Marlies van Oosterom

Contract manager for PoortCentraal and Poort van Den Haag

Marlies van Oosterom operates within the special contracts business unit on (DB(F)MO) projects. This challenging assignment sees Marlies acting as the liaison between the Central Government Real Estate Agency (RVB), FMHaaglanden, and BAM/ISS.

"I lead the contract management department (contract administration and ServiceDesk) to ensure that the contract team is optimally deployed to support the service (HFM/Projects/SFM). It is our ambition to provide integral execution of contract management. Coordination from our contract team with the client's contract team, FMHaaglanden, and RVB is necessary to align in the execution of the service. Therefore, I strive to connect the teams and improve the quality of output."

In her free time, she enjoys sports, and her Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table) among family and friends is renowned. "Just as a lot happens in my work, the same applies at home; with a husband and 3 almost grown-up children, we are a dynamic unit. I love change, so my interior design changes regularly with me. I feel at home in The Hague (the city where I ended up in the early nineties through my studies). Being able to bike to work now is a huge luxury!"

Champions League management projects, that's what we do

Marlies has been working for the PoortCentraal contract since 2020, with the addition of Poort van Den Haag in 2022. "I must say, BAM is the first employer that continues to captivate me. Normally, after a few years, I would start feeling restless, but that's not the case with BAM. My background as a Facility Manager comes in handy! What I enjoy about my role is that so many disciplines come together: from facility management to installation technology, data, and of course, bricks - construction. The sector is constantly evolving, with various innovative concepts being developed to use a building even more sustainably and optimally. What we do here is truly at the Champions League level, and that makes me incredibly proud. Every day, my colleagues and I strive to provide the users with the most optimal workplace possible."

"What makes my work even more enjoyable is that we work in great teams with a mix of cultures and educational backgrounds. During one of the workplace inspections, I participated in an NSA test (emergency power generator). I really looked on in amazement at everything involved. You almost have to be an IT expert to do this work. And you carry a huge responsibility on your shoulders. Such a test has to go well because the entire office depends on it. People don't always realize that."

The construction sector is more than just construction

According to Marlies, this is often a prejudice about working in the construction sector. "People often quickly think of the construction site and the building itself, while in maintenance and management, we also deal a lot with data and optimizing systems. We work with highly sensitive equipment. Today's technicians don't just walk around with a screwdriver. It goes much further. I find it unfortunate that our sector has that image."

While it's a fact that there are more male technicians than female ones, whether International Women's Day is intended for that purpose is up for debate. "Just live your dream; it has nothing to do with your gender. The theme 'one world, a thousand women' is about the differences and similarities between women. Because we also need to be careful not to lump all women into one category. But in the Netherlands, we are fortunate. That equal rights are not a given, I find troubling. You are simply excluding a part of the population. That's what International Women's Day should be about."