Elaine, facility manager at the prison: ‘I'm not leaving here anytime soon!’
Between 2014 and 2016, Ballast Nedam built a new prison complex in Zaanstad. Management, maintenance and facility services were also entrusted to Ballast Nedam Asset Management for 25 years. Elaine Hendriks is facility manager on this project.
Elaine started in 2016 through a hospitality agency as a front office employee at PI Zaanstad. Three years later, she joined Ballast Nedam Asset Management as a facility coordinator and, since 2021, she has grown into the role of facility manager.
‘No, I studied Tourism & Recreation and then got into hospitality. I only got to know Ballast Nedam when I started working at the front office of PI Zaanstad. The front office receives about 1,100 reports per month. That may seem like a lot, but the prison covers no less than 68,000 m2 and has room for more than 1,000 inmates. The reports range from a clogged toilet, camera failure and a broken lamp to a meal that has not been delivered.’
‘Ballast Nedam offered me the opportunity to work as a facility coordinator for PI Zaanstad. And I grabbed that opportunity with both hands. Together with the other facility coordinator, I supported the facility manager with, for example, supply management, environmental management, quotation requests and supplier contracts. Ballast Nedam purchases the front office, logistics, catering and cleaning externally.’
And how did you become a facility manager so quickly?
‘I took over more and more tasks from the facilities manager at the time and when she moved to another job, I stepped into her role. I'm very happy about that, because I'm still learning every day. In any case, I have been able to develop myself enormously over the past five years at Ballast Nedam Asset Management. I used to be quite an insecure girl, but now I don't shy away from a difficult conversation or a discussion with a supplier.’
‘I am responsible for the entire facility management service. So I make sure that all processes run smoothly, that documents and contract agreements are in order, and I monitor whether we comply with the ISO certifications for quality, environment and information security. I also hold an evaluation every week with the customer, DJI, and every two weeks with a number of key suppliers. That way, I can make adjustments in time if something goes wrong in the operation.’
What is it actually like to work in a prison?
‘I don't notice much of that in the office. Of course, our technical department does, because they really have to go into the cells for repairs. That’s why the agreement is that someone only enters the cell when the detainee is not present. They must also always be accompanied by someone from DJI. Rule 1: If you can't do your job safely, you put your work down. Safety may have an extra dimension for us, but it is one of the most important aspects within Ballast Nedam as a whole. Just like personal development and job satisfaction. Add to that my great colleagues and you’ll understand that I'm not leaving here for the time being!’
Are you also interested in working at Ballast Nedam?
At Ballast Nedam, you can develop and become a little better every day. In the Netherlands and abroad. Together with almost 2,000 colleagues, we are committed to a future-proof living environment. Will you join our team to contribute to this?
