He only started recently, but he already feels completely at home here, emphasizes Dennis Joosten, the new Campus Manager Safety & Security.

Joosten began his career with the police. First in Tilburg, but he soon moved to Eindhoven via Valkenswaard. For a long time, he served as a community police officer, acting as “the eyes and ears” of various Eindhoven neighborhoods.

He climbed further up the police ranks, but after 25 years he said goodbye to the National Police. He made a stopover as head of security at a forensic psychiatric clinic, and seven months ago Joosten started a new chapter here at TU/e.

Here, he manages around 25 people, divided across three teams: security, the fire department, and team Access Control & Parking.

What time do you clock in?

“I usually start around 7:15 a.m. I go straight to the security control room, because then the night shift has just been relieved by the day shift. Partly to find out if anything happened during the night, but also to have some personal contact with my team.”

What does your job involve?

“In the control room, we go over anything noteworthy from the night and review the agenda for the day. Is anything happening today? An event? A visit? Something that requires extra attention?”

“After that, I usually go to my own workspace on the tenth floor of Atlas to catch up on emails. As a manager, I’m physically separate from my team. Security is based in the basement of Atlas, Access Control & Parking on the ground floor, and the fire department in Fenix.”

“Whenever possible, I try to visit my people as much as I can. As a manager, I really want to be among my team. I don’t want to hide in an office and send emails with instructions from there. I think that’s an unpleasant way of leading.”

“And that doesn’t just apply to my own team. Every so often, I stop by each department to chat with receptionists and facilities staff. That way, I regularly pick up on important things that I can or need to act on.”

“Events are a big deal here; almost every day there’s something happening. Behind the scenes, we assess the safety risks of events and determine what measures are needed to make sure everything runs smoothly. Sometimes those are smaller things, like a lecture with a well-known speaker, but there are also plenty of large-scale events, like the recent Career Expo or the upcoming intro week.”

“And of course, all kinds of unplanned situations come up as well, such as demonstrations, accidents, or other unsafe situations.”

How did you end up in this job?

“After 25 years in the police force, I was ready for a new challenge, which I found at a forensic psychiatric clinic of GGzE. There, I worked on a few major projects, and once those were completed, the work became less challenging.”

“At that point, I saw this position come up and thought: that’s something for me. On the one hand, it’s something I already have a lot of experience in, but on the other hand, the role also offers many new aspects. I enjoy continuing to learn and challenging myself.”

What do you enjoy most about your job?

“I’d say empowering people. The team leaders, but also all my other employees.”

“Sometimes people come to me and say: ‘Dennis, this needs to be addressed, I’m thinking along these lines.’ And then I say: ‘These are the boundaries, go ahead and do it, and if you need anything, let me know.’”

“You see them hesitate at first, but I make it clear that I truly believe they can handle it themselves. That kind of approach gives people more confidence in themselves. And being able to compliment someone afterward when everything works out—that’s the best part, in my opinion.”

And what do you enjoy least?

“I spend much more time behind a computer than I used to, which takes some getting used to. I used to work more physically, and now it’s more mental work.”

“The fact that I’m less out in the field really feels like a big switch. But I try to compensate by visiting my staff in the field as much as possible, to maintain that connection.”

What time do you clock out?

“I usually head home around 4:15 or 4:30 p.m., so I work about 9.5-hour days. And sometimes I do some more work at home, just to be well prepared. If I add everything up, I exceed my contract hours, but I think that comes with the role. I know it’s not required, but I’m happy to do it.”

What do you do after you clock out?

“I make sure to exercise regularly, since my job is less physical than it used to be. I also have a daughter who’s almost fourteen, and I try to do a lot of activities with her.”

“Every now and then I go out for dinner or have a drink with friends, but I also just enjoy being at home. I don’t always need to be out and about.”

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.