Meet Move: Douwe, Digital Project Manager

What are the biggest challenges in your role?

'The biggest challenge is often managing multiple projects simultaneously, especially when third parties are also involved. I usually work on about three to four projects. However, they never (almost) all run at the same time, because you also have to deal with preparations and finishing work. I regularly take a step back to zoom out and determine per project which tasks are relevant this week, this month and three months from now. That way you keep an overview, you won't be easily surprised and you can identify potential problems in time. With a healthy critical eye and transparent communication to clients and team members, I ensure that projects continue to run smoothly.'

Is a technical background a requirement for Digital Project Managers at Move?

'It's certainly not a requirement, but for very technical projects it does help. I notice that my colleagues like the fact that I speak their language and know what is involved in the work. Nowadays Move offers a lot of training and courses from the Academy, which allows you to quickly understand the profession even without a technical background.'

What do you enjoy most about your work at Move?

'Move is a project organization, not a product organization. This allows me to look behind the scenes at many different customers. For example, I once stood next to the tracks at ASSET Rail wearing a safety helmet to see how mechanics check points. Another time I walked among the toddlers at a Partou location to see how the pedagogical staff use the Partou app. No two projects are the same, which also requires a different approach from the Project Manager each time. In one project you wear the hat of Product Owner, in another project that of Scrum Master. You can fill the role of Digital Project Manager at Move from different backgrounds. Besides variation, I also get a lot of pleasure from the social aspect. Because you work closely with customers, you really build a relationship; there is no customer-supplier relationship. I enjoy working with the team and the customer to come up with beautiful customized solutions. And if I can't figure something out, I can always spar with Herbert (MD), Robert (CEO) or Jan Gerard (CTO). At Move, you're never alone.'

What characterizes the Move culture for you?

'What I really like about our culture is that it's very safe; mistakes are there to be made and you learn from this above all. You can really talk about anything with your supervisor or team leader. Problems are never yours alone, we do it together here. And what makes our work so special is that clients are often completely blown away by what we deliver. We create designs that are pixel perfect, and you see that reflected in the products we build. I once had a client who thought he was watching a video of the design, when in fact it was the real app. We deliver that level of quality. We have a great team of Designers, Developers and Testers, and together we create digital products that really impress our customers. The fact that we make such great things together is brilliant to me. I'll keep this up just fine until retirement.'

Want to know more about the Digital Project Manager position? Check out the Move Amsterdam vacancy or the Move Zwolle vacancy.