My Missions

The role of a Project Study Manager (CDPE) is to lead, coordinate, and monitor several actors to meet a client’s needs (called General Project Manager (MOEG)

The CDPE ensures the feasibility of the project with the GMs, and together we define the documents that will be necessary for the project’s realization. Then the CDPE establishes a schedule, “which she presents to the client with a quote (cost of studies). Once validated by the client, the CDPE must e” nsure that the GMs respect the schedule, avoid exceeding the announced costs, and verify the quality of the deliverables provided by the business groups.

The CDPE is the link between the requester “the MOEG” and the Study production. They will play the role of conductor to advance activities while respecting deadlines, quality, and costs.

In the transport sector, the CDPE receives, for example, a request for modernization of railway tracks, creation of stations, or creation of new transport lines.

Their role is to gather all necessary information, listen to the client, and understand their request.

Once the need is defined, the CDPE turns to the different teams called Business Groups (GM): these are specialists in producing the documents necessary for the execution of the work.

A Concrete Example

The Mayor of a village located between 2 large cities, with stations served by a regional express train (TER), wishes to build a station to serve their village, which has several inhabitants who need a TER to quickly reach neighboring cities.

To carry out the construction work for this station, feasibility studies as well as execution studies are needed.

The Mayor assembles a general project management team (MOEG), which will carry out the construction work for this station. This MOEG approaches our company and makes a request for “studies regarding their needs.”

The CDPE receives this request, contacts the MOEG, and listens to their needs. The CDPE asks for the input data (measurements of the site where the station will be built, local particularities to know, topographic surveys, etc.) that they will need to start the feasibility study.

Through a report, the CDPE validates the client’s needs with the MOEG. Once validated, the CDPE presents the project to the studies department, and together they establish a schedule to carry out the studies.

The CDPE organizes a site visit where the construction will take place.

Then begins the production of studies, drafting of notices detailing the work and recommendations to follow, estimates of work costs, production of plans, list of materials that will be necessary, etc.

As deliverables are completed, the CDPE organizes presentations of these deliverables to the MOEG. And at the end, a compilation of a file containing all approved deliverables is handed over to the MOEG so they can build the station they want. This entire process can take more than 2 years!

My Educational Background

As mentioned in the introduction at the beginning, I grew up in Rwanda where I completed my schooling until the end of high school. I attended a traditional primary school in Rwanda, then started middle school in a convent school in Kigali.

From September 2015 to 2018, I started university at the Faculty of Grenoble (formerly Université Joseph Fourier) where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences.

To validate my degree, I completed a 6-month internship on a project to carry out a reconnaissance work, to see if it’s possible to build a railway under the Alps (creation of the Lyon-Turin railway line); it’s thanks to this project that I discovered the railway world which “was completely unknown to me at the” time.

From September 2018 to January 2021, I completed a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with two specializations, one in structural engineering and another in construction in seismic zones. At the end of the master’s program, I “completed an internship on an airport construction project”.

I wouldn’t say this job was my primary goal; in fact, after graduating, I “wasn’t very sure about the role I wanted to occupy in the working world. I” wasn’t confident about myself and the choices available to me.

However, I did have criteria for my job:

• • I wanted to work for a company that serves the public.

  • I wanted to be part of those who contribute to making everyday life simpler.

  • I wanted a supportive work environment.

  • I wanted to learn new things and work on projects that align with my values.

  • I didn’t want a repetitive job without novelty; I needed constant challenges.

  • I wanted an employer who trusts me and allows me to be free.

  • I wanted an employer who values diversity and inclusion.

I found all these elements in the company where I currently work, and that’s why I stayed.

The Importance of My Job

 

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My work is important for society because it’s part of a long chain that allows people to travel from point A to point B.

We work to provide suitable infrastructure to run public transportation at lower costs and at regular intervals.

Public transportation also helps reduce “greenhouse gas emissions, so we indirectly contribute to” ecological efforts!

Being a Woman in the Railway Industry

Railway jobs are still predominantly male-dominated. I occasionally find myself as the only woman in a meeting or at work sites. But everyone is supportive and aware of diversity, and in my 3 years in this position, I have nothing particular to report in terms of difficulties arising from being a woman.

My Hobbies

I’m a great adventurer! I love traveling, seeing the world, discovering new cultures, tasting unfamiliar dishes… For me, travels are a way to escape, learn, and broaden my worldview.

At work, we don’t have as many holidays as we did in high school, which is a challenge for taking long trips, but with the limited vacation time I have, I do my best. I plan an average of 3 trips per year outside of Europe, and sometimes on weekends, I escape to countries less than 2 hours away by plane.

During my travels, I sometimes face unexpected situations, and I have to adapt and deal with the situation without stressing out.

This also happens during the life of a project; there are always unforeseen events, and you need to know how to adapt quickly and find adequate and effective solutions.

My current goal is to visit 30 countries before I turn 30!

My second hobby is reading. Like traveling, books are a great source of enrichment for me and allow me to discover the world through someone else’s eyes.

This year, I’m challenging myself to read 52 books, so one book per week! I don’t manage to finish a book every week, but I’m on my 20th book now.

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance was the first challenge I had to manage at the beginning of my career. But I quickly understood that it’s necessary to know how to disconnect the brain to rest better and be more effective afterwards, so I had to set limits for myself such as not working on weekends, not opening my PC or checking emails during vacations, and being disconnected by 7 PM at the latest, etc.

Additionally, I exercise, I also try to see friends or go to the cinema midweek to have a life that doesn’t revolve only around work.

Some Advice

I would tell her to go for it and see all the wonders that the world of transport can offer!

I would tell her not to be afraid to take the plunge, what’s great in this field is that there are varied positions that you can choose based on what you like most and also according to your personality.

When the time comes to choose a career, don’t hesitate to try everything that makes you dream. You are capable of doing anything, choose a job that has meaning for you, a job that will make you want to get up every day and of which you will be proud.

Above all, never stop dreaming!

Edited by Mazzarine D., Léa C. and Sylvana S.

Find her here:

Instagram: @r.irkz (you will find in the highlights all the books I’ve read this year.)