Bridge the gap from technical skills to project leadership
This Level 5 qualification in Project Management is designed for technically skilled professionals wanting to transition into formal project leadership roles, bridging the gap between hands-on experience and formal project management education.
Perfect for project workers, trade professionals, and career changers who understand project tools and timelines but want to develop formal project management capabilities including communication, budgeting and stakeholder management skills.
Who can enrol?
This programme is designed for:
Project workers: Those wanting to shift into coordination, project management, or client-facing roles.
Trade professionals: Including quantity surveyors, site supervisors, forepersons and technical support staff.
Career changers: Looking to enter project management from construction, engineering, manufacturing, or supply chain backgrounds.
Technically skilled individuals: Who understand project tools and timelines but want to improve communication, budgeting and stakeholder management skills.
What makes this course effective?
Work-integrated learning approach: Apply concepts directly to current roles with assessments based on real business scenarios and workplace projects that address actual challenges like reports, scopes and budgets.
Structured learning environment: Combines theory with practical application over one year (full-time or part-time equivalent) with immediate support from qualified trainers with project management expertise.
NZQA-accredited qualification: Recognised within New Zealand's education framework, valuable for immigration, funding and government positions with strong employer recognition, especially in public and education sectors.
Comprehensive foundational learning: Ideal for those new to formal project management, this programme combines project management theory with broader business skills including operations, accounting, and stakeholder management.
Career progression pathway: Can be used to ladder into degrees or higher-level qualifications, creating clear pathways for advancement into more senior project management roles.
What does this course cover?
This programme develops comprehensive project management capabilities across essential business functions:
Project planning and coordination: Master project initiation, scope definition, timeline development and resource allocation techniques that ensure successful project delivery.
Stakeholder management and communication: Develop effective communication strategies, stakeholder engagement techniques and relationship management skills essential for project success.
Budget management and financial control: Build essential budgeting capabilities, cost control methods and financial analysis skills for effective project financial management.
Risk management and problem-solving: Learn to identify, assess and mitigate project risks while developing systematic problem-solving approaches for complex project challenges.
Operations and performance management: Understand operational efficiency, performance measurement systems and quality management processes that support project excellence.
Business integration and strategy: Develop understanding of how projects fit within broader business objectives and contribute to organisational success.
Your career outcomes
Graduates typically move into roles such as:
Project Coordinator positions: Managing project timelines, resources and stakeholder communications.
Site Administrator roles: Overseeing administrative functions and supporting project teams on-site.
Operations Assistant positions: Supporting operational efficiency and performance management systems.
Business Analyst roles: Supporting project teams with data analysis and process improvement initiatives.
Junior Project Manager positions: Leading small projects and supporting senior project managers.
The qualification is particularly valued in construction, infrastructure, engineering, manufacturing, and government sectors where NZQA-aligned credentials are recognised and respected by New Zealand employers.
