The Role

The Summer Associate Program is your opportunity to build a comprehensive understanding of the construction industry and our business.  

As a summer associate, you will be fully embedded with a team on a jobsite or in a department, gaining hands-on experience across project management, field management, project development, and business operations.

Beyond your project work, you will become an integrated member of the Atkinson community through training and development opportunities. Build your network through social events and jobsite tours, and sharpen your skills with formal training sessions led by Atkinson experts. 

Other cornerstones of the Summer Associate Program include: 

The Capstone Project: You'll align with a manager to define your professional objectives. Throughout the season, you'll monitor your development and achievements. Your experience will conclude by curating a presentation to reflect on your journey and share your progress with our teams and leadership.

The Passport Experience: A curated series of experiences designed to guide your summer journey. The Passport showcases the full breadth of Atkinson’s business, helps you establish meaningful connections across the company, and ensures you gain essential industry knowledge.

This immersive, full-time program runs for 10-12 weeks and begins in mid May or early June.

Responsibilities

Throughout the summer, you will be exposed to: 

Project Management: Working in project management gives you an understanding of the day-to-day and long-term business and financial management associated with construction projects.

Financial Management 

Document Control 

Trade Partner Success 

Field Management: Learn the intricacies of the building process, assist in site logistics, and ensure quality and safety on our jobsites.

Quality Control and Safety

Project Schedule

Critical Thinking

Project Development: Understand how we acquire new work, develop winning strategies, and build strong client relationships through budgeting, estimating, and purchasing.

Budgeting

Estimating 

Purchasing

Business Operations: Explore the essential functions that keep our company running smoothly, gaining a holistic view of the Atkinson organization.

Basic Qualifications

Currently attending university and working to complete a bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, mechanical engineering or a related field 

Interest and passion for the construction industry

What a Successful Candidate Looks Like

We look for individuals who embody these core principles:

Enthusiasm & Drive: Be punctual and dedicated, staying until work is done. Arrive early for meetings and events. Be a proactive team player – ask how you can help and be present. Take initiative, represent the company professionally (dress, demeanor), and build trust with your team, clients, and stakeholders. Proactively seek ways to contribute to team success, and always maintain a positive attitude.

Delivery & Performance: Reliably meet the expectations of your role and commitments. Understand and follow Atkinson’s standard procedures. Take on new responsibilities, dig into the details, and bring solutions to problems. Take ownership, be accountable, and demonstrate responsiveness with a sense of urgency.

Learning & Growth: Immerse yourself in Atkinson's culture, your team, and your community. Be engaged, accountable, and self-directed in your learning – be curious! Continuously build your technical expertise and grow your business acumen.

The work environment and requirements described below are representative of those necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role.

The Physical Side of the Role: This is an active, hands-on role. You can expect to be on your feet frequently, navigating active job sites with uneven terrain, stairs, ladders, and hoists. The work is physically demanding and requires a full range of motion, including bending, kneeling, and reaching. You’ll need to be comfortable frequently lifting and carrying materials up to 25 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds. This role requires the ability to communicate effectively, as well as visual acuity for reading plans and inspecting work. The role does include desk time in the office that may require prolonged periods of sitting for tasks like computer work, document review, and meetings.

Your Work Environment: You’ll spend a significant amount of your time on active construction sites, which means being adaptable to all kinds of weather and moderate to loud noise levels, and comfortable in elevated or confined work areas with moving mechanical equipment and with the fast-paced nature of a project in progress. You will also spend time in a typical office setting with moderate noise levels. Your safety is our top priority, and you'll be expected to follow Atkinson Construction's safety policies and procedures, and all applicable laws, at all locations.

Our High-Performing Culture: This is a demanding, high-performance environment. We are looking for candidates who are energized by challenge, thrive under pressure, and are prepared to do what it takes to achieve exceptional results. Success in this role requires significant commitment, including flexibility to work extended hours, especially during critical project phases or client deadlines. Beyond regular working hours, there will be occasions where business needs require your attention, particularly for time-sensitive matters or emergencies. You are expected to monitor and respond to communications (phone calls, emails, text messages) as required to address these situations effectively. Your ability to manage these expectations and be responsive when critical issues arise is key to your success in this role and our collective success as a team.

A Drug Free Workplace: Atkinson promotes a drug free workplace. A pre-employment drug “fitness for duty” screening is required, and the company conducts random quarterly drug “fitness for duty” tests. 

Atkinson offers a total compensation package. Benefits could include commuter benefits or fitness reimbursement. Hourly rates will be determined by factors such as geographic location, education, experience, and market considerations.  For this role the hourly rate is $26 - 33/ hr.