Laura Smith

NAME Laura Smith
JOB Graduate engineer
AREA OF WORK Project management
EMPLOYER Mouchel
QUALIFICATIONS MEng civil engineering, Queen’s University of Belfast

My role combines design elements with project management, as graduate project managers benefit from hands-on experience. I’m working on the A5 Western Transport Corridor, which is the longest single roads project ever undertaken in Northern Ireland, and I specialise in drainage and flood prevention.

’I love the leadership aspect of my role and I feel like I’m being fully trained up.’

There are three graduates, three senior managers and three technicians working on drainage alone so it’s a massive undertaking.

Managing technicians… and expectations

Be realistic when you start out: don’t expect to immediately manage a large project by yourself. I’m highly involved in the design aspects of the project, while managing technicians. Graduates act as a ‘middle ground’ between technicians and senior managers so I ensure that all work is completed to deadline and update everyone on progress. As the project is at its earliest design stages, I’m based in an office with occasional days out on site to conduct surveys.

Being trained up

I love the leadership aspect of my role and I feel like I’m being fully trained up. As part of the Mouchel Academy for potential future leaders, I complete tasks every quarter and attend training sessions on topics such as report writing and commercial awareness.