What are the Built Environments Career Streams?

It can be difficult seeing the opportunities that lie within your chosen area of expertise, let alone the opportunities within disciplines that run in parallel to yours.

Using the metaphor of he awa whiria (braided river), the project moves beyond the idea of a single, linear career path. Instead, it highlights intersecting and flexible routes available across the built environment, where people can enter, specialise, transition, and lead at different stages of their working lives to strengthen the resilience and capability of Aotearoa’s construction industry.

The Built Environment Career Streams project is funded by the Construction Growth Foundation and has been developed over two years by Dr Kathryn Davies in collaboration with the University of Canterbury’s Building Innovation Partnership.

Guided by successful international models, the project has created a Career Pathways Framework for professional roles in commercial construction. Its goal is to help retain people in the industry by showing clear opportunities for growth and progression, while also identifying new roles emerging through technological change.

We’ve developed a range of practical resources to support individuals and organisations with career planning and development. These include eight role-specific guides that highlight typical pathways, day-to-day responsibilities and entry points across the sector. The tools are designed for newcomers, career changers, mentors and leaders supporting others to navigate their professional journeys.

➡️ Find out more and download the Built Environment Career Streams documents here.