Role Responsibility
2025/26 UK Industrial Placement Student (Highway Structures)
Are you a University Student studying for a Civil Engineering degree? Our industrial placement provides you the opportunity to test out your knowledge from University in a live role.
The Successful Candidate Will Work With Our Engineers Within The Highway Structures Team, Gaining Experience Working In a Client Side Role On Bridges, Culverts, Retaining Walls, Reinforced Earthworks And Tunnels. You Would Be Expected To Assist Engineers With Delivering Real Projects Across The County, Spending Time With Various Key Parts Of The Team Managing Structures From Cradle To Grave, Undertaking Tasks Such As:
1. Technical approvals of new structures, reviewing designs and handing new assets over to the maintenance teams.
2. Inspection and assessment of existing structures, identifying and prioritising works needed in the future.
3. Undertaking site visits to identify a scope of work, defect or to conduct construction audits.
4. Major project development, including contract management, project management, specification, design and construction from feasibility to completion.
5. Management of our substandard structures assets, such as scour assessments, load restrictions and identifying interim measures.
The role will be challenging and varied and will offer the successful applicant an insight into working for a client organisation in the Civil Engineering sector and a chance to develop their skills in the workplace.
About You
We are looking for students who are currently studying for an undergraduate degree in Civil or Structural Engineering and who will be able to relocate to Kent for the duration of your placement.
As You Will Be Working In Diverse Teams Undertaking a Variety Of Tasks, There Are Some Characteristics We Think Are Crucial To Be Successful In The Role:
1. An ability to use your initiative to undertake tasks efficiently and independently.
2. Confidence to ask for help when you are unclear or unsure.
3. Eagerness to learn and to exchange your knowledge with others.
4. You should be resourceful, hardworking and comfortable managing your own time.
5. Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
The Placement Structures Engineer position will be based in Ashford, Kent and is a full time fixed term position to suit your course requirements for the academic year 2025-2026, although we welcome applications for subsequent academic years to get in touch also - please just make clear in your application what period you are looking for a placement for.
About Us
Kent County Council is responsible for a highway network of 8700km, with our highway network being the most valuable asset we own as an authority. The Highway Structures in our care represent a significant proportion of the value of the highway network and as a team we take great pride in managing those assets effectively for both current and future generations. We are responsible for approximately 1,100 bridges and viaducts, 570 large culverts, 450 other structures (such as retaining walls, underpasses and gantries) and 2 tunnels. We are also responsible for over 250km of safety barriers on the network as a team.
Kent County Council’s Values Are:
1. We are brave. We do the right thing, we accept and offer challenge.
2. We are curious to innovate and improve.
3. We are compassionate, understanding and respectful to all.
4. We are strong together by sharing knowledge.
5. We are all responsible for the difference we make.
Kent County Council is passionate about diversity and offer a generous pension, extensive training opportunities and a flexible approach to working with a focus on the people in the organisation as individuals. We are looking to develop relationships with Placement Students that could lead to a future graduate role with Kent County Council. Staff are supported to work flexibly with a mixture of home working, site working and office based working.
Due to the variety of locations in Kent of our structures, you will require a valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle to be able to undertake site visits. If you do not possess these, we can still offer a placement to the right candidate, but we may not be able to offer as much site based experience as otherwise.
This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.
This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.
Contact Details
For Further Information Regarding This Role, Please Contact:
Fiona Paine
Fiona.Paine@kent.gov.uk
About The Company
Work that works for you and us - let’s talk flexibility!
KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county’s working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.
Please note – if you are interested, please apply as soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.
Job Description & Person Specification
* Structures Placement Engineer
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