Ralph is a foreman at ZÜBLIN.

Could you please introduce yourself briefly – who are you and what is your role?

My name is Ralph, I am 59 years old, and I have been working for ZÜBLIN since 1989. After completing my apprenticeship as a bricklayer and spending several years as a foreman, I qualified as a site foreman in 1995. I am currently working as a foreman on the ‘New construction of an inclined lift’ site at Leuchtenburg near Kahla in Thuringia.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

My day begins at around 6.30 am when I switch on my computer and have a quick look at the day’s schedule. At 6.45 am, I discuss the planned work with the foreman and allocate staff to their tasks. I then welcome the team and start with a tour of the building site. I check deliveries of materials, record everything in the site log and deal with emails. Throughout the day, I monitor the progress of the build, check deadlines and ensure the quality of the work. At the end of the day, I plan the next steps and ensure the site is securely locked up.

What are your main responsibilities as a foreman?

I manage the building site alongside the site manager, document the work and handle material orders as well as checking deliveries. An important part of my job is training and supervising the workforce and partner companies – in terms of both quality and quantity, as well as health and safety. It is important to me that everyone involved works well together and can rely on one another.

What qualities do you need to do your job well?

Technical knowledge of structural and finishing work forms the basis. In addition, you need experience in dealing with people, strong leadership skills and the ability to remain calm and solution-oriented, even in stressful situations. Treating the team, partner companies and clients with respect is a matter of course for me. 

In my view, the traditional career path – from skilled trades training, through working as a foreman or forewoman, to training as a site foreman – provides the ideal foundation for gaining the necessary experience and confidence for the role of site foreman.

What motivates you most in your day-to-day work?

What motivates me most of all is the variety of tasks and working as part of a team. Every day brings new challenges that we tackle together. It’s particularly rewarding when everything runs smoothly and we achieve a high-quality result. It’s not just about the building itself, but also about the development we go through as a team – both professionally and personally.

Why did you choose this career – and what makes it special to you?

I wanted a career where I could take on responsibility and play an active role. As a foreman, I’m right at the heart of the construction process, making decisions and seeing every day how plans become reality. The work is demanding, but it also gives me a lot in return – above all, the feeling of being part of a strong team that makes a difference together. I’d choose this career again in a heartbeat.

You can find more insights into Ralph’s day-to-day work in the video: