Palaces, courthouses, and ministries: Mart Ummels about his career at the Central Government Real Estate Agency

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Would you like to help manage palaces, courthouses, and ministries? An internship or entry-level job at the Central Government Real Estate Agency (CGREA) in The Hague could be the perfect opportunity. We caught up with organizational consultant Mart Ummels to learn about his path from intern to his current role, and what makes his job so special and rewarding.

How Mart Ummels ended up at the Central Government Real Estate Agency

Mart studied Sociology for his bachelor’s, followed by a master’s in Public Administration, and a specialized master in HR and Change Management. “I got really interested in change management within public organizations,” Mart explains. “When I asked my professor for career advice, she introduced me to the Strategy and Implementation Policy department at the Central Government Real Estate Agency.”

The CGREA is the largest real estate organization in the Netherlands, managing over 83,000 hectares of land and nearly 12 million square meters of buildings. Mart had never heard of the RVB, but due to his part-time job in real estate, it felt like a familiar choice. “The impressive real estate portfolio at CGREA really sealed the deal for me.”

A learning experience like no other

During his internship, Mart quickly realized that working at the Central Government Real Estate Agency was about much more than just buildings—it was also about people and processes. “It took a bit of getting used to,” he admits. “At CGREA, there are no assigned desks, and most colleagues work from home a few days a week. It’s a completely different setup from what I imagined for a typical office job.”

“You have the freedom to work in a way that suits you.”

Mart sees the flexibility and autonomy at the Central Government Real Estate Agency as major perks. “You have the freedom to work in a way that suits you. For me, it’s especially exciting because I wrote my thesis on housing and hybrid working. Now, I get to experience it all firsthand.”

From intern to organizational consultant

Mart had already started looking into career opportunities at CGREA during his internship. “The more I learned about the real estate portfolio, especially after visiting places like the Senate, the more I was drawn in.”

Since September, Mart has officially taken on the role of organizational consultant. Even though he’s now in a different department with a fresh set of responsibilities, the skills he developed as an intern are still incredibly valuable. “Now, my focus is more on operations than real estate, but in the end, we’re all working towards the same goal.”

Growth opportunities at the Central Government Real Estate Agency

The Central Government Real Estate Agency offers a lot of room for young professionals to grow. From courses to talent programs, there’s no shortage of ways to develop your skills. Mart, for example, is about to start the career starter program at the Ministry of the Interior.

On top of professional development, working at CGREA means gaining unique experiences. “In this job, you get access to places you wouldn’t normally be able to visit. That’s pretty cool and definitely adds to the uniqueness of the job.”

Mart’s advice for ambitious students and starters

When asked for advice for interns and starters who want to work at the CGREA, Mart doesn’t hesitate: “It’s a large and exciting organization with so many career opportunities, both in technical and non-technical roles.”

And the benefits don’t stop there: “The CGREA is also a great place to network and make new friends. As a starting employee, you automatically become part of JongRVB. This gives you access to events like lunches, drinks, excursions, and workshops for everyone under 35. It’s a great way to gain knowledge and have fun at the same time.”

Explore your career opportunities at CGREA

Want to help manage some of the most iconic properties owned by the Dutch government? An internship or job at the Central Government Real Estate Agency could be the perfect opportunity for you. Check out the job openings on Magnet.me and discover your future career in real estate.