Consider a job with the integral asset management specialist

Originating from the privatization of the maintenance and inspection department of the Dutch Department of Public Works, Nebest has now been standing on its own feet for 35 years. The independent engineering and consultancy firm is characterized by its hands-on mentality and has expanded its scope considerably over the years. Nebest now has 250 employees and is eagerly looking for new talent to enable further growth.

In the early years, Nebest inspected assets of the Department of Public Works on a large scale. At the time, this was done mainly visually. "With the naked eye you can see quite a lot about an existing structure, but there's also a lot you can't see," says Wouter van den Berg, new business manager at Nebest. Reason for the company to specialize further. "Where the naked eye stops, we can now offer all follow-up examinations, from measurements in the field to locate reinforcement, for example, to testing in our own laboratory. In the early years we worked mainly for the Department of Public Works, eventually provinces, municipalities and other clients also knew where to find us."

Nebest has significantly broadened its services over the years, including toward other sectors. "Anno 2023 we are represented in construction, infrastructure, industry and hydraulic engineering with over 250 employees. And we are still growing, last year even by 30 FTE." According to Van den Berg, Nebest is considered the contractor among engineering firms. "We divide our tasks across eight departments - Building, Structural, Infra, Inspection, Materials Science, Nebest Dive Inspection, Nebest Laboratory and Project Management - and have a fairly hands-on mentality. In other words, we are not averse to fieldwork inspections and further investigations. For more depth, we can fall back on our own laboratory. Here we conduct research on Chromium-6 and chlorides in concrete, among other things. We also investigate, for example, the deterioration of wooden piles at quay walls and bridges. In addition, for several years now we have been putting a lot of effort into damage research on steel structures, and we recently acquired the Center for Research and Technical Advice (COT), which conducts research on paint and coating systems, among other things."

"Despite having grown into an engineering and consulting firm of stature, we are a nice flat organization," Van den Berg believes. "The doors are always open and there is plenty of room for people's entrepreneurial spirit. There are also a lot of side activities from cycling to winter sports weekends. All this makes working at Nebest very enjoyable." The Project Management department has a crucial role within Nebest. "There are quite a few colleagues who at some point want to experience the work on the other side of the table as well. Through the Project Management department, they have the opportunity to work in a role at Rijkswaterstaat or at a contractor. That broadens the disciplines and experience of our people. It is precisely this interchangeability that is appreciated and is also our strength."

The Project Management department is an important part of Nebest and actually originated from questions from the market, knows Laura Groosman, account manager at Nebest. "After an inspection of an object, we were invariably asked if we could also provide/supervise the management/supervision of the quality and safety of the (repair) work. We now do much more than that and are active in execution supervision and in IPM roles such as contract, environmental, technical and risk management. We also second project leaders and employ senior safety experts who are now active on the Afsluitdijk, among other projects. In addition, we provide system-oriented contract management for the Department of Public Works for various tunnel and dredging projects, we have an excellent framework agreement with ProRail and with the Brabantse Delta water board, and we are working for the Belgian government on the Antwerp Ring. We also work for provinces and municipalities. So very broadly oriented, also in terms of the type of employee."

Given the steady growth of the Project Management Department, Nebest is looking for new talent. "We have some great vacancies for civil engineering supervisors, superintendents, contract managers, test coordinators and lead auditors," says Groosman. "In addition, we are looking for environmental managers, technical managers and we always have room for other technicians. Will you join our team?"