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  4. Engineering Project Management Graduate Programme 2024
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We’re looking for outstanding IT orientated Engineering graduates to join our Engineering Project Management graduate programme within our Packaging Solutions business beginning in September 2024. We’re the leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions and your role within DS Smith will be to support a project which will upgrade our current suite of technology, driving a culture of self-serve reporting, as well as reviewing ongoing processes so we can continually improve how we operate at DS Smith.

Who are DS Smith?

You might not have heard of us before, but you’ll likely have handled our products on a daily basis. We’re the leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services. We’ve been around for over eighty years and operate in over thirty countries across the UK, Europe and the United States. From food and beverage packaging in your local supermarket to every Amazon parcel which arrives at your door, DS Smith has created packaging, which is innovative, secure and kinder to our planet.

About the programme

The first couple of months will be spent in Cognac where your induction will take place and you’ll learn about how our packaging operations work. Your first year will be spent working on a number of projects. We have a number of systems using different data technology which requires significant work to collate and analyse our key metrics. Your role will be to digitalise our KPI (key performance indicators) operations reporting, including waste, safety, quality and service, as well as automatise our data crunch acceleration. You’ll challenge our processes and ways of working and support our culture of continuous improvement.

After your induction to the business you will be regionally based, with the option to work remotely with regular travel to packaging sites across France to build your knowledge of our packaging operations and grow your professional network.

Your second year will be focused in sustainability. You’ll focus on energy reduction and decarbonation projects in one of our box plants. You’ll gain lots of skills such as a transverse metrical way of working, project management and gain experience in the latest green technologies.

Once you’ve completed the programme, you’ll have a number of options available to you, dependent on your professional interests and business priorities, whether it be a career in IT or within our operations, such as CI. Either way you’ll kick start a great career at DS Smith.

Development

Alongside your on-the-job training, you’ll go on the DS Smith Graduate Journey where you’ll have a roadmap of development to support your career. When you join us, you’ll be given a full induction to the business, including a tour of some of our paper, packaging, and innovation factories.

In year one, you’ll learn about Self Leadership and Personal Effectiveness, while in year two, you’ll learn about leadership, stakeholder management and influencing. Finally, when the programme ends, you’ll deliver a presentation about your learnings, celebrate your success with a graduation dinner and work with your Talent Lead to find the best permanent home for you.

But don’t worry, you won’t be doing this alone. You’ll have a network of graduates to bounce ideas off, be given a mentor and a former graduate will be there for guidance and support throughout your journey.

About you

To be considered for this role you must have as a minimum:

  • A degree in an IT orientated engineering degree (or due to complete this by September 2024).
  • Have experience in delivering IT projects.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Be able to start in the business full time on 2nd September 2024.
  • Speak fluent in French and English (minimum B2 Level).
  • Hold the relevant right to work within France.
  • Be fully flexible and geographically mobile as there will be placements across the country.

Benefits

So what’s in it for you?

  • A starting salary of €40,000.
  • Profit Sharing Agreement.
  • 25 days holiday.

*Assessment Centres will be held in March/April 2024.