Graduate - Project Management SDO

Graduate Project Management- SDO

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 need 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 (SDO) Graduate Programme offers the opportunity to get involved with some of Severn Trent’s most exciting projects. You’ll be based within our Strategic Delivery Office (SDO) — the central hub that standardises and streamlines project management processes across the organisation.

The SDO plays a critical role in defining standards and methodologies, providing support and resources to project teams, tracking and reporting on project performance, and ensuring projects align with strategic goals. In short, the SDO ensures consistency, efficiency, and successful outcomes for all projects within Severn Trent.

A day in the life of a Project Management Graduate involves a wide variety of activities, such as:

• Reviewing new project proposals and their deliverability.
• Providing advice in line with SDO guidelines.
• Engaging with Design, Delivery and Commercial teams to agree the best project delivery route.
• Tracking delivery of projects/programmes and escalating issues as required.
• Managing and maintaining the reporting process.

In addition to daily tasks, there are plenty of opportunities to expand your network through social events and engagement activities across the department — vital for successful collaboration with cross-functional teams.

We welcome graduates from diverse backgrounds because we know diverse minds bring new ideas and fresh perspectives. We’re looking for someone who wants to build their career with us and grasp new opportunities, and in return, we’ll support you with varied experiences, training, and development to provide a strong foundation for your future.

HOW WILL THE PROGRAMME WORK?

You will be based at Raynesway in Derby, the heart of our operating patch. The programme includes placements across different areas of the department, giving you exposure to multiple functions within the Strategic Delivery Office so you can build a well-rounded skill set.

You’ll spend time supporting the Project Management team, which is structured to deliver both project and programme management excellence. Graduates will work across the SDO to gain experience in governance, reporting, and strategic alignment.

You’ll also have regular 1-1 meetings with business leads, mentors, a study buddy, the cohort leader, and the New Talent Team to discuss your development and career ambitions.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

You will expand your knowledge of project management as a whole. You’ll also gain a strong business and commercial acumen, developing your ability to communicate with a wide range of people as well as working across multiple functions within the Strategic Delivery Office. 

You will learn the following either directly from placements, through supplementary training or project work:

• Opportunity to work across multiple projects and programmes within a large capital construction portfolio

• Develop key skills around:

• Project and Programme Management 

• Stakeholder and Partnership Management

• Risk and Change Management

• Strategic Thinking

• Critical Thinking

• Managing people

• Schedule and Resource Management

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’d 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.

• Pride to see every moment of every day as an opportunity to show how good we are.  

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:                                         Raynesway, Derby, DE21 7BE                                            

Programme Duration:                27 months        

Starting Salary:                              £31, 500            

Entry Criteria:                                 You’ll have solid knowledge of working in Excel, and it would be great if you have some experience of using tools such as Primavera P6 and MSP, however this is not essential. 

                                                        A strong understanding of project controls such as financial, risk, and benefits management. 

                                                        The right skills and experience are important. But if you have the right character, positivity and a caring attitude we want to talk to you, too.

Driving Requirements:                It is essential you have a full UK driving license and access to your own vehicle upon starting this 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 through February and 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.