For those in the construction industry, challenges can come in many shapes and forms, but for Robert O\u2019Donovan, Business Unit Director at Mercury, it\u2019s how a team reacts to and embraces the challenges they face that sets them apart.<\/p>\n
Robert currently heads up Mercury\u2019s Life Sciences division and it\u2019s a position he has found great fulfilment in- \u201cwhen you enjoy what you do the whole ecosystem you\u2019re operating in benefits, and Mercury have allowed me to take chances to use my skills in new ways at every turn of my career.\u201d Robert has had a busy twelve months, leading Mercury\u2019s teams on complex pharmaceutical projects in both Ireland and mainland Europe, and he\u2019s invigorated by the opportunities in the sector.<\/p>\n
The Cork native started his career as an apprentice working across several projects in Ireland in the late 1980s before establishing himself further afield in the U.K. and Middle East. Having joined Mercury in 1996, he marked 28 years with the company this year. Reflecting on the different stages of his time with Mercury he comments, \u201cTo be honest, the one thing that\u2019s stayed the same is that nothing has stayed the same. You realise quickly at Mercury that change is a good thing, both personally and professionally and when you embrace challenges you can really flourish.\u201d Robert worked with Mercury on various major projects across Ireland in the 1990s and early 2000s, in several roles, from Site Supervisor and Package Manager to Project Manager, before overseeing a large-scale hospital project in the U.K. in the early 2010s. He then took on his current role, spearheading the company\u2019s expanding work in the fast-paced and multifaceted pharmaceutical arena in 2019.<\/p>\n
To grow your career with one company over almost thirty years is a unique feat and Robert attests that the support he\u2019s received has been paramount to his success. \u201cMercury have a track record of backing their people to achieve their absolute best.\u201d He continues, \u201cWhen you know that you are supported and valued it motivates you to achieve more. Over the last twenty-seven years, I have witnessed Mercury\u2019s approach yielding great results- that combination of having a solid support network while being provided with those challenging opportunities that help you develop is the perfect foundation for creating a new wave of industry experts.\u201d<\/p>\n
He emphasizes that being exposed to a vast range of cross-sectoral experience throughout his career has proved incredibly beneficial to his current role. \u201cSince I\u2019ve joined, I\u2019ve been fortunate enough to work on many different projects with a wide range of teams who I have learned so much from.\u201d This culture of open knowledge sharing is something that clearly sets Mercury apart for O \u2018Donovan, \u201cThere\u2019s a real sense of the importance of continually learning for everyone, and ensuring people are provided with the opportunities to fulfil their potential. A key element of that is the guidance and mentorship which can be seen in all our teams.\u201d Robert relishes building teams to lead the company\u2019s work in the Life Sciences sector. He notes that critical to his approach is applying the lessons he\u2019s learned over the course of his own career thus far.<\/p>\n
However, what does it look like for these teams on the ground when they are \u201cembracing challenges\u201d during the hustle and bustle of a busy day on site? O\u2019Donovan affirms that this attitude of pushing forward is instilled in everyone at Mercury from the outset and can often focus on \u201cembracing technological innovations and new ways of working to improve project efficiency and delivery,\u201d he affirms that this is central to ensuring Mercury remain a powerful industry player- \u201cwhat has kept us in the game this long has been our agility and willingness to utilise new methods. Our teams lead with a digital-first approach which sets us apart in terms of efficiency and guaranteeing the best results for the client.\u201d<\/p>\n
He comments that \u201cthe last few years have made clear more than ever before how critical the healthcare sector is and the clients we work with play a major role in this. We understand that the projects we\u2019re delivering have the potential to be focal points for real change on a global scale.\u201d He states, \u201cOur teams understand the importance of building the absolute optimal facilities for our providers to develop products which could be revolutionary, it\u2019s a responsibility we take incredibly seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now based in Dublin, O\u2019Donovan has spent significant periods of his career working abroad with Mercury and still regularly travels between the company\u2019s ongoing pharmaceutical projects across Europe. He says that being afforded the opportunity to travel in your career is \u201cfantastic, particularly in our industry, working abroad can expose you to new approaches. While it can be demanding, it\u2019s ultimately very rewarding\u201d and he notes that fostering \u201ccollaboration between cultures is a key element of Mercury\u2019s success.\u201d<\/p>\n
He is invigorated by the opportunities that lie ahead, but upon reflecting on his career, he is most proud when thinking back on a moment he had as a junior apprentice. \u201cAt the start of your career, it can be difficult thinking about reaching your goals, I remember working with Project Directors on jobs and thinking that\u2019s the role I\u2019d like, I loved the people aspect and having that level of responsibility and expertise seemed really exciting to me, but I had no idea how I was going to make it happen.\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t stop to reflect often- so much of my role is about building on the momentum we\u2019ve created and pushing ahead- but my advice to that younger version of myself starting out on the site would be- don\u2019t be afraid of the change and challenges that will inevitably come, when you embrace it, wonderful things can happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercury is the European leader in construction solutions. We build and manage complex engineering & construction projects for the world\u2019s leading corporations. Our solutions help deliver technologies that connect people, communities, and businesses, giving them the power to achieve incredible things. Our people have the courage to be innovative. Their determination and sharp focus enable us to deliver with certainty, time and time again.\u00a0<\/span> For those in the construction industry, challenges can come in many shapes and forms, but for Robert O\u2019Donovan, Business Unit Director at Mercury, it\u2019s how a team reacts to and embraces the challenges they face that sets them apart. Robert currently heads up Mercury\u2019s Life Sciences division and it\u2019s a position he has found great […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":15832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"class_list":["post-15828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mercury-engineering"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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