Meet Jan - A journey of curiosity and continuous change | Roche

I am Jan and a passionate engineer. I joined Roche about five years ago and currently work in a global Digital & Operational Excellence role, helping to bring the latest technological and digital innovations to Roche Pharma’s technical operations.

I fulfilled a special dream of mine when I seized the chance to go on a job rotation in South San Francisco and work in Silicon Valley in 2022. There I not only got to know new people and ways of working but also had the opportunity to gain insights into the technology capital of the world. Equipped with these new experiences, in my new global role I am now connecting technology teams and forming new partnerships across the ocean.

During my time at Roche, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to great things. Right at the beginning, I was given the responsibility to work on the local Smart Building programme at Roche’s headquarters in Basel. With that programme we wanted to make our new buildings as digital and interconnected as possible. Then I helped to strategically align our digital ambitions and establish topics like the Internet of Things (to connect different sensors and devices), digital and data strategy, and external partnerships. I am passionate about engineering and I am excited to push the boundaries of what is possible for pharma manufacturing with the use of new technologies, and to achieve the impossible for our colleagues and patients every day.

If you are ready to take on responsibility and get things done, then Roche is the place to do it. Being curious is part of Roche’s DNA. We always ask ourselves: what else would be possible? I look forward to answering this question again and again in the future. In doing so, I realise how important it is for us to have a team culture that supports our endeavours. In Pharma Technical Operations in the chapter Digital & Operational Excellence, we are continuously working to offer people an environment where they can thrive in their work through the use of innovative digital solutions. I particularly enjoy coming into contact with new people and other companies to bring innovations and new creative ideas to Roche.

Our culture can be described as curious, fair, playful and brave. I have never found a closed door when I asked questions. New ideas are listened to and new colleagues are also given time to settle into the huge organisation and find their way around. We treat each other very fairly at Roche and welcome diverse opinions. Change is also a central part of the Roche culture. Everything is constantly changing, just like the environment around you. If you have an idea that you really believe in, Roche is the place to help you realise it.

At Roche, you will always find a wide range of different workplaces. Whether you want to work in a focused way, in a team or in an inspiring environment, you will always find the right place. I also like the fact that we always try to enhance our workplace experience.