Procurement officer Elise: 'Procurement is a profession on its own'

Elise van Veelen is procurement officer at Ballast Nedam Building Projects in Nieuwegein. She supports the buyers in the entire procurement process, from contract management to financial settlement. Elise talks about her job as procurement officer and how she feels about it at Ballast Nedam.

So how did you become a procurement officer?

"More or less by chance. I studied Leisure Management, but after my studies I went to work for a petrochemical company. There I was a jack-of-all-trades and also did procurement. I enjoyed that very much. However, there were not many career opportunities, so I decided to look further."

Why did you choose Ballast Nedam?

"I saw an interesting vacancy for executive assistant at Ballast Nedam and decided to apply. Not much later, the recruiter called to say that the vacancy had already been filled, but that there was a vacancy in the procurement department of Building Projects. They had noticed on my CV that I had purchasing experience. I was immediately excited about the position. So that's how I started at Ballast Nedam in September 2020."

And, how do you like it?

"Yes very well. I arrange all kinds of things for the procurement team. We currently have four projects running and I have about 30 to 40 active contracts open every day, for example with suppliers and subcontractors. In my role, it is therefore important to keep an overview and set priorities. I have learned that over the past few years. Anyway, I have figured out a lot myself, because I started in the middle of the pandemic and my predecessor had already left."

Did you find that difficult?

"No, not at all. I like the freedom, because I don't like it when someone is constantly on my tail. And it's not like I was left to my own devices because I could turn to anyone with questions. That was nice, as I don't have a construction background and procurement really is a specialism. That's why I'm also pleased that Ballast Nedam offers opportunities to take courses and training."

Where do you see yourself in a few years' time?

"I would like to continue growing in the procurement profession and work more at the forefront. Whether I will still be working at Ballast Nedam in a few years' time? I think so, because I really like it here. There's a good, accessible atmosphere, everyone is genuinely interested and no two days are the same. Yes, I feel completely at home at Ballast Nedam. And when I drive past the CoolTower, as a Rotterdam native I am naturally extra proud."