The way from DTU to project manager - a story told by Jens Roy Krejberg Simonsen
In this shortread, we are pleased to introduce Jens, the Manager of Engineering Management at Novo Nordisk Engineering. Jens graduated from DTU 12 years ago with a degree in civil engineering and has since gained experience in both the construction industry and pharmaceutical engineering, with his most recent 7-year tenure being at NNE. Having transitioned from a graduate at a technical university to a project manager and then to an engineering manager himself, Jens is well-equipped to identify the technical abilities that can be effectively utilized in management positions.
NNE: An expanding enterprise leading the way in medicine manufacturing
NNE is a Danish company that is at the forefront of providing consulting, engineering, and project management services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. With roots dating back to 1925 as Nordisk Laboratorie Teknik, the company has a long-standing history of helping its clients in bringing new drugs and therapies to market. Today, NNE is a global player in the industry with offices in Denmark, USA and India.
The hallmark of NNE's service to its clients is its ability to deliver unmatched expertise. The company has a highly skilled workforce of over 2,000 experts in areas such as process engineering, automation, validation, and regulatory compliance. This deep bench of expertise enables NNE to provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs and challenges of its clients. Jens Roy Krejberg Simonsen is one of the many skilled employees who has the ability and experience to manage and deliver highly complex projects for NNE's customers.
In addition to its expertise, NNE offers a comprehensive range of services that include process design, engineering, automation, and validation, as well as project management and regulatory compliance support. These services are closely linked together in a consultancy framework that enables NNE to provide an integrated approach to problem-solving. Jens cites examples of past and current projects where the company utilized its technical competencies to upgrade an existing fermentation plant and construct new purification plants for Novo Nordisk. NNE's involvement in all aspects of the construction, including building design and process and utility engineering, demonstrates the company's ability to leverage multiple aspects of engineering to deliver successful projects.
Jens's Responsibilities as an Engineering Manager
Jens is currently an engineering manager, a role that is responsible for leading teams of engineers and specialists to complete projects. He earlier held the title as project manager and Jens made a comparison to describe the different details between these two roles:
“The project manager assumes a role similar to that of a head of state for a country, responsible for overseeing and managing both the project’s timeline and financial resources. On the other hand, the minister of the interior plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration between stakeholders and coordinating resources.”
In his previous job in building consultancy, he worked mostly in projects as the project manager's right hand man, which eventually led him to take up a half-time position in personnel management. This ignited an interest in him and led him down a path where he could combine his technical education with management and people. His natural interest in leadership has driven him to pursue roles such as a project manager and line manager. In his current role Jens emphasized the importance of ensuring that everything is working together properly. This includes laying out the project's guidelines and procedures, managing changes, and ensuring that the work is of high quality. The role requires a lot of leadership skills, including the ability to keep the project on track and ensure that everyone is working together effectively. In the same context Jens mentions taking care of his team.
“The well-being and satisfaction of my entire team is of utmost importance. It is crucial that they feel a sense of purpose and direction in their work, particularly in the NNE region. It is my goal to ensure that they are happy and motivated to continue their work with us.”
A key focus for a line-manager is the well-being of his or her team members. At NNE and other matrix organizations we have career development meetings to make sure that each individual employee is or is towards the place they want to be in their career and this is crucial Jens notes. For a project manager it is about making different components of the project work together but for a line-manager it is instead about people.
In his seven years at NNE, Jens has worked on six different projects, each with its own unique challenges. He also mentions that he has had to work with a variety of customers, requiring him to be adaptable and able to communicate effectively with different stakeholders. To be a good engineering manager, Jens highlights the importance of having strong leadership skills and being able to communicate effectively with different stakeholders. He also mentions that the role requires ability to manage changes effectively as these are bound to happen unexpectedly. Finally, Jens emphasizes the importance of having a passion for the work and constantly seeking to learn and improve.
Thirteen Years On: How Jens Continues to Apply the Knowledge Gained from His Education
When asked about how his education at DTU has shaped his career Jens highlights that the most significant thing he learned during his education is how to approach and solve problems systematically. Jens also mentions that the courses he took, particularly those focused on hard theory, did not contribute as much to his professional skills. Instead, he notes that the experience of working on difficult tasks and collaborating with classmates helped him develop a problem-solving mindset.
“My technical education, including subjects like mathematics and physics, has equipped me with valuable skills. However, it is the problem-solving mindset that I developed during this education which I truly value now, especially when tackling difficult challenges.”
Jens reflects about how he navigated towards project management and facility management courses on his Masters after years of heavy math and physics. It was a natural transition as he found these courses to be more interesting than technical courses. When asked about tips for students possibly interested in management Jens said:
“If your natural interest lies in seeing things being created and the progress being made then of course you should take courses and engage in activities that push towards that line of work. Just remember that it is easier to get a job when you already have the experience.”
For Jens it was difficult to know 12 years ago that this was the path for him, but now he feels comfortable with where he is.
Jens afterwards highlighted how his education at DTU opened up opportunities for him to work with companies like Alectia, where he completed his bachelor's thesis. Through this experience, Jens was introduced to real world project management, which ultimately led him to his current job. When asked about the benefits of his education, Jens emphasizes that it helped him mature and become more prepared for the workforce. He acknowledges that reading and studying can only go so far, and that real-world experience is necessary to apply what you learn in the classroom.
Jens (left) and Peter (right) from NNE.
Better Late than Never: Jens's Key Learnings on Transitioning from university into Industry
Throughout the interview Jens mentioned multiple times the importance of active engagement with companies and industry. Jens revealed that he had always believed that it would have been useful to have completed an internship during his studies. He said:
“It would have been good to have been in an internship to find out if this was the right path for me. Just to have a mid-way check because five years is a long time to just run in one direction without knowing if you’re on the right path.”
Jens also discussed the importance of networking during university and the value of attending career fairs such as the DSE fairs. He admitted that he had attended many of these events but had not taken advantage of them as much as he should have. He said:
“I have not been very good at following up on the contacts I made at these events, and that is something I would have done differently.”
However, Jens also noted that there was not much he would have done differently to prepare for his current position. He felt that there was a limit to how much preparation he could have done in advance and that he had learned the most by simply entering the industry and working. He said:
“I don’t think there’s much I could have done at DTU to prepare for where I am now. There is so much you learn by just working.”
Jens's experience highlights the importance of taking advantage of opportunities to network and gain industry experience while still at university. He also acknowledges the value of gaining hands-on experience and that sometimes the best preparation for entering the industry is simply to start working. As a graduate, it is essential to take advantage of these opportunities to ensure a smooth transition into the workforce.
Written by: James Blumensen
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