Gabi Condrat is a Deputy Undertakings and Assurance Manager at Align JV, combining technical expertise with stakeholder engagement. From studying civil engineering at Brunel University to working on HS2, her career journey highlights the value of real-world experience in engineering.
Tell us about your journey into the construction industry.
I came to the UK from Romania to study civil engineering at Brunel University. During my studies, I developed a strong interest in the industry, which was further enhanced by securing a year-long placement with the Stakeholder Engagement Team at Align JV. While this role was more people-focused than hands-on engineering, it gave me invaluable insight into how engineering decisions impact local communities and how to communicate those decisions effectively.
How did your placement at Align JV shape your career?
It was a fantastic opportunity to gain real-world experience and understand how large-scale infrastructure projects like HS2 come together. I also saw first-hand the importance of stakeholder engagement and how technical knowledge plays a crucial role in explaining construction processes to the public. The placement reinforced my passion for the industry and gave me a strong foundation to build on.
What was the next step after your placement?
I continued working at Align JV part-time while completing my master’s degree, this time as an Assurance Engineer in the Tunnel Office. This role aligned more closely with my studies, allowing me to apply my academic learning to a live construction environment while supporting the delivery of the twin-bore tunnels.
Tell us about your current role.
In June 2023, I stepped into the role of Undertakings and Assurance Manager. It’s a position that combines technical expertise with stakeholder engagement, allowing me to work closely with multiple teams to ensure compliance while also managing my own team. It’s been a great challenge, and I’ve approached it with the same dedication and enthusiasm as my previous roles.
What advice would you give to students considering a placement in the industry?
Placements are an invaluable way to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world experience. They provide a chance to gain hands-on exposure, develop professional networks, and understand the complexities of large-scale projects. My journey has shown that combining technical skills with strong communication abilities can open up exciting career opportunities.
Sam is one of the undergraduate students we are sponsoring through their studies. As he is currently on his Industrial Placement year with us, we took the opportunity to chat to him about his experiences and plans for the future.
Ella is undertaking a Planning Apprenticeship, whilst studying Construction Management at London Southbank Uni. We caught up with Ella to learn about her experiences so far.
Jack joined the business in 2014 after two placements with us during his degree in Construction Engineering Management at Loughborough University. We caught up with him to get his take on working at Sir Robert McAlpine.
After graduating in Civil Engineering at Bristol University, Max joined us in January 2018. We caught up with him to find out more about the start of his career with us.
Helen started her career as a Veterinary Nurse and went on to work in Wildlife Conservation and Land Management. After achieving an Open University Human Geography Degree at 38, she joined the construction industry.
Mark studied architecture in New Zealand and worked in a small design practice in Wellington before heading to the UK. Once here he completed his professional qualifications, and worked in a number of roles, before joining us. We caught up with him to learn more about his experiences.
Ciara is studying an accelerated BSc in Quantity Surveying, studying one day a week, every week throughout the year as opposed to having a summer break. This enables her to complete the day-release course in a reduced timeframe. As part of the course she is working towards chartership and completing an assessment of professional competence.
James Roy is finding our open and supportive learning culture invaluable as he settles into his new role as Sustainability Manager.
Join our construction team delivering a state-of-the-art battery cell manufacturing facility for Agratas.
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