Dynamic and international workplace attracts Janssen to the observatory
With the appointment of Dennis Janssen as operational director at the end of last year, the management team at the Observatory is now complete. Janssen has been working at the university for over twenty years, but the faculty and the Observatory are new to him.
Janssen prefers to spend five days a week in the Gorlaeus Building, his new dynamic workplace. ‘Every day is different – I’ve realised that in the first few months. I’m still in my first 100 days, so right now it’s all about getting acquainted, listening, and gaining as clear a picture as possible of the institute. That was my goal when I started this role; I want to get to know the people first, so I can represent the institute properly.’
‘ A renowned international institute like the Observatory is the perfect place for me to further develop in the broad field of operations management.’
Staying within the university
Janssen has worked in various roles and departments at the university for over twenty years. He was a department manager at the Van Vollenhoven Institute (FDR) and, for the past five years, a programme manager at Rapenburg for Leiden Research Support, tasked with strengthening support for externally funded research. ‘Facilitating research and education and the way we work within the university suits me well. That’s why I wanted to stay within the university. After five years, taking on a new role felt like the right moment to make the switch. After a rewarding period with a university-wide assignment, I was eager to return to a more international work environment.’
The challenge for Janssen lies in the fact that this is both a new faculty and a new institute for him. ‘A renowned international institute like the Observatory is the perfect place for me to further develop in the broad field of operations management.’
In addition to, as it is officially put, optimising the operational processes within the faculty and the institute, Janssen and his fellow directors must ensure that the Observatory remains future-proof. ‘Of course, we are facing the budget cuts coming our way, while the workload is already high. The impact that will have on our internationally operating field is still unclear. But we stand firmly behind our institute and our people.’
Continuing to develop
Janssen also places importance on looking ahead, seizing opportunities, and spotting them. ‘We make sure we continue to participate in innovative research projects and that we keep developing our education, such as with a new minor and a new master’s specialisation. Additionally, we ensure visibility and interaction with the outside world. A great example of this is our collaboration with the hortus in the ‘Plants and Planets’ exhibition.’
Janssen believes his experience in various parts of the university will serve him well in this role. ‘I think it’s an added advantage that I know what’s needed at central, faculty, and institute levels. I understand the perspectives and the working methods. Of course, each part of the organisation works slightly differently, and that’s what makes working within our university so interesting. What I’ve certainly noticed in the first few months is the immense passion and expertise of my colleagues at the institute. I’m proud to be part of that now.’