with challenging stakeholders.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We want our employees to care and to have a genuine passion for what we do as a business. We need people who want to make a difference in providing a vital service to our customers, now and for the long-term.

If you have the passion to succeed that we see in our graduates every day, you’ll be a great match for our programme. We love you to be someone with:

• A ‘can do’ attitude – willing to get stuck in, take accountability for decisions and actions and who takes pride in their work.
• A love of variety in a role and ability to adapt to a dynamic, fast-paced working environment.
• Ability to quickly prioritise tasks and the initiative to dive head-first into problem solving. No two days are the same on the front line and not every day goes to plan, so you’ll need to be quick on your feet to respond!
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills and enjoy working with multiple teams.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information and effectively communicate this to different team members and audiences.
• Ability to travel freely across our patch to visit different sites and travel to meetings and training days.
• Curiosity to learn quickly in a reactive and dynamic working environment, and capable of looking forward to pre-empt challenges and issues
• The care to look out for, and be an inspiration to your colleagues.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

Our New Talent Team will guide you and support you every step of the way. Furthermore, your line manager, mentor and graduate buddy will be there to help you in making sure you reach your full potential here at Severn Trent.

Location

Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8HY

Programme Duration

27 months

Starting Salary

£31,500

Entry Criteria

A Project Management, Construction or Engineering degree or similar relevant discipline in an APM (Association for Project Management) accredited course is preferred.

Driving Requirements

For this role it is essential you have a full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle upon starting the role.

HOW WE’LL REWARD AND CARE FOR YOU IN RETURN

It’s not just a job you’ll get here; you’ll get a career too. We have a range of benefits that reward and recognise great work and award-winning training to ensure you reach your potential. And we’ll also help you play your part in looking after the environment and the community in which we live.

Here are some of our favourites:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,225 which is subject to eligibility)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our Academy
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies
• Two paid volunteering days per year

As if that isn’t enough, you’ll receive an annual salary increase whilst you’re on programme and you’ll also get an increase when you move into your first job.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Severn Trent we are passionate about our people. We want to make sure that we continue to foster a more diverse, inclusive, and cohesive culture that represents the communities and customers we serve. We’re making sure we keep up the progress with our wonderful working groups – LGBTQ+, Women in Operations & STEM, Disability and Ethnicity, who help us with our commitments. Find out more about our commitments to Diversity and Inclusion at Severn Trent.

LET’S GO

Apply now to build an amazing career and be part of a brilliant team. We can’t wait to hear from you.

• Roles close on 13th January at Midday (12pm)
• Check your diary – face to face assessments will run from 16th February to 20th March 2026
• Estimated start date- September 2026

To find out more about working with us, search #LifeatSevernTrent on social media.

In accordance with Home Office guidance successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. We have assessed this programme and do not consider that we would be able to sponsor a successful candidate under the Skilled Worker route as the role does not meet the relevant Home Office criteria; the successful candidate must be able therefore to demonstrate right to work without Severn Trent sponsorship.