Jobs at COLAS

Dare to reinvent yourself! This motto sums up Thuriane perfectly. Curious by nature and a science graduate, she spent 16 years working in Smac’s central laboratory in Magny-les-Hameaux. “When I turned 44, I realized I wanted a new environment, new experience and a new role”, she confides. She got her wish! Thuriane was appointed Head of Development at the CST. She oversees the development and introduction of new products, working closely with Colas’ Marketing and Communication departments, as well as the Group’s technical network: “I’m learning brand new skills again, after years in a job where I felt very at home.” As well as taking on a new role, in 2018, Thuriane took part in a new training program dedicated to women, aimed at supporting their career development within the Group. “The program is designed to develop confidence, assertiveness and leadership skills”, explains Thuriane. “I’m proud to be one of the 12 women from across the Colas Group who were selected to benefit from the program.”
 

Alexandre has always wanted to work outside of Mainland France. As a student at the École des Mines engineering school in Douai, he opted to do his end-of studies-internship with Colas, in Mayotte... and he stayed. Hired in 2013 as a project engineer, he went on to become head of the Mtsamoudou quarry. In 2015, he moved to the Shawkah quarry in the United Arab Emirates as assistant supervisor. This was the perfect opportunity for the young man. “Production, quality, sales supervision, purchasing… there is nothing routine about my job. I can be doing anything, from designing a blasting program to overseeing the team on the ground. The quarry operates round the clock, 7 days a week. I need to be highly reactive and make decisions very quickly. The biggest challenge is to take onboard all the site’s very strict safety standards and make sure everybody understands and applies them.” Alexandre loves the fact that he learns something new every day. “This extremely rewarding experience will serve me throughout my whole career. I hope to carry on traveling to as many exotic places as I can for my work!”
 

"Sometimes you have to dare to do something you've never done before". Sunny's career seems to have been guided by daring and new beginnings. Born in Thailand, Sunny arrived in the United States in 2008 to study. Then she joined Simon, a Colas company in the USA, as payroll administrator. "I was afraid I wouldn't be accepted when I arrived, but I soon realized there was no need to worry", she recalls. "Here, diversity is an integral part of daily life and employees are attentive and open-minded." Later on, Sunny took on her new role as regional controller. It's now her job to manage all direct and indirect financial transactions for the region. "The role gives me the opportunity to apply my accounting knowledge to real situations in order to find the best opportunity to apply my accounting knowledge to real situations in order to find the best possible solution for the company", she explains. Always ready to tackle fresh challenges, this dynamic controller is also careful to look after her own personal well-being. "Exercising and meditation are two of my priorities" she recounts. "I always bear in mind that I can do anything... but not all at the same time!"
 

Bocar, who joined the company more than twelve years ago, feels that for a long time safety was simply “a set of instructions”. The launch of the One Safety initiative at his profit center at the beginning of 2019 marked a turning point. He took part in several training sessions held on various jobsites. Bocar particularly appreciated the discussions that followed observation sessions. “We were asked to give our opinions and question ourselves”, he says. “In the heat of the moment, you don’t always realize the risks you’re taking; by discussing issues you become more aware… and you can find solutions together.” Throughout the day, every hazardous situation detected is logged on a chart displayed in the works base. “Every morning before starting work, the team meets to assess risks and find solutions”, explains Bocar. According to this skilled worker, the team now regularly discusses “safety-related issues… and much more! It’s really useful to talk and come up with ideas together. We have a closer-knit team now”, he concludes.
 

Marcel joined Colas Côte d’Ivoire with a background as diverse as rewarding. Following stints as a Research Officer with the National Engineering Design Office of the Côte d’Ivoire and a site supervisor with a local company, he became head of the infrastructure department for an agro-industrial group, before joining the country’s road management office as major projects manager. These experiences have given Marcel excellent knowledge of the local environment and network. An asset he is delighted to share with Colas. “This role as operations manager is also a challenge. I want to be able to open the door to other talented people in the country.” His work brings Marcel into contact with French expats as well as people from Togo, Benin and Guinea, “an interesting and dynamic cocktail that just makes you want to forge ahead.” He has always been passionate about major projects. But his biggest source of satisfaction is helping to end the isolation of remote villages. “The roads and bridges we build give villagers access to towns and shops. It’s great to be able to help improve the living conditions of residents. Their gratitude and feedback show us that what we do has immediate, palpable impact. We play a role in our country’s development.”
 

The story between Valérie and Colas began back in 1998 with an internship with the SJE profit center (Colas Nord-Est) as part of her civil engineering education. Once she graduated, Valérie then started a vocational degree on an apprenticeship basis with Bouygues Construction in Paris, where she handled claims management. “It was a fascinating role that taught me to be rigorous in my work. But the call of my native Jura mountains was too strong. So when a position became vacant at SJE, I applied and was hired in January 1, 2000.” Taken on as site supervisor, she became planning and recruitment manager, and then site manager in 2013, following a two-year stint working as a QSE officer in eastern France. “This experience has taken me to a number of profit centers, allowing me to see how each of them operates. It has broadened my mind: I look at situations from a more global perspective now.” As well as scheduling work, planning technical and human resources and going on site visits, Valérie loves the customer relations aspect of her job. “The people here are very loyal. Being native to the region is an asset”, she underlines. The things she appreciates most about her job are the autonomy it gives her and the fact that there is a good balance between administrative and field aspects. “Colas is very good at placing trust in its employees and valuing individual skills. As a mother of two little girls, I’m able to have a good work/life balance.”