Martin, what brought you to work in the facility business?
After leaving the army in 2013, I was at a crossroads at work and looking for a new challenge. At that time, someone I knew recommended OKIN Facility, a company that was looking for colleagues for contracts in Moravia. I started as a facility specialist and step by step I moved on until I reached the position of contract manager.
What made you leave the army?
There are no complicated reasons behind this. I was happy in the army, but because of personnel changes I would have had to move to Prague, which I didn’t want to do anymore. Although I come from northern Bohemia, I have family and background in Olomouc and staying there was a priority for me.
Anyway, it was a big professional change. What did you have to learn?
Facility management is a completely different world compared to being in the military. I have to concentrate on managing my contracts, client satisfaction and economic aspects that did not play a major role in the military. Overall, the job required a comprehensive change of approach.
What does being a contract manager mean to you and what are the challenges?
The role of a contract manager is very diverse. I have to manage contracts, lead the team, communicate with clients and make sure everything runs smoothly. Most importantly, it’s important to understand the client’s needs, communicate effectively and resolve issues quickly. But it wouldn’t be possible without good teamwork and mutual trust. The big challenge is then starting new orders that need to be completed in a short time. Coincidentally, when I joined, I already helped to start a large contract in Ostrava, and this gave me a big professional boost.
You say teamwork is key. How does your team work and how do you approach leading it?
I have eight managers on my team and another 50 colleagues in various positions. Every morning we have a common „confcall“ where we discuss tasks and problems, the overall status of the job and the day’s plan. For example, if there is an accident, we focus on making sure we have a perfect overview of the situation and know how to deal with it. In addition, we also discuss things that might be useful for other team members. For me, trust and open communication is key.
Where do you manage contracts everywhere?
Almost all over the country – from Prague, Pardubice, Brno to Ostrava. Every job is different, and that’s what I enjoy about my work. I don’t sit in the office all the time, but I can meet clients and people in the field. Also thanks to the fact that my portfolio includes jobs where we do not only perform classical technical maintenance, but now also construction maintenance.
Do you have any advice or tips for someone just starting out at the facility?
The key is to understand how facility management works and to communicate with the client. Don’t let anything „fade away“ and solve problems right away.
You’re often smiling and full of energy at work, but what do you do when you’re not at work? Do you have a hobby that you enjoy?
It’s definitely cynology and working with dogs, although I don’t train dogs myself. I mainly try to support my wife, who has been involved with dogs since childhood. Gradually, I got involved in cynology and it became our common hobby, which takes a lot of time. We regularly go on training trips, even abroad, where we exchange experiences with friends. Most often we go to Poland, where there are excellent facilities for cynologists. In addition, I am a triple grandfather, which makes me very happy, and I like to spend my free time with my grandchildren.
Is there anything that you have learned from working with dogs that helps you in your work with people?
Working with dogs has taught me the importance of consistency and fairness. If you are fair to the dogs, they will return the favor with their loyalty. I think the same goes for working with people.
