Spotlight Interview

Spotlight Interview

March 7, 2024

Spotlight Interview: A Conversation with Quartz’s Trailblazing Director, Jess Wortelhock. Interviewed by Project Manager, Phoebe Shepherd.

We have the pleasure of featuring an interview with Quartz Project Services’ first female director, Jess Wortelhock. She’s not only shaping the future of our company but also preparing for another significant life milestone – becoming a mother. We delve into her inspiring journey, her vision for Quartz, and how she’s navigating the challenges and triumphs of both her career and future motherhood.

Can you take us through your journey to becoming a director at Quartz?

“My career to date has been wide and varied. I was sponsored by Costain during my Building Surveying degree. Following this, I gained valuable experience at my local Building Control department, before transitioning to a Building Surveying / Contract Administrator consultancy in South Wales, where I worked for five years, until I got Chartered in 2014.

Subsequently, I moved to London and joined EC Harris (now Arcadis), where I was fortunate enough to be seconded to some of the most prestigious buildings in the world, including Buckingham Palace and Burj Al Arab. I also undertook a secondment at the MET Police (not so glamorous!), before moving “client-side” as a Development Manager. Here I worked on Zone 1 super-prime residential developments and office to residential conversions.

I joined Quartz in 2018 as a Senior Project Manager, going back to being a consultant, as I wanted to get more hands-on projects. One wonderful thing about Quartz is that you are never pigeonholed into a sector – as such I’ve worked on everything from offices, life science, student accommodation, sheds, care homes, film and recording studios – the list goes on. I became an Associate Project Manager in November 2021, before becoming a Director in May 2023.”

As our first female director, what does this role signify to you?

“The introduction of Directors and Project Directors represents a significant milestone at Quartz. It not only highlights the value placed on employees, but also shows colleagues a tangible pathway for their own career progression.

In terms of being the first female director, the role signifies a major step both personally and professionally. For me, it is the culmination of hard work and dedication to the business over the last six years. I also see it as an opportunity to inspire other women and pave the way for them becoming future leaders within the industry.”

What attracted you to the construction industry initially, and how do you see the role of women evolving in this field?

“I was attracted to the construction industry as I liked the idea of every day being different, presenting unique challenges and opportunities. I was drawn to the tangible nature of construction work, where you see your hard work turn into something real, it’s a great sense of achievement seeing a building constructed from ground up or an ambitious refurbishment project come to life. I also love the collaborative aspect of building design, and the teamwork involved in making a project a success.

When I joined the construction industry sixteen years ago it was much more male-dominated than it is now. At first, when I turned up to site, I was classed as the stereotypical women; often getting mistaken for the Director’s PA, a work experience girl, someone from the HSE, or even questioning whether I was lost (because everyone wanders lost in a hard hat and hi-vis). There would never be a size 5 pair of site boots, and quite often not a dedicated female WC either. Massive leaps have been made, although the state of most female WCs on site still need improvement!

The industry has improved a lot, with more women entering construction and reaching senior positions than ever. When I started, it was typical for me to be the only woman in the room during project meetings, the opposite is now not unusual, with more women in the room representing all sides of the project. The male-dominated culture is continuing to shift as people understand the benefit of a diverse workforce. Women bring skills men don’t naturally possess and often different perspectives.”

With a baby on the way, how do you feel about this new chapter in your life?

“Having a baby, whilst juggling work, is undoubtedly going to be a momentous change, one that I’m both excited and nervous about. It’s a whole new chapter in my life that no doubt adds a layer of complexity. However, it’s also an incredible milestone that I’m looking forward to.

There are going to be considerations about managing my time effectively to ensure I can fulfil both my personal & professional obligations to the best of my ability. Having to get home for nursery pick up instead of hitting the pub after work is going to be an adjustment! However, the skill set inherent to Project Managers (such as time management, prioritisation, adaptability and forward planning) will help me adjust to my new ‘norm’, and I’m sure it will feel like I’ve never been away.”

How do you perceive maternity leave affecting your career, and how can companies better support women during this phase?

“It is difficult to know how maternity leave will impact my career… all the Women in my family have only had a few weeks off for maternity leave, and I am planning to take the same approach, returning on a stepped basis. I think I will be extremely busy with a newborn, but with the support of Quartz and my husband, I think it will positively affect my career. I’m determined to set an example for my daughter, nurturing her to become a strong, independent, career-focused woman.

Quartz have been a fantastic support throughout my pregnancy, and I believe this will continue during motherhood. I am looking forward to repaying them when I return from leave.”

How did you know when you were ready to have a baby with regards to your career? Was it only after you reached Director level you felt comfortable taking the leave or would you have felt secure with your career path progression regardless of your promotion?

“For me, the decision to have a baby wasn’t tied to my career progression, although reaching Director level did make me feel more secure about taking maternity leave, knowing that I had established myself in my career and had the support of Quartz. It was more about reaching a point in my personal life where becoming a parent didn’t seem like the end of the world!

One thing I love about Quartz is that there are no boundaries to success. They have an industry leading maternity policy which is based on time served, not on level of seniority within the company. Both of my co-Directors are fathers, and they’ve managed it, so why can’t I!”

As we celebrate her achievements and anticipate her next steps, her story stands as a beacon of inspiration for many in our organisation and the industry at large. Good luck Jess!

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