Graduate Project Manager - Water & Environment (Reading)

Jacobs; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs Graduate Development Program offers accelerated growth for graduates across Water & Environment and Civil/projects. You’ll engage in blended learning, mentoring, and real project work to build capabilities in human, consulting, strategic, and technical areas.

The two-year program starts September 2027, supported by a manager/mentor, with opportunities to gain professional body accreditation and hands-on experience on major projects within a global engineering leader.

Qualifications

• Currently working towards a relevant Degree or Master’s level qualification in Project Management, Environmental Science or Engineering.
• Demonstrates motivation to drive career in project management and consulting.
• Shows willingness to learn and develop through structured programs and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Client and Stakeholder Management – collaborate with client and stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes.
• Cost control – estimate, forecast and monitor project costs.
• Schedule control – plan and track project timelines and progress.
• Quality control – ensure QA processes for high-quality deliverables.
• Contract management – understand and communicate contract terms.
• Team development – support building a high-performing project team.
• Technical development – grow understanding of technical aspects in the sector.

Skills

Flexible mindset

Proactive

Adaptability

UK work right

Education

Degree or Master’s in Project Management or Engineering

Job description

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

Our Water and Environment Business Unit provides a focus for advising our clients on River Engineering and Flood Risk Management solutions including flood defence structures, weirs, gates, sluices, flood storage reservoirs, natural flood management, habitat creation, hydrometric gauging facilities and fish passes. Our integrated Water Catchment Management team comprises in excess of 400 staff based in the UK and Europe, but with reach into the Middle East, Australasia and America. The Water Catchment Management team has a diverse portfolio of projects with a key focus on flood risk management for the Environment Agency and other Local Authorities. The team work across sectors in integrated catchment management to deliver sustainable environmental solutions.

As a Graduate Project Manager you will support the Project Manager and develop your skills and experience in the following areas:

• Client and Stakeholder Management - working with the client and a wide variety of public and private stakeholders, who all have an interest in the project, to collaboratively work towards a successful outcome for all
• Cost control – estimating, forecasting and monitoring project costs to proactively identify any issues
• Schedule control – planning a project timeline and monitoring against the schedule to proactively identify any progress issues
• Quality control – ensuring the quality assurance process is implemented to achieve the highest quality deliverables
• Contract management – understanding the contract and how it is operated to clearly communicate with the client
• Team development – how you can support developing a high performing team for all to achieve their highest potential and delivering a successful project with the client
• Technical development – developing an understanding of the technical aspects of the sector you are working in.

You will be supported through the Jacobs Project Management Advancement Program to develop your skills internally and supported through development through a professional body such as Association of Project Managers or a technical institute such as Institution of Civil Engineers.

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 Project Management, Environmental Science or Engineering
• 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

• Apply Online
• Solo Video Assessment
• Interview

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. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

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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 (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.