Higher Level Apprenticeship Construction Engineering Project Management
Our Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) in Construction Engineering Project Management is designed to provide you with real life, on the job experience, to help you develop new skills and gain the knowledge needed to enable you to build a successful career in NI Water.
You’ll be part of an industry leading infrastructure delivery team, helping to support critical national infrastructure across Northern Ireland.
You will work on a diverse range of construction engineering projects, critical to the smooth running of society and environmental protection.
This is a great opportunity for anybody with a passion for civil, electrical or mechanical engineering, seeking an exceptional career in the water industry. You will be supported with training, development and mentoring, working towards a foundation degree, along with gaining practical experience in an engineering environment, supported by an expert team of industry professionals.
These exciting opportunities are available across our Capital Delivery Project Management team and Capital Programme Management Office (CPMO).
NI Water offers a competitive salary and benefits package from day one, and opportunities to learn alongside brilliant people, earn as you learn and get a foundation degree, debt free. And you will also benefit from subsidised driving lessons to help you truly get in the driving seat of your career!
Once you have successfully completed the programme, you will have the opportunity to progress to more senior technical roles or junior management roles in the Infrastructure Delivery team.
Please refer to the Candidate Brief below for further details of role responsibilities.
Applicants MUST be able to demonstrate in their application and where necessary at interview:
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
1. Candidates will be required to undertake competency-based tests within a computer based assessment. These tests will assess candidates’ essential skills, literacy, numeracy and other key aptitudes for the role. In order to progress to the next stage of the selection process, candidates must achieve a satisfactory score in all key areas.
All candidates must provide a personal email address on their application form which will be required to undertake the computer-based assessment skills tests.
2. By the 13th August 2026, meet all entry requirements, including attainment of the qualifications necessary for one of the accepted courses of study as set out below:
- Construction Engineering with Surveying HLA at Northern Regional College (NRC) in Ballymena https://www.nrc.ac.uk/course/construction-engineering-with-surveyinghigher-level-apprenticeship-hl/?keywords=construction%20engineering
- Construction Engineering with Surveying HLA at Northern Regional College (NRC) in Coleraine - https://www.nrc.ac.uk/course/construction-engineering-with-surveyinghigher-level-apprenticeship-hl2/?keywords=construction%20engineering
- Ulster University Foundation Degree in Engineering in Civil Engineering HLA at South West College (SWC) in Omagh - https://swc.ac.uk/courses/ulster-universityfoundation-degree-in-engineering-in-civil-engineering-hla
- Ulster University Foundation Degree in Construction Engineering with Surveying HLA at South West College (SWC) in Omagh, Dungannon or Enniskillen - https://swc.ac.uk/courses/ulster-university-foundation-degree-in-constructionengineering-with-surveying-hla
- Foundation Degree Civil Engineering HLA in Belfast Metropolitan College in Belfast https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/course/p00197-ac/hla-foundation-degree-civilengineering-validated-by-ulster-university
3. Have the right to live and work in the UK. Please note NI Water is unable to provide sponsorship for visa applicants, as such applicants must hold the right to work in the UK to be eligible for this role. You will be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK before an offer of employment is made
4. Within a course of study or otherwise, provide evidence of hands-on experience of Microsoft Office Application to include Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
5. Have a full, current driving licence* which enables them to drive in Northern Ireland and have a car available for official business, or, access to a form of transport which will enable them to meet the requirements of the post in full, including attendance at college courses.
*NI Water will subsidise the cost of driving lessons for any successful candidates who wish to obtain their licence.
What is on Offer
Salary
Starting salary for the role is £23,443 (pay award pending) OR applicable National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
Location
Westland House Laboratory, 40 Old Westland Road, Belfast, BT14 6TE (2 positions)
What we Offer
- Generous annual leave and public/privilege holidays
- Flexible working and family friendly policies
- Hybrid Working (applicable to some of our roles after three months following onboarding and training)
- Occupational sick pay
- Employee assistance programmes
- Cycle to work scheme
- One of the largest corporate volunteering schemes in NI
- Award winning health and wellbeing programme which focuses on supporting four key area of employee health; Physical, Mental, Social and Financial
How to Apply
To submit your application, please click the APPLY icon.
For additional information about the role please download a Candidate Briefbelow
Closing date for submission of Applications: Monday 16th February 2026 at 10am
