Junior Project Manager

Basildon Source: WhatJobs

£27,000–£30,000

Trainee Construction Project Manager | Main Contractor | Essex | £27,000-£30,000 + Training & Progression

Live Project Experience | Healthcare & Education | Structured Development | Progress to Project Manager

An established and growing regional main contractor is looking to appoint a Trainee Construction Project Manager to join its project management team in Essex.

This is a genuine career-development opportunity for somebody who wants to learn how construction projects are managed properly, gaining practical experience on live projects rather than spending their first few years confined to an office or simply observing from the sidelines.

An established and growing regional main contractor, the business delivers construction, refurbishment and improvement projects across healthcare, education, commercial, social housing and heritage environments. Its workload ranges from smaller fast-moving schemes through to multi-million-pound projects, providing excellent variety for somebody at the beginning of their project-management career.

The company has particularly strong experience within healthcare and education, including work in occupied hospitals, mental-health environments, schools and other live buildings where careful planning, communication and coordination are essential.

Just as importantly, this is a people-focused business that places genuine emphasis on teamwork, staff wellbeing, training and development. The aim is not simply to employ somebody as an assistant indefinitely, it is to give you the knowledge, experience and increasing responsibility required to develop into a capable Project Manager able to run your own projects.

The Opportunity

Working alongside experienced Project Managers and the wider construction team, you will gain exposure to the complete project lifecycle, from initial pre-start planning through construction to completion and handover.

As your experience and confidence develop, you will gradually take greater ownership and responsibility.

Your role will include:

Supporting the day-to-day management of live construction projects
Helping prepare and update project programmes and monitor progress against key dates
Attending sites and coordinating with subcontractors, suppliers and site teams
Assisting with procurement of materials, plant and subcontract packages
Learning how valuations, variations, purchase orders, costs and project forecasting are managed
Maintaining client updates, meeting notes, photographs and project records
Supporting quality inspections, snagging, certification, health & safety and final handover

You will gain experience across both the practical and commercial sides of construction management, giving you a much broader grounding than a purely site-based or administrative trainee position. The underlying brief specifically covers programme, procurement, subcontractor coordination, commercial management, quality and handover.

About You

We are not looking for the finished article.

Attitude, reliability and a genuine desire to build a long-term career in construction project management are more important than already having years of experience.

You should have:

Previous practical construction experience, whether site-based, trade, technical, coordination or construction-office based
Good organisation and the ability to keep track of several tasks at once
Confidence communicating with site teams, subcontractors, suppliers and clients
A practical approach to problem-solving and willingness to ask questions and learn
Good basic numeracy and an interest in the commercial side of construction
A reliable, professional approach and willingness to spend time both in the office and on site
Basic Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel skills, or the willingness to develop them

Previous construction experience is essential. This could have been gained on site, through a trade background, within a construction office or coordination role, or in an Assistant/Trainee Project Management position.

You do not need to have previously worked as a Project Manager, but you must already understand the realities of a live construction environment and be comfortable dealing with site teams, subcontractors and suppliers.

A construction-related qualification would be advantageous but is not essential where you can demonstrate relevant practical industry experience.

A CSCS card would be useful, although support can be provided in obtaining one. A full UK driving licence is preferred because the role involves visiting live projects.

What's on Offer?

£27,000-£30,000 basic salary
Permanent, full-time position
Practical training and mentoring from experienced construction professionals
Support towards relevant construction and project-management qualifications
Exposure to varied healthcare, education, commercial and public-sector projects
Increasing responsibility as your knowledge and confidence develop
Genuine progression towards managing your own construction projects

For somebody serious about building a career in construction management, this is an opportunity to learn the role from the ground up within a contractor where trainees are given real exposure to how projects are actually delivered.