From microbiology and procurement to IT project management, Dirk, Project Lifecycle Management Architect & Admin at Pepperl+Fuchs in Mannheim, combines science, engineering, and IT in his very own way. His career path shows how curiosity and the courage to embrace change can open doors – and how this can lead to an exciting professional journey with many different perspectives.
Dirk’s career started off in an unconventional way. After studying biology and microbiology, he began a degree program in viticulture and beverage technology in 2003. He was fascinated by the combination of science and engineering. “This scientific and technical background still shapes the way I work today: analytical, experimental, and with a strong affinity for technology,” Dirk recalls. For his thesis, he initially moved to Australia – a year that proved formative not only academically, but also professionally. There he gained his first hands-on experience in the wine industry.
Back in Germany, Dirk worked at various wineries over the following years, mostly as a technical operations manager. He was fascinated by working between stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, but his career path continued to evolve. Dirk moved into oenological consulting at a subsidiary of a large, cooperatively organized agricultural group. There, he not only independently built up the procurement organization, but also drove forward sales in the area of wine and beverage technology. “On the procurement side, there was no clear and reliable structure, so I set up a lean, stand-alone procurement organization,” he explains.
At the same time, Dirk was involved in the SAP rollout at his former employer. From then on, IT-related topics kept landing on his desk – partly because of his own interest and partly because of his ability to familiarize himself with complex systems very quickly. Outside of work, Dirk has maintained his close connection to wine. On leased land, he grows grapes, produces his own wine, and markets it. “Over time, I realized that I enjoyed procurement much more than sales, and I decided to continue developing in this area,” Dirk says.
Career changer: On to New Shores
Restructuring at his previous company initially forced him to make a fresh start. Dirk deliberately looked for a position in procurement at a technology-driven company. Through friends, he had heard many positive things about Pepperl+Fuchs, and when a temporary position in procurement was advertised there, Dirk didn’t hesitate. He applied and got the job. “As someone entering a new field, the temporary contract gave me the opportunity as a career changer to first get a feel for the completely new role and industry,” he says, adding: “But it quickly became clear to me that this is where I saw my professional future.” The temporary position was eventually converted into a permanent role.
Dirk then spent almost nine years in indirect procurement, focusing on capital equipment, IT infrastructure, and software. In this role, he supported major digitalization projects from a commercial perspective – and increasingly contributed his expertise whenever possible.
Two years ago, he took the next step. Dirk joined one of our biggest transformation projects, the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Project, which he had already supported extensively in his role as a buyer. As PLM-Architect & Admin, he works at the interface between technology, processes, and people. He is responsible for administering the PLM platform and integrating it into our existing system landscape. Together with a development team from our subsidiary Neoception, Dirk manages the technical implementation. “There is very little routine and a lot of uncharted territory. I’m close to technology and product development and can visibly drive the integration architecture forward,” Dirk describes his role. “It’s precisely this freedom to shape things that I enjoy most about my work and what keeps me motivated.”
Rolling with the punches
What remains from such a diverse journey? “A high degree of flexibility and resilience as well as strong analytical problem-solving skills,” says Dirk. He has learned to find pragmatic solutions in changing environments and to reinvent himself time and time again. His personal motto reflects his relaxed approach: “Rolling with the punches – or, as people in the Rhineland say: Et kütt wie et kütt.” Staying calm, solving problems pragmatically, handling setbacks, adapting – that’s how he describes his mindset. Dirk sees himself as a generalist with a broad range of solutions. “Throughout all these years, I have maintained my commercial perspective. At the same time, my enthusiasm for technology has steadily grown,” he reports with satisfaction.
After work, Dirk unwinds by cooking. “For me, it’s the structured counterpart to the fast-paced world of projects,” he says. He also enjoys books, movies, series, and video games. “I grew up with computers, and they’ve accompanied me through every stage of my life, both professionally and personally,” Dirk adds with a smile.
An unusual career path – but it is precisely this diversity that has turned a career changer into someone who builds bridges: between worlds, between people, between ideas.
