The H-team: Meet Thomas

Meet Thomas, a project manager at Hectaar. Thomas has been part of our team since April 2024. As a project manager, he oversees projects in the region of our office in Ternat, from the initial site preparations to final delivery. A job full of variety, responsibility, and above all, lots of contact with customers, contractors, and colleagues. Meet Thomas and discover what he enjoys so much about his job at Hectaar.

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I’m Thomas, 40 years old, and I live in Lennik with my wife and our two young children. Before I started at Hectaar, I worked as a project manager at a company specializing in large glass constructions in steel and aluminium. That experience still proves useful to me every single day in my job.

In my free time, I try to go to the gym regularly. I also enjoy working with technology and serve as a volunteer firefighter/paramedic for ZVBW.

What role do you fulfil within Hectaar and how long have you been active here?

Since April 2024, I have been working as a project manager at Hectaar. My job mainly consists of following up on construction sites, managing contractors, and making sure the planning is adhered to as closely as possible. In addition, I deal daily with site visits, emails, planning, and checking invoices.

Together with my colleague Arne, I am responsible for the projects in the region of our office in Ternat. In doing so, we also work closely with the sales team, including on customers’ choices and wishes.

What do I enjoy most about my job? The great variety and especially the contact with different people. No two days are the same.

How did you end up at Hectaar?

Before I started working at Hectaar, I was a project manager in the world of glass and steel constructions. I was contacted through a vacancy posted by a recruitment agency because my profile matched an open position at Hectaar. I was actually ready for something completely different. Residential construction appealed to me, and I saw it as a great new challenge.

The way I was welcomed at Hectaar also convinced me. The first conversations were personal, and there was an immediate good connection. That gave me the feeling that this would be the right place for me.

Which achievements are you particularly proud of and why?

I am especially proud of my first projects at Hectaar that I was able to follow up completely and bring to a successful conclusion. The projects in Merelbeke and Oosterzele were important to me in that respect.

It is a wonderful feeling when you follow a project from the start and eventually see a fully finished home take shape. Especially when you notice that everything you have been working on along the way ultimately comes together in a beautiful end result.

How does Hectaar work on promoting a positive team culture?

I think the collegial atmosphere at our office in Ternat is a major asset. Because most colleagues are often on the road, we are rarely all in the office at the same time. That is why we try to do something small together about once a month, so everyone gets the chance to be there.

In addition, there are regularly extra initiatives. For example, we are currently running our ‘Bolognese Tuesday’ for six weeks.

I also think it is important in our daily collaboration that we treat each other with respect. That creates a pleasant atmosphere, even when things get a bit busier on site.

What advice would you give to new colleagues who have just started at Hectaar?

Give yourself time to get to know how things work and the people around you. Dare to ask questions and take responsibility. Learning is always part of the process, especially when you are starting in a new environment.

Try to communicate well, stay calm when things get busy, and dare to take initiative. And above all: be yourself. That way, you build trust step by step and get the most out of your job.

What are you looking forward to most in your future at Hectaar?

I am especially looking forward to the various projects that will be starting in my own area in the coming period. It is always nice to experience projects up close, especially when you know the surroundings well. I am also curious about next year’s team building event. It already sounds very promising.

On a professional level, I want to get even better at following up on projects and continue growing in building homes tailored to the customer.

What is your favourite Hectaar project that is currently for sale?

My favourite project is the homes in Augusta-Marcouxstraat in Pajottegem. They are beautiful, spacious homes with the added bonus of an adjoining plot with fruit trees. That gives the whole development something special in a beautiful, green setting.

What is your Hectaar Highlight?

One of the moments that has stayed with me most is a customer who eventually exchanged his old, run-down renovation property and the accompanying land for a new home. The nice thing is that I still run into him regularly, and every single time he tells me how wonderful he thinks it is.

Those are the moments that give me a lot of satisfaction. You work on a project for months, and in the end you hear from a customer that he is extremely satisfied with the result. Those positive reactions and compliments after a fully completed project are therefore one of the nicest aspects of working at Hectaar for me.

Maybe you will run into Thomas soon, on one of our construction sites or at our office in Ternat. Or maybe you could become his new colleague? Contact us via info@hectaar.be or call 051 69 58 72. We look forward to meeting you!