Dr Sandra Harms, Project Developer
I value the philosophy of sustainability!
In March 2007, I joined ECE as a Project Developer. As a connecting link to the Executive Board, I represent the interests of ECE outside of the company and have direct contact with property owners, city council representatives, politicians and external partners. This is why the work of a Project Developer is filled with challenges and occasionally surprises too.
My responsibilities include looking for new locations for high-quality shopping centres, then analysing them to create a solid basis for the projects. Once a location has been chosen internally, I focus on acquiring the piece of land and the necessary building rights. This phase requires effective negotiating skills, which every future applicant should possess. Together with an extensive team of field experts, I develop a unique utilisation concept specially for the location.
Working so closely with colleagues and external contact partners means you always have the opportunity to learn something new about your range of responsibilities, which makes the work really interesting.
When working together internally, we place value on reliability, determination and team spirit. I’m impressed by the company’s approach to open discussion, which can be seen in the freedom employees are given to speak to members of management, for example. Employees have a wide variety of fields to choose from and lots of interesting opportunities that allow them to develop further.
Compared to my previous work, my project responsibilities go on for considerably longer periods of time, but I can also actively help shape project development and, at the end, I see the physical results of my work in the form of a new shopping centre. I appreciate the philosophy of sustainability, which ECE is dedicated to implementing in its long-term corporate policies.