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WSP New Zealand

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4.0
  • #7 in Engineering consulting
  • 50,000 - 100,000 employees

WSP New Zealand Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Engineering Consulting

Who We Are

At WSP we are driven by curiosity, looking at challenges from fresh angles to deliver creative, comprehensive and sustainable solutions for a future where society can thrive.

We are one of the world's leading design, engineering and environmental consultancy firms with over 550 offices across more than 40 countries. We're propelled by international brainpower while remaining a part of the local communities where we operate. Our network of technical experts and strategic advisors bring a wealth of collective experience and a collaborative approach that sets us apart.

With unrivaled local knowledge harnessed from more than 150 years of pioneering the important infrastructure and environments of Aotearoa, we know this place like no other. But we're always looking for fresh talent to bring a new perspective and help us accomplish our purpose: to create what matters for future generations.

In 2019 and 2021 we won the NZAGE Best Candidate Experience Award and were finalists in the category for 2020, 2022, and 2023. We also won the NZAGE Best Graduate Development Programme Award in 2022 and were finalists in 2020, 2021, and 2023. We were also selected as a Prosple Top 100 Graduate Employer in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Our Opportunities

At WSP, you have the opportunity to join us as part of our Graduate Development Programme and/or for a Summer Internship. We recruit students from various disciplines of study, including engineering, architecture, planning, science, project management, surveying, and sustainability.

Our Graduate Development Programme

Our two-year Graduate Development Programme is designed to provide the best start for a rewarding and fulfilling career. Our Graduates are encouraged to tailor their development to suit their areas of interest, challenge, and aspirations.
Opportunities within the programme include:

  • Professional development workshops
  • On-the-job training
  • Mentoring and support
  • Graduate community (events, regular newsletter, etc.)
  • Support for professional registration
  • Mobility within New Zealand

Our Summer Internships

As a Summer Intern, you'll be able to connect with our technical experts and strategic advisors, who can impart a wealth of collective experience and knowledge.
Opportunities during our Summer Internships include:

  • Paid, full-time work
  • Exposure to future-shaping projects
  • Networking with our Graduates and industry professionals
  • Technical and professional development
  • Fantastic social events

Why Work at WSP?

WSP NZ has proudly earned its place among the top five employers to work for in Aotearoa New Zealand, as recognised in Randstad's latest employer survey. In addition, WSP has been listed as one of TIME’s 2023 top 100 companies globally for employees. Our dedicated team is passionate about creating innovative, comprehensive, and sustainable solutions for a future that prioritises the well-being of our people, whānau, and communities. We contribute to complex and exciting projects addressing critical environmental and infrastructure challenges and have a solid pipeline of work across multiple disciplines.

Expand Your Career Opportunities

We offer a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities from working in specialist areas to contributing to some of the world's most iconic projects. Our areas of expertise in New Zealand include Transport, Property & Buildings, Power & Energy, Earth & Environment,  Strategic Advisory, and Water. Whether you're a Graduate or Summer Intern working at WSP means that you can get involved in diverse projects, knowledge sharing, diversity initiatives, and so much more.

Know You're Doing Meaningful Work

We're future-focused experts who propose innovative ideas for our clients, so you'll be at the cutting edge, building and honing your skills and knowledge. This is fascinating, absorbing work where you'll enjoy the professional and personal rewards that come from solving truly complex issues.

Bring Your Whole Self to Work

At WSP, we prioritise a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment that empowers our people and allows them to be in control of their time. We believe that this is essential for us to achieve our common goals and that great results can be achieved through collaboration and by allowing everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. By fostering this environment, we inspire our team to strive for excellence and reach their full potential.

Benefits

Our benefit package is highly competitive and includes the following: 

  • Flexible and hybrid working arrangements 
  • Comprehensive medical insurance 
  • Unspecified sick leave
  • Personal development and well-being grant
  • Progressive parental leave policy 
  • Option to purchase up to 4 additional weeks of annual leave 
  • Reimbursement of up to 2 annual professional memberships 
  • Community day 
  • Employee Assistance Programme 
  • Multiple discounted products and services, and more.

Personal and Professional Development

We are committed to supporting our employees as they build their career with WSP. We believe that a blend of empowerment and responsibility results in outstanding achievements. You are empowered to shape your own future, while we provide you with the tools, training, and support you need. WSP also provides our people with financial support for up to two professional memberships of industry institutions per financial year.

Recruitment Process

The Recruitment Process

APPLICATION PROCESS – GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

We keep our application process streamlined to ensure you have a positive experience.

Online Application

We accept our applications online. You’ll need an updated copy of your CV and your transcripts (unofficial is fine) to submit with your application.
You will also need to select your preferred discipline and location in the application form. Please give this some thought, as we’d like to be sure to consider you for the role that is most of interest to you.
If you missed the application deadline or your initial application was not successful, stay in touch and keep an eye out for other opportunities that open throughout the year.

Screening

After applications close, our recruitment team and managers will review applications and select which candidates will be moving to the next stages of the process. If you are successful, we will be in contact to invite you to the Drop-In Sessions and Interview. If your application was not successful, we will email you to let you know.

Drop-In Sessions

Before your interview, you will have the opportunity to visit one of our offices, learn more about WSP first-hand, and meet with some of our people in a casual environment. The session is a great time to ask candid questions about WSP of those already working here. We will email you a calendar invitation with the detail. This stage is optional, but highly recommended.

Interview

As an organisation committed to finding sustainable solutions, we will hold our interviews virtually. You will have an individual interview with two of our team. The interview will be an opportunity to get to know more about you and for you to learn more about the organisation and the role for which you are being considered. Questions will primarily be behavioural-based with some technical and general questions as well. We will send you tips and more information prior to your meeting.

Job Offer

We will give you a call as soon as decisions have been made. You will need to complete pre-employment checks, including references, background, and education checks, as part of your offer process. 

Onboarding

We’ll be excited to welcome you to the team! Most of our Graduates start mid-February and join our national Graduate induction. You will be welcomed into the business, our Graduate Community, and our award-winning Graduate Programme.

APPLICATION PROCESS – SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

We keep our application process streamlined to ensure you have a positive experience.

Online Application

Our Summer Intern applications typically open around July or August. The first time you apply you will need to create a username and password on our application system. You will need an updated CV and your most recent academic transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable) to upload with your application.

We will be in touch shortly after the close of applications to let you know whether you have progressed.

Interview

The next step is an interview with the relevant team. The interviewers will ask you questions to learn about your educational background, interest in WSP and your aspirations.

Meet the Team

You may then have a meet and greet with the team you could be working with to get to know the team better and for them to have the chance to learn more about you.

Job Offer

We'll get in contact with you as soon as a decision has been made. If you're offered a job, we'll give you a call to let you know and send you the formal offer via email.

Onboarding

We’ll be excited to welcome you to the team from mid-November. You will be welcomed into the business and join our Summer Intern Programme, which will provide the opportunity for professional development and to meet other interns.

Remuneration & Career Growth

We offer a competitive salary, which varies slightly depending on academic qualifications and experience. Please see our listed job opportunities for further salary detail.

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.0
Overall score based on 26 reviews
They Score Best in…
8.7
Diversity
8.3
Management
8.3
Sustainability
8.8
Work Hours
8.7
Diversity
8.3
Management
8.3
Sustainability
8.8
Work Hours
What Graduates Say About Them
  • All the opportunities I get to work on exciting projects and the support I get from technical experts to help me learn and advance my design skills. I enjoy the flexible work environment so that I can fit in other important aspects of my life. They invest in their people with training and mentoring. We have a fantastic grad program.
  • Very nice work/life balance. Options to work from home or another office around the country are encouraged and makes fitting work around holidays/travel very easy. Staff benefits including health insurance, public transport subsidies and a wellness bonus are also attractive perks of working here.
  • The best thing about working at WSP is the people and culture. I enjoy collaborating with my team members as they are supportive and friendly. The graduate community is always active with networking events, development courses and chances to interact with graduates from around the country. There are also great opportunities to meet new people from around the company.
  • The company size which gives it a much bigger pull of attraction for bigger and interesting projects, the amount of resources that can be utilised (more money to send me to training courses, lots of inhouse training courses and staff who are experienced to help out), and greater variety of works (bigger companies have more departments and a greater diversity in types of works which gives me a greater chance to try out different jobs to narrow down what I do and don't like).
  • Employee benefits, graduate experiences (e.g. Grad trips, grad events), project opportunities, managerial support
  • Need to be motivated and seek opportunities.
  • Work demand Time to time, work demands get too much, conversely, there is a time when the workload is really low.
  • Very limited parking available near the office
  • Am sometimes light on work with an unsteady work flow. Having to chase people to find work can be stressful.
  • Sometimes can feel too big

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Alexandra, Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Gisborne, Greymouth, Hamilton, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Paeroa, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Timaru, Wellington, Whakatane, Whanganui
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
E
Engineering & Mathematics
H
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
I
IT & Computer Science
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
P
Property & Built Environment
S
Sciences

A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Tash Snowball-Kui

Commencing my day with coffee and a drive to the Palmerston North office, the dynamic nature of my role keeps me engaged!
  • Day in the life

Tash Snowball-Kui

Commencing my day with coffee and a drive to the Palmerston North office, the dynamic nature of my role keeps me engaged!
  • Day in the life

Tamara MacDonald

Starting the day with coffee and a refreshing walk to the bus, my journey to WSP in Te Puke sets the tone!
  • Day in the life

Tamara MacDonald

Starting the day with coffee and a refreshing walk to the bus, my journey to WSP in Te Puke sets the tone!
  • Day in the life

Tash Snowball-Kui

Commencing my day with coffee and a drive to the Palmerston North office, the dynamic nature of my role keeps me engaged!
  • Day in the life

Tash Snowball-Kui

Commencing my day with coffee and a drive to the Palmerston North office, the dynamic nature of my role keeps me engaged!
  • Day in the life

Tamara MacDonald

Starting the day with coffee and a refreshing walk to the bus, my journey to WSP in Te Puke sets the tone!
  • Day in the life

Tamara MacDonald

Starting the day with coffee and a refreshing walk to the bus, my journey to WSP in Te Puke sets the tone!

Videos


WSP Graduate Programme

Our graduates discuss their favourite part of their graduate journey so far, from our 'Ignite' event, to meeting other graduates, our graduate programme offers many opportunities.

WSP Projects | WSP Graduates

Find out what projects our graduates are currently working on, and what their most memorable projects are.

WSP Graduate Programme

Our graduates discuss their favourite part of their graduate journey so far, from our 'Ignite' event, to meeting other graduates, our graduate programme offers many opportunities.

WSP Projects | WSP Graduates

Find out what projects our graduates are currently working on, and what their most memorable projects are.

Upcoming Events