What is our Graduate Development Programme?
We want to play our part in helping produce the next generation of professional leaders in the industry.
At the end of your time in the Graduate Development Programme (three years in Planning and Investment, and four in Highways and Network Operations) you'll be well on your way to becoming one of the most sought-after professionals in your sector. Right from the start, you'll be using the knowledge and skills you've learned in your study to work on real projects, with the support of experienced colleagues. We’re also accredited as a Professional Development Partner with the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ).
Meet some of our current graduates
Watch Rikash, a graduate planner, in our careers video
Read about Luke's experience .
Why join our Graduate Development Programme?
Our programme is tailored to support graduates in realising their potential. Being part of it means we commit to your future as a professional. In return for your energy, passion, commitment and participation, we will provide you with:
- a dynamic and challenging environment, where you can get client, contractor, consultant and council experience
- the opportunity to work in different aspects of your profession, allowing you to broaden your experience and knowledge, and discover where your talents lie and where you might like to specialise
- support, including financial, in working towards professional registration in your field
- coaching and mentoring for your ongoing career development, including around your next steps at the end of the programme
- access to some of the country's leading experts in your field
- exposure to some of the largest infrastructure projects in New Zealand
- the chance to work in different offices or regions
- a competitive salary and regular performance-based reviews.
We have 11 offices across the country, and we encourage our graduates to move around. Our Planning and Investment graduates will be based in our Auckland Regional office and Wellington National office, but may have the option of working in some of our other offices during their time with us. Our Highway and Network Operations graduates are more mobile – when you apply, you’ll be asked what your preferred location is, but we expect some flexibility.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for graduates with:
- a strong academic record
- energy, self-motivation and a commitment to doing the best job possible
- strong interpersonal skills to build positive relationships and the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with different people
- good self-awareness
- the ability to work flexibly and to cope with different work demands and timeframes.
As well as having great personal values and attributes, we are looking for graduates with qualifications that help us deliver quality results for New Zealand. Qualifications inDepending on the following areas showgraduate role you’re applying for, you will also have interest and abilitythe required qualifications for roles atone of the Transport Agency.following three areas:
Engineering
The Transport Agency has responsibility for ensuring the state highway network is operated safely and efficiently. We maintain and improve the network as well as plan and develop new highways. We manage some of the largest infrastructure projects in the country and work collaboratively with a wide range of contractors.contractors and.
We support graduates obtaining their professional accreditation with IPENZ.
We look for graduates with a degree in civil engineering degree which is Washington Accord recognised.
Transport Planning
Our planners help shape the whole-of-network view for the long-term future design and direction of New Zealand’s transport system. They promote integrated land use and multi-modal transport, and strategically negotiate the right balance between transport outcomes and other social, community and economic outcomes, including the 30–40 year vision for the transport system as a whole.
We supportlook for graduates obtaining their professional accreditation with either IPENZ or NZPI.a degree in planning that is recognised by the NZ Planning Institute.
Investment
The Transport Agency invests in land transport services and infrastructure through the National Land Transport Programme, which is focused on delivering transport solutions that will help communities across New Zealand thrive. To ensure we maximise our investment capacity in the future, we have been seeking to introduce more innovation into our investment mechanisms.
We support graduates obtaining their professional accreditation of Certified Financial Advisors or Chartered Accounts.
We look for graduates with a commerce or business degree, with majors in finance, economics or accounting.
How to apply
Applications will open 21 May. Assessment Centres will take placeThe 2016 intake has now closed. Check back in Auckland on 27 June and in Christchurch (for Engineering roles only) at the end of June (date2016 for more information on our programme for 2017. Create an account on our Careers Centre to set up a job alert to be advised). notified of when we're accepting applications in the future.
Selection process
Following the closing date for applications we conduct a review of all the applications to select a longlist of candidates. We then hold assessment centres in Auckland for Planning and Investment, and in Auckland and Christchurch for Highways and Network Operations, to shortlist preferred candidates. Sometimes we hold final interviews following the assessment centres, before making our offers.