Stephan - Service Engineer
I have been working at Noorderzijlvest for four years now. I started as an apprentice mechanic and have since progressed to technical supervisor and work planner at the Garmerwolde water treatment plant. I source and order the right parts for our own mechanics and supervise the contractors we hire. I also take care of the administration and invoicing.
‘No two days are the same in my job’
Strict requirements
We must comply with strict laws and regulations and EU directives. There are stringent safety requirements and discharge conditions. I am well aware that everything here is funded by public money and that water treatment has social value. Technically speaking, I want to meet the requirements as well as possible.
No two days are the same here. One moment, a pump breaks down, causing a filter press to shut down, and you have to repair it. The next moment, you are asked to contribute ideas for a tender. We are also working on innovations, such as removing medicine residues from sewage water. We are looking at how we can make water treatment more cost-effective and sustainable.
‘The water authority excellent career opportunities.’
That versatility makes my job very exciting. And you also get a lot of freedom here to do your work your own way. I appreciate that trust and personal responsibility. The atmosphere within our team is good; we work here with about 30 colleagues. You all know each other and we make clear agreements. That ensures a well-oiled machine. People are willing to help each other out.
On to a higher professional education program
I see myself doing many wonderful things here in the near future. At the moment, denk my next course of study. I would like to follow the technical project manager program. I have a vocational diploma, and this is a higher professional education program. So I will need to brush up on my math before I can start. On the other hand, I already have a lot of practical experience and find it interesting to advance my career. And I can do that at the water authority.
Will it be water-related work for you too?
We work together to achieve the right water balance. But we believe that a good work-life balance is just as important!Withus, you can combine meaningful work with job satisfaction and good employment conditions.
