Harry Black 鈥� building a career in project management
16 Jul 2025
国产午夜福鈥檚 College Old Boy Harry Black has delivered an insightful Career Convos session, detailing his role with leading project management and strategic advisory business RCP.
As a project manager, the former Deputy Head of Harper House and school rower and rugby player now focuses on adding value to construction and infrastructure projects.
A qualified carpenter, Harry also holds a New Zealand Diploma in Business from Ara, and a Bachelor of Applied Management majoring in Project Management from the Southern Institute of Technology, along with a Level 4 Certificate in Carpentry.
Speaking to a large group of boys at College, Harry points out that project management has 鈥渂ecome more specialised鈥� as a career.
He explains that his role requires planning weeks in advance to mitigate potential issues, issuing contract instructions for main contractors, and managing stakeholders.
It involves day-to-day oversight, working towards goals, meeting the time frame, and delivering the best results. While many people are involved in a project and have different skills, 鈥渨e all have the same goal鈥�.
Harry works on a range of projects, from commercial construction to seismic upgrades and fit-outs, and his involvement extends from the concept plan to the end structure or the final business space that is fit for purpose for the client.
鈥淚t is about ensuring quality while meeting the time frame and budget,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen dealing with concept designs, we must ensure our clients are happy so that we can move onto a detailed design and then the building consent process. Working with the main contractors, the drawings must be sufficient for the work being done. In cost management, we constantly monitor the project so that we do not go over the budget.鈥�
As a self-confessed 鈥減ractical learner鈥�, Harry has also underlined the importance of understanding that there are 鈥渓ots of options鈥� when it comes to degrees and qualifications in preparation for a career in project management.
He adds the 鈥減eople skills and the ability to build and maintain good relationships鈥� are integral to success in his role.
Reflecting on his time at College, Harry reminds the boys to 鈥渂e ambitious, take a wide range of subjects, and be open to every opportunity鈥�.
