Q. Why did you decide to join Sodexo?
I was introduced to the business late 2011 and later made the decision to join the company in August of 2012. I was working as a National Contract Manager based in South Australia at the time. Since joining Sodexo, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of roles and locations with the flexibility of work-life balance. Eventually moving to the Pilbara region was a decision that made sense for me and my family and we have enjoyed the lifestyle and sense of community here.

Q. What are your overall responsibilities and what does a typical day look like for you?

From a high-level view, I manage facilitates, grounds, property services, catering, cleaning, transport, town services, and accommodation services across 2 regions - which consist of just under 2000 properties. This includes a supermarket, a swimming pool, 2 self-contained villages, 6 accommodation sites including FIFO and transit houses, a multi-purpose dining/gym/office/tavern facility, a café, commercial assets, a rubbish tip and another tavern/restaurant. I’m responsible for providing a safe and seamless operation of all of these.  

Q. What does a typical day look like for you?
I manage a team of 12 managers across both regions. A typical day consists of connecting with the team in person and/or by phone, driving between offices and regions, meetings and emails!

Q. What is one of the most rewarding parts of your job? 
There was no better feeling than seeing the safe and successful mobilisation of Sodexo’s IFMS contract in my region.  I am extremely proud to have been a part of such a huge ground breaking project.We are very user/end focused and it is satisfying to create a safe, clean and comfortable environment for people to enjoy. It’s also very rewarding seeing my team succeed and grow together, I rate my success on seeing them succeed.

Q. What have you found most challenging?

Adapting my time to ensure I cover both regions as well as spending adequate quality time one-on-one with my team. It’s a balancing act, but I want my team to feel supported while on site.   

Q. Why do you like working for Sodexo?

I’ve really enjoyed the challenge, it shows you what you are capable of. In 5 years I’ve grown professionally and as a person and with the company, it’s been an amazing journey.

Q. What has been the best experience you've had at Sodexo so far?

Garma was amazing. I had to opportunity to take part in last year’s Garma, an on-country Indigenous cultural festival sponsored by Sodexo. It was a rewarding, insightful and unique experience.

Q. What type of person does it take to work at Sodexo? 
Someone who is dedicated, positive, proactive would be suitable, It takes someone who believes in and lives by their core values. 

Q. Why did you decide to join Sodexo?

I had the good fortune to decide to join Sodexo… twice. I initially joined Sodexo working FIFO on the Energy & Resources side of the business. With a background in the HVAV industry, and experience as a plumber, estimator, and project manager, I had a good understanding of facilities management. I loved the work but was looking for a change in the FIFO lifestyle to better suit my family. After 4 years, I transferred back to Brisbane and took up a temporary 12 month contract locally. I was able to return to Sodexo when an opportunity for State Coordinator role based at our Brisbane office became available. I spent my first Easter with my family this year and I’m happy to have had opportunity and flexibility to move within the organisation.

Q.  What does a typical day look like for you and what are your overall responsibilities?

I typically interact with my clients’ Retail Business Manager’s and store franchisees on a daily basis. More broadly, I manage quality control of in-house technicians and external vendors, ensuring all works are completed and compliant with Sodexo policies and procedures. We also ensure that strict safety and quality control of maintenance tasks is performed on sites.

Q.  What is one of the most rewarding parts of your job?
We pride ourselves on the level of service our team delivers to our client and their customers on a daily basis, while minimising down time so clients can continue operating.

Q. Why do you like working for Sodexo?
It has a great culture at all levels of the company

Q. What type of person does it take to work at Sodexo? 
Someone with a positive attitude, customer focus and strong belief in our safety culture would be suitable to work at Sodexo. 

Why did you decide to join Sodexo?
I was referred to Sodexo by a recruitment agency. When I learned more about the company and its history, I felt the core values really aligned with mine. It was the first role I had applied for out of University and they actually sent me for a mock interview as the recruiter didn’t think I would get the job but I’m glad they gave me the opportunity to prove myself.  

Q. What were you doing before this?
I joined Sodexo when I was 19, before that I was a manager at McDonalds while I was going through University. I’ve been with Sodexo almost 10 years now - I joined in January 2008.
 

Q. What do you do, what are your overall responsibilities?
As Operations Manager for Oil and Gas, I look after 6 sites within our Oil and Gas Segment. I have 2 offshore facilities, 2 onshore facilities, a client’s corporate headquarters and a facility in South Korea that is nearing completion and will be offshore in Australia. I currently have 12 direct reports and about 110 employees across all sites.
 

Q. What does a typical day look like for you?
Working in Operations, there is no such thing as a typical day. While I do my best to be proactive, a large part of what I do is reacting to situations and supporting our onsite teams to provide continued service to clients and customers. I currently travel a lot, so I spend a lot of time out of the office either on site, overseas, or on a plane.

Q. What is one of the most rewarding parts of your job? I get a huge sense of satisfaction knowing we have made a difference in the day-to-day lives of our customers. Delivering Quality of Life in Energy and Resources is all about giving people a home away from home and when we do this, we know we have not only made their day a little brighter, we have also helped keep them safe and more engaged at work.

Q. What is critically important to your client in terms of your service delivery? Providing a service where they can essentially “set and forget”. Our clients need partners that can provide these services, safely and proficiently.  We set their mind at ease and provide a seamless solution so they can focus on their core business.

Q. What have you found most challenging?
When I first took on this role, I knew I had a huge learning curve ahead of me. This, coupled with my young age, meant I had to work extremely hard to prove my capability to clients. I was fortunate enough to have great support from my manager (both previous and current), as well as from my team onsite.

Q. Why do you like working for Sodexo?
Sodexo recognises that people are its biggest asset and does a lot to ensure hard work is rewarded. The company has supported my personal development and have afforded me opportunities that most people never dream of being able to do. I love the team I work with and most team members have become like family. We all enjoy working together and have each other’s backs, no matter what the situation.

Q. What has been the best experience you've had at Sodexo so far?
This is a hard one, I have had several great experiences, but I think the best is still ahead of me. I am fortunate enough to be part of a team leading the mobilisation of the world’s largest floating facility, The Prelude FLNG, and I am looking forward to a successful mobilisation.

Q. What type of person does it take to work at Sodexo? 
In order to be successful in working at Sodexo, you must have a passion for service, a positive attitude and drive to continuously improve. You will get out what you put in! 

Q.    Why did you decide to join Sodexo?  

I decided to join Sodexo because as a varied, international company, it would provide me with many avenues for development and growth. Before moving to Melbourne, I didn't know much about Sodexo's place in Australia, but I had heard about the company on my international travels.

 

Q.    What were you doing before this?

Before this, I was working in Chile helping develop a start-up company that gave under privileged children the chance to learn English and to have other extra-curricular activities that wouldn't have been available to them otherwise.

 

Q.     What is your current role?

Currently, I am a FMSC co-ordinator. I’ve worked for Sodexo for just over a year now and I am excited to be stepping into a secondment in the coming weeks as team leader.

 

Q.  What does a typical day look like for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical day in facilities management! A day could be spent trying to source emergency generators and temporary cool rooms for a cyclone affected retirement home or it could be spent raising service requests for 'one ant marching across a window sill'. Our days are varied and rarely dull. More generally, my team and I manage everyday facility needs for a portfolio of clients. We aim to provide excellent service through by personal experience. 

 

Q.     What is one of the most rewarding parts of your job?  

The most rewarding part is knowing that you have made someone's life/day better. Every work order we raise has a direct impact on the physical workplace, whether it's fixing a roof leak so people stay dry, fixing a coffee machine so a clerk stops getting yelled at or even removing a sole ant marching - you've taken a stress out of someone's day. This ultimately enhances employees’ overall workplace experience each day and contributes to their productivity.

 

Q.   What is critically important to your client in terms of your service delivery?

I think understanding and efficiency. The clients want to know that you have understood and care about their problem.  They also want to know it will be dealt with in the most efficient manner. A big part of it is also managing client expectations. You want to do the best for your clients and promise them the world, but honesty and trust are the most important things to maintain a good relationship.

 

Q.   Why do you like working for Sodexo?

I work with an amazing team of people who really work well together and help wherever they can. We also get to have fun. Last year, a group of FM coordinators raised money for the charity Step-tember. It’s a great environment and it’s nice to do some good as an office.

 

Q.   What type of person does it take to work at Sodexo?

Versatile and flexible.

Q. Why did you decide to join Sodexo?
I decided to join Sodexo as I believed that my own personal values were closely aligned with those of Sodexo. Before working directly for Sodexo, I was employed as a Hospitality Manager with Sodexo’s joint venture (Serco Sodexo Defence Services) for 14 years.  When an opportunity became available at Sodexo and I was lucky to transfer.

Q. What are your overall responsibilities?
I am responsible for daily operational activities for a premiere senior facility catering for 134 aged care residents. This service package includes managing catering, cleaning and laundry services. I manage 17 client staff on site covering work outcomes, rostering/ payroll and first level HR.  I am also responsible for the financial performance of the contract and contract compliance and delivery across 3 sites. Food safety and compliance also make up a big part of the role as well.

Q. What does a typical day look like for you?
On a daily basis, I check in with Sodexo and client teams to ensure there are no operational issues that will affect service delivery for the day. I also liaise with the client and care staff to manage specific resident nutrition requirements and also speak with residents regularly to obtain feedback and maintain a high level of satisfaction.

Q. What is one of the most rewarding parts of your job? 
Seeing how our actions and service create a positive experience for residents is very rewarding.  We see genuine gratitude for the team’s performance from the residents and clients. Ultimately we are driven by client and resident satisfaction.

Q. What have you found most challenging?  
Balancing daily operational needs with the overall account management of the contract can be a challenge. Unexpected emergencies due to equipment failure or maintenance issues can come up and sometimes a quick fix or workaround is necessary to keep everything running – it’s all in a day’s work.  

Q. Why do you like working for Sodexo?
I have been very lucky to have worked in a number of different roles and contracts with Sodexo and by far the best thing would be the people.  I would have to say that opportunities for further career progression and professional development are also up there with the people. 

Q. What has been the best experience you've had at Sodexo so far?
Taking on a very different role as Facilities Coordinator has been a particular highlight.  It was a very big step away from catering, however it provided the opportunity to diversify my skills and knowledge and every day presented a new learning opportunity.  It was also one of the best teams that I have been part of, the support and encouragement for each other, even on the tough days, was unwavering. 

Q. What type of person does it take to work at Sodexo? 
I believe to work for Sodexo you should be driven to provide the best possible service to clients.  You also need to be adaptable to the needs of the client and be a willing team member who will pitch in to get the job done when needed.    

Q. Why did you decide to join Sodexo?

After reading the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), I was impressed with Sodexo’s commitment to communities here in Australia and its long term partnership with GARMA.  The opportunity to contribute to and learn from one of the biggest companies in the world was too good to pass up.  This is something that was outside of my comfort zone and I thought the work would be challenging and rewarding at the same time, which so far, it has been.

Q.   What were you doing before this?

Before joining Sodexo, I was a business owner contracted to a not-for-profit as a Senior Account Manager for Victoria and South Australia.  The purpose of this role was to help end the disparity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment across the nation.

Q.  What are your overall responsibilities as RAP Program Manager?

I have the role of sharing our RAP with our current employees, clients and communities.  My responsibilities include leading the development of our next Elevate RAP, coordinate our bi-monthly RAP Steering Committee Meetings, help coordinate Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week activities and celebrations, consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and organisations and working with various segments across the business to better implement RAP Priorities.

Q. What is one of the most rewarding parts of your job?

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is the opportunity to work with and learn from some really great people, this includes Sodexo colleagues, clients and most importantly to me, community members and leaders.

Q. What is critically important to your client in terms of your service delivery?

To carry out what we said we would deliver in our RAP commitments, make continued progress and improvements and communicate this openly to all stakeholders regardless of the outcome. There’s never a dull moment and there is plenty of great, rewarding work to be done.

Q.   What has been the best experience you've had at Sodexo so far?

The opportunity to share some my culture in the form of a Welcome To Country with my Mother at the Sodexo Excellence Awards would be a highlight.  Other than that, I would say getting out on country and yarning with local community members is always a good experience.

Q.   What type of person does it take to work at Sodexo? 

Sodexo seems to provide an abundance of opportunities for many people. Our roles across the company can support various personality types and experience levels, from ‘entry level’ to ‘Senior Management’. Sodexo also has employment strategies in place which focuses on recruiting, training and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, we encourage diversity in our workplace and workforce.