Location: Falmer, East Sussex
Travel: Regular travel across our region, including to operational sites, will be required

Contract: 2 year fixed-term contract

Hours: 37 hours, Monday–Friday

Salary: £34,000 per year

Turn ideas into projects that make a difference.

Major infrastructure doesn't happen by accident. Behind every successful project are people bringing teams together, solving problems, managing priorities and turning plans into reality.

Join our Project Management Graduate Development Programme and start building the skills to help deliver projects that support essential water and wastewater services across the South East.

You don't need to have studied Project Management to apply. An engineering background would be advantageous, but we're open to graduates from all degree disciplines. We're much more interested in your potential, how you approach problems and your motivation to learn.

What you could be doing

As a Project Management Graduate, you'll gain practical experience supporting the planning and delivery of capital and engineering projects that help maintain and improve our essential services. You'll work alongside project managers, engineers and other teams, building an understanding of how complex projects are planned, managed and delivered.

- Supporting the delivery of engineering and infrastructure projects

- Project planning, scheduling and monitoring progress

- Managing project risks, issues and changes

- Supporting budgets, costs and project controls

- Working with engineers, contractors, suppliers and other project stakeholders

- Supporting commercial and contract management activities

- Using data and reporting to track project progress and performance

- Helping coordinate resources, priorities and project activities

- Contributing to project governance and Programme Management Office (PMO) activities

- Supporting projects through different stages of the project lifecycle

Get closer to major projects

Across the two-year programme, you’ll gain a broad understanding of our water and wastewater operations. You’ll grow your confidence, take responsibility for meaningful work, and gain exposure that many people wait years to access.

You’ll receive:

- Meaningful responsibility from day one, supported by experienced mentors and placement managers

- Coaching and guidance from colleagues and leaders

- Opportunities to contribute to projects early in the programme

- Access to industry recognised development, professional memberships, and development days

- A strong graduate cohort community and a supportive network across the business

- Opportunities to take part in community projects and regional events

Travel requirements & how we support you

Our placements involve travel across regions, so you’ll need a full UK driving licence and access to a car. To support this, we reimburse business mileage for any travel beyond your normal home to base commute, in line with our Travel & Expenses Policy (e.g., mileage is claimable after deducting home to base allowance).

You’ll receive guidance on claiming expenses, a Permit to Drive where required, and practical support to help you travel confidently and safely between sites.

What’s in it for you

• Relocation support available, so distance doesn’t have to be a barrier to starting your career with us.

• Health and wellbeing support, including access to a health cash plan and employee assistance programme.

• Flexible working options, supporting a healthy balance between work and life.

• 28 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays.

• Two paid volunteering days each year, giving you the opportunity to make a positive impact in your local community.

• Employee discounts and benefits platform, helping your money go further.

Who we’re looking for

We welcome graduates from all degree disciplines. What matters most is your curiosity, your willingness to learn, and your commitment to making a positive impact.

You’ll need:

• A predicted or achieved 2:2 degree (or equivalent)

• A full UK driving licence and access to a car by the programme start date

• Flexibility to travel across Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and the Isle of Wight

• The right to work in the UK

Where this programme can take you

Our Graduate Development Programme is designed to give you a strong foundation for a long-term career in project management. As your experience, skills and responsibilities grow over time, your career could take you into roles such as:

• Assistant Project Manager

• Project Manager

• Senior Project Manager

• Programme Manager

Some of these are longer-term career opportunities that you may work towards as you gain further experience beyond the graduate programme.

Your development will be supported through coaching, mentoring, structured check-ins and a tailored end-of-programme transition process.

What happens next?

• Applications are scheduled to close on 4 January 2027. We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we encourage you to apply early.

• After submitting your application, you'll be invited to complete an online skills assessment and online interview as the next stage of the recruitment process.

• Successful candidates will then be invited to an online assessment centre in February 2027.

• The programme will start in September 2027.

Interested in more than one graduate opportunity?
You don't need to submit multiple applications. As part of the recruitment process, we'll give you the opportunity to tell us about other graduate roles or pathways you're interested in. Apply for the opportunity that best matches your interests and experience, and you'll have the chance to share your other preferences with us during the process.

What our graduates say

“You get out what you put in - it’s a great place to grow.”

“It’s a career in a stable, essential industry.”

“You’re working with people who genuinely want to make a positive difference.”

“There’s a strong sense of community, trust and empowerment.”

Ready to get started?

If you're curious, collaborative and ready to learn, we'd love to hear from you.

Help us build a better future for the South East.

Apply now to join our Project Management Graduate Development Programme and take your first steps into a purpose-led career with real impact.

Applications

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Everybody Welcome

We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your participation in the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Need flexibility in your work?

Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure you meet all the requirements? Or are you concerned that standard working arrangements may not work with your personal circumstances? Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution. We encourage you to speak to us about what might work.