Cadetships

A Joss cadet is someone with a genuine passion for the construction industry who is eager to learn, not afraid to take on responsibility and motivated to develop through doing rather than just studying. You'll be working alongside experienced professionals from day one, so a willingness to engage, ask questions and contribute matters more than having all the answers already. The role involves interacting with subcontractors, clients and consultants, so strong communication and a positive attitude go a long way. If you enjoy problem solving, take pride in your work and want to be part of a team that builds real things, this could be the right path for you.

Joss has a long and proud history of being an equal opportunity employer, with more than 60% of our permanent workforce being women. We’ve got women across all aspects of our business, including site managers, contract administrators and project managers, and we’ve had many young women successfully complete our cadetship program. If you’re a woman considering a career in construction, Joss would love to hear from you.

The cadetship runs for a maximum of five years, aligned with the duration of your university degree. You'll work four days a week and have one paid day set aside each week specifically for study. Because you're applying your university learning to real work simultaneously, many cadets find the degree itself becomes more manageable. The theory clicks when you've already seen it in action on site. You’ll need to put in some hours outside of work on assignments, around 10-15 hours per week at peak times. Outside of semester, the balance eases.

Our cadets study a Bachelor of Construction Management through the University of Newcastle, which is available fully online. This means you can be based in Albury or Canberra and study without needing to relocate. The degree is directly aligned to the work you'll be doing at Joss, with graduate outcomes that include project manager, estimator, and HSEQ manager. A background in STEM subjects, ideally including construction-related subjects at school, is the ideal starting point. Some cadets have also transitioned from civil engineering degrees, so if you're already enrolled in a related program, it's worth having a conversation with us.

Yes, and this is exactly who the cadetship is designed for. If you're finishing school and considering your options, a Joss cadetship is a great reason to pursue a construction-related degree. We're happy to talk with you before you've enrolled - you don't need to have everything mapped out to start a conversation with us. Reach out anytime!

Our cadetship is based out of our Albury office, with a second base in Canberra. You'll be working across projects in the Albury-Wodonga region and surrounding areas (or Canberra and surrounds), so being based locally, or being willing to relocate, is important. Working regionally has real advantages. You'll be part of a close-knit team, work across a varied range of project types, and have the chance to make a meaningful impact in the communities you work. Our cadets have worked on school buildings, health facilities, TAFE campuses, defence projects, manufacturing facilities and high-end residential builds, among others.

No two weeks are the same. One day you might be on site working alongside the construction team. The next you might be in the office involved in document management, contract administration, design management, or coordinating with subcontractors. Your rotations will take you through different parts of the business progressively, so your experience and confidence build over the full duration of the cadetship.

Yes. A Joss cadetship is full-time employment from day one. You'll receive a competitive salary, including your paid study day each week. This is not an internship or a work experience placement. You are a Joss employee from the moment you start. In fact, when you pass your university subjects, Joss will reimburse you for most of your subject fees, meaning you’ll finish your degree with five years of experience, five years of earning, and almost no HECS debt!

From day one, you'll be paired with an experienced mentor who'll guide you through your work, answer your questions and help you grow, both technically and professionally. You'll be treated as a genuine member of the Joss team. Beyond day-to-day mentoring, Joss invests in your wellbeing as well as your performance. Our culture is built on looking after each other, and that extends fully to our cadets. Whether you're navigating a challenging project, managing study pressures or dealing with something personal, you won't be going it alone.

When you finish your cadetship, you'll graduate with a university degree and five years of real, hands-on experience. That combination is hard to replicate any other way. Rather than starting from scratch as a new graduate, you'll already have the experience, the relationships and the practical knowledge to take on more senior responsibilities sooner. At Joss, the typical progression moves from Contract Administrator through to Contract Manager and then Project Management, though paths into Estimating and HSEQ are also well-established routes. Many of our current leaders started exactly where you'd be starting.