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21 November 2023
Maarten de Vries, Process Operator, explains his detailed experience in Energy company TAQA, his professional journey that led him to this position and more.
We meet with Maarten in one of TAQA’s facilities in the Netherlands, just before his shift begins, to both conduct an interview and check in if he requires any further assistance from Atlas Professionals, such as PPE. TAQA in the Netherlands is a producer of natural gas and operates two gas storage facilities. Its activities are concentrated in the Alkmaar region and on the North Sea. Worldwide, the TAQA Group is located in 11 countries and is active in the field of energy and water. After learning Maarten is all set and ready to commence the day, we sit down to have a chat about the nature of his job, and his thoughts on working at TAQA.
Offshore to Onshore
Of course, the very first question we ask is how he secured the job in the first place and how it is going so far: “I actually studied to be a building engineer and worked in roles aligning with my education for years. Then, I transitioned to the Offshore industry working as a Field Specialist for Surface Well Tests. There, I performed different roles such as Operator, Chief Operator and Supervisor, but also Data Acquisition Specialist.”
Maarten explains that initially, being a Process Operator was completely different to him as, for example, he used to work upstream and this is a more downstream position – and differences like this matter a lot in this line of work: “This was all new to me, but TAQA gave me the right training and now here I am. I used to work offshore for many years, now I am onshore and get to go home, it’s a completely different world,” adds Maarten with a smile.
Maarten seems to be really content with TAQA, but not all jobs fit all Professionals. As Atlas Professionals, we are always ready to clearly communicate what our Professionals need: “I started my Energy career 15 years ago and decided to join Atlas Professionals for a career change a couple of year back. The first position I was offered was not the perfect match for me, and after discussing this with Atlas Professionals, we managed to secure the position I am working in now. Atlas Professionals handled the communications between TAQA and I, so we knew this was going to be the right opportunity. I have been working at TAQA ever since.”
A Day in the Life of a Process Operator
A plant like TAQA’s has lot of moving parts that need to work in unison for it to be a safe workplace for Professionals and an efficient Energy hub for Europe. As such, there are mechanisms to ensure that all the work that is performed comply with the highest standards laid out by TAQA: “Safety is essential within this profession – each day, we start things off by checking in with colleagues who worked the night shift to ensure yesterday’s shift was without any issues. Then, we head to our stations to monitor whether everything is running smoothly, efficiently, and in a safe manner.”
Maarten is also responsible for checking the correct work permits of all (sub)contractors on the plant are in place and correct: “All Professionals who work in our facilities have work permits, and it is my job to check whether they are working in a compliant manner or not,” says Maarten.
A task this important requires cooperation from all parties, adds Maarten, and the diverse crew of TAQA always allows fruitful cooperation: “We are a very diverse team with various backgrounds but with similar trainings, so you get a chance to discuss with colleagues how to do things the right way – the most efficient and safe way – and I am very content with the way we work.”
A Job That Fits Your Life
Maarten’s personal goal to be at home to spend time with his family also coincides with the fact that he works day shifts, but he also notes how some younger Professionals prefer night shifts for additional financial benefits: “As a Dayshift Process Operator I get to go back home in a timely manner, which is really important to me and to my family at this stage of my life. However, Nightshift Process Operators have other benefits, such as financial incentives, so here at TAQA, we have opportunities for Professionals with various needs and desires.”
We then get a chance to ask if he is happy with us, and how his experience with Atlas Professionals has been: “Atlas Professionals has been very fast and responsive with all of our inquiries. They are the ones who approached me with this position, and everything went really smoothly during the entire process. You can feel that they care about your professional life and are there for you in case you need any assistance regarding anything. As for the future? I want to continue developing myself and advance within the role and TAQA. There is still so much I can learn from the team and on the job.”
