KEY POINTS:
Name: Mary Nabunobuno
Age: 27
Job title: Project engineer, civil construction
Working hours: 7am to 5pm or until the job is done
Employer: Fulton Hogan, other engineering and construction companies
Pay: $60,000 plus wide range of benefits and financial support for further study
Qualifications needed: NZ Certificate in Engineering. Diploma or Bachelor in Engineering
Career
prospects: Project management, registered engineer so can design projects, private consultancy
Describe your job
I run a construction site. I'm working on the State Highway 20 extension through Mt Roskill. It's divided into sectors and I have one sector. I'm pretty much the link between the ground and the office. Our client is Transit.
We are contracted to build the motorway and the structures that go with it so it's about managing the construction side of it and contractual issues. Keeping a track of costs is a big thing, watching the profit, minimising our losses. It also encompasses the quality - ensuring that we are delivering to specifications.
I'm also responsible for health and safety on the site - running daily meetings with the guys, making sure we are safe, identifying hazards, managing risks on site. It is quite a responsible job but we have a big team so it is not like one person does it on their own.
On a typical day I'd be on site before 7am and we have a pre-start meeting every morning. I round up all the guys, let them know what's going on today - short term programme, long term programme, things that have come up the previous day and anything that we can improve on. It's not the same every day but there are things to tick off every day.
Why is the job important?
We are representing our company and their goal is long term profit so to make money we have to manage all these different areas, and also we are delivering a project to transit. Programming all the work is important - making sure we meet deadlines.
What's the best part of the job?
The logistics of it - dealing with the different suppliers and sub-contractors. I've also got quite a few guys under my control as well. I enjoy organising everyone. Everyone has their own agenda but it's trying to get them all going in the right direction.
It's an enjoyable industry to work in; it seems to attract interesting characters and funny things happen all the time. The worst part is that sometimes the hours can be quite long - like lifting a bridge which means starting at 4am or 5am. And you have to be on the ground with the guys supervising and then there's all the paper work. It's quite a lot of responsibility but that's just the nature of the job.
What are your strengths?
I've had five years experience. One of my strengths is dealing with people and my engineering background helps when it comes to problems. Ultimately I want to get a Bachelor of Engineering because if I end up going overseas it is more recognised than NZCE.
Where will you be in five years?
I'd like to be a structural designer whether it is designing bridges or whatever. I'd like to work in the design office.
What are the essential qualities of a project engineer?
People skills and good communication skills are a must. Because I'm the link between the office and the ground I've got to be able to communicate what the guy in the office wants in a way that the ground guys understand and vice versa.
What's your job hunting advice?
Get registered with the big construction companies. On all their websites they have places to register and they are constantly sending you their vacancies.
Engineers are sought after, there's a shortage of them. Fulton Hogan has a big recruiting drive. Companies go to universities to recruit. Engineers and construction people are sort after. If you've got a qualification in construction you'd have no problem getting a job.
