From Helper
to Team Leader
Marco is the Location Manager for the Road Marking Systems (RMS) Division at SWARCO in Wattens (Austria), where he and his team handle road marking projects across the entire Tyrol region. In our interview, Marco shares insights into his personal journey, his role as team leader at SWARCO and the sense of purpose he finds in his work.
Marco’s work day begins at 6:45 AM in his Wattens office. Every morning, he and his team of around 35 colleagues hold a brief meeting to discuss the day’s tasks and delegate responsibilities. The various crews then set off to tackle their assignments. Marco either stays at the office to manage the day’s coordinating tasks or heads out to oversee construction sites, depending on what is needed. But his work used to be very different.
“Being able to contribute to road safety here in Tyrol and around the world through our work feels incredibly rewarding.”
#CareerTrajectory
Marco’s journey with SWARCO started as a spontaneous idea after he was shown a job advert. “That was back in April 2017. I wasn’t actively looking for new work at the time, but when my mum spotted an advert for a helper position at SWARCO, my interest was piqued. It sounded like a completely different challenge, very exciting”, the construction site manager recalls. For a year, Marco worked as a helper on the team before he got the chance to earn his HGV driving licence. He seized the opportunity and soon stepped up to a more senior role as a foreman. “Looking back, I spent four years as a foreman before moving up to a construction site manager, eventually taking on a leadership role,” he reflects.
#GrowingTogether
Marco has not just pushed past his own limits: he and his team have grown together by tackling daily challenges as a unit. “What makes our work so special is that we’re ensuring safety on the roads. Without our markings, traffic would descend into chaos, and every day brings fresh challenges to overcome.
Solving the problems that crop up along the way as a team feels incredibly rewarding, and it helps us grow closer with every project”, explains the construction site manager, who is always eager to take on new challenges and thrives on finding constructive solutions.
“My favourite days are the ones when the sun is shining. That’s when we can work at our best.”
#FavouriteTasks
Road marking involves a variety of methods and techniques, each tailored to the road surface, local conditions, the type of project and the weather. “I always look forward to working on temporary film markings for construction sites. When we’re doing resurfacing projects and need to apply orange site markings, we use a specialised machine to get the job done. It’s great fun, and you can really see the progress”, Marco shares, giving us a glimpse into one of his many responsibilities.
When asked about the most exciting project of his career at SWARCO so far, the construction site manager points to the preparatory work for the recently started Luegbrücke project, where they had to redirect three lanes of traffic onto a two-lane road.
#ProudOf
Marco takes pride in his work on multiple levels. He still feels a sense of achievement from passing his HGV driving test all those years ago, a milestone that kickstarted his climb up the career ladder. Today, he is proud to be working as a construction site manager, leading a team of 35 colleagues.
But it is not just the leadership role that fills him with pride: it is the completed work itself. Keeping the roads safe gives Marco a real sense of purpose. Since becoming a father, he has become even more aware of just how vital and valuable his and his team’s contributions are.
“My advice to anyone interested in working at SWARCO: just come along and join us for a day. It’s learning by doing, and I think that’s the most effective way to get a feel for the job.”
#TeamSpirit
“At SWARCO, we have two types of crews. The longitudinal crew, made up of four people, handles road divisions and line markings on the carriageway. The surface crew, with two members, takes care of arrows, pedestrian crossings, parking spaces, speed limit markings and the like. All these markings can only be done as a team. The work on the Luegbrücke project really highlighted the importance of collaboration. We wouldn’t have pulled it off if we hadn’t worked so well together”, Marco explains. The construction site manager is keen to point out that there is always room for fun in their daily routine.
Even though the job can be demanding and requires everyone’s full focus, the camaraderie and shared laughter help lighten the mood. To strengthen team spirit, they also organise regular get-togethers outside of work. Alongside the company Christmas party and a celebration at the Vienna headquarters, there are barbecues, group outings like mountain hikes and, especially at the end of a tough day, a well-deserved after-work drink. “Of course, there’s the occasional friction, and things can get a bit tense, but we’re all able to handle it. On the whole, we really gel as a team”, Marco notes, acknowledging that the group brings together a mix of personalities from different nations and cultures.
#TipsForThoseInterested
If Marco were to give advice to a friend considering a job at SWARCO, he would tell him to bring curiosity and flexibility. “We often work at night, so you need to be adaptable with your hours. You should also enjoy driving, as we cover quite a few miles. Finding joy in the work comes naturally here, but teamwork absolutely has to be something you’re comfortable with”, the construction site manager lists as key qualities that would help in the role. A basic understanding of technical matters is also a plus.
Employees need to be familiar with the machines they use on the job, so they can step in and fix issues if something goes wrong. Through various training sessions and specialist courses, they can also gain knowledge about the components of the paints and materials used. While this is not essential for a helper, a skilled worker should definitely understand the products used for different types of markings. For anyone curious about the job, Marco’s advice is simple: Just get in touch and come along for a day to see for yourself what it is like.
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#SWARCO’s_Success
According to Marco , the fact that SWARCO uses SWARCO’s in-house materials on the roads plays a significant role in the company’s success, setting it apart from competitors. SWARCO’s paints and glass beads are a clear mark of quality, as these materials are produced by the company itself.
“To sum it up, we’ve got great products, smart solutions and an amazing team. Some of our markers have been with us for over 20 years – a fact that speaks volumes. It shows we’ve got the right team spirit, the right sense of fun, and there’s always joy in the work we do”, concludes Marco .
“The sense of purpose in what we do definitely plays a big role “The sense of purpose in what we do definitely plays a big role in keeping us motivated every day.” in keeping us motivated every day.” Marco S.