Working at

“On behalf of the whole team, welcome! We hope that our website gives you a clear idea about our organisation. Since its foundation in 1999, Progress has been steadily growing. We are constantly looking for colleagues with experience in the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, health care, food industry and related knowledge areas.” – Paul Linssen Founder Progress.

Our staff
Progress staff are selected on the basis of their knowledge and communicative skills. After an introductory period, they become part of a close-knit and enthusiastic team. Employees support each other and share their professional knowledge by regularly evaluating projects and sharing experiences. Furthermore, all staff are convinced of the importance of education and training, which is what enables them to provide the best possible service to their clients.

We have experienced consultants on staff that can (help) set up and implement a GxP or ISO based quality management system, for the development, manufacture, testing and/or distribution of medicinal products and APIs. Also we offer interim management services as well as expertise on all quality systems, whether Change Control, Deviation Management, Documentation Management, Product Quality Review, Management Review, Quality Risk Management etc.

We believe Quality Assurance is not about creating more documentation or hiring more people, but about awareness, ownership and efficiency, throughout the company. With our knowledge and experience we can ensure – together with you – continued quality compliance of your product and processes during the entire life-cycle, while maintaining the focus on your core processes.

Why Progress?
Progress is an important player in the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology and health care. Progress operates internationally and supplies services relating to, among others, project management, engineering, validation and quality assurance. We offer high quality services for a reasonable price and are renowned for our practical approach, no-nonsense attitude and high customer satisfaction.

Investment
We invest in our people, their knowledge and capacities, based on the wishes and needs of the client. We use our substantial training budget to improve interpersonal as well as professional skills. Furthermore, we feel it is important for everyone to contribute ideas to new developments and services aimed at continuous improvement of our organisation.

Colleagues and work environment
The strength of Progress is the interaction between highly qualified and motivated colleagues, supported by a strong management team. Colleagues help each other and share their professional know-how by regularly evaluating projects and sharing experiences. After a training period, you become part of a close-knit and enthusiastic team.

Projects
As a consultant with Progress, you can be placed in various roles depending on your field of expertise. We can involve you in projects of varying sizes in the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, healthcare, food industry and related sectors. Projects may be national or international in character. We offer you plenty of freedom to work independently from the start.

What will you be doing?
In many cases, you will develop, implement, validate and evaluate projects independently. As a project manager, you will be responsible for implementing a new process, product, procedure or quality system, for example. Alternatively, as an interim manager you may manage one or more departments, such as production, QA or QC, process development, engineering, etc. Additionally you might perform a GAP analysis, risk assessment or audit and work on developing and presenting customised courses and training sessions.

Advice and decisions
During projects, you will also advise our customers in various areas. You will give the customer several options and explain which one you would advise. However, if a customer takes a different decision, you accept it but are also willing to warn a customer if you feel that this choice entails risks. If you are not entirely sure about something, you can always consult experienced and expert colleagues.

Your competences
Progress staff are selected on the basis of experience, professional knowledge and communicative skills. You are familiar with current guidelines and you are able to give feasible and practical advice. You are proactive, goal-oriented, conscientious and a real team player. As a representative of our company, you ensure that you are smartly dressed when visiting the customer.

Employee stories

“We share a lot of knowledge amongst ourselves, and the atmosphere’s great.” – Rob Severijnse

Project Manager
Education: Technical Secondary School (MTS)
Working for Progress since: 2006
Interests: Italian cuisine and tennis

He sees himself more as a consultant than a project manager. “The great thing about my position is that I’m allowed to do both. I advise the client and at the same time ensure that the work is executed. That’s what makes my job so attractive.”

“You could say I started out as a technician. I have a degree from Technical Secondary School (MTS), as well as completion of a number of complementary technical courses. In 2006, I ended up here more or less by accident. The work soon proved considerably more varied than I had originally assumed. It’s not just about installing a new piece of equipment at the client’s location – I’m also required to think along the lines of the client’s precise needs; I confer with departmental heads and maintenance departments,
I offer my perspective on financial proposals, the sourcing of parts, and so on.
I’m involved in all stages of the process. This makes my job extremely interesting and multifaceted. What’s more, I’m free to complete my work according to my own insights. And since we have an informal, horizontally-structured organisation and communications between colleagues are smooth and easy, I’m never forced to solve a problem all on my own. I can always turn to a colleague with the required knowledge and experience – someone who can help me with the right information. We share a lot of knowledge amongst ourselves and the atmosphere’s great. Furthermore, I’m regularly required to move out of my comfort zone and develop personal skills that in the past, I preferred to leave alone. Holding a presentation for a client, for example, or managing a team. This is one reason why I’m incredibly pleased to work for this employer. The freedom of movement and support they offer me has allowed me to develop far more aspects of my personality than I ever expected to.”

The collegiality, knowledge and having an equal position at the customer was his reason for choosing Progress in 2012. “This work suits me.”

“I’ve been working in the pharmaceutical industry for almost twenty years and have been at this company for the past few years. I made a conscious choice for Progress because I really enjoyed cooperating with their professionals when I worked for my two previous employers. What I noticed was that although these employees were seconded temporarily, for me they were not ‘external consultants’. They played an equal role and were just as involved with the people and the work as the organisation’s own employees. At that time I thought “I’d like to do consultancy work in that way too”. I’m happy I made that choice.
I’ve been working on an engineering contract for a customer for a long period and it is still challenging. I’m also working for another customer on a quality project. I’m given every freedom to do my work and organise my work schedule as I see fit, in consultation with the customer of course. As a consultant you have an assignment to complete and that’s what it’s all about. And this freedom isn’t abused either. Colleagues are disciplined and want to do a good job for the customer. Nobody minds working an extra hour. The atmosphere is really good too. It feels like a warm-hearted ‘family’ in which people support and value each other. Our own families are also involved in the company. A biannual event is organised to which partners and children are welcome. This helps us to get to know each other really well.”

“A warm-hearted family.” – Klaas Geveke

Project Manager
Education: Chemical Process Technology, TU Delft
Working at Progress since: 2012
Interests: family with three children and a dog, squash, mountain biking, reading and music.