André Raposo

Experience in management and construction

By Carolina Pronto

Engineer André Duarte Raposo is currently in charge of the Infrastructure and Special Installations Department in Portugal at MAGNA GENERAL CONTRACTORS. He was born in Lisbon and studied for a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management at Universidade Lusófona, Centro Universitário de Lisboa from 2014 to 2019.

He began his professional career in a building management and maintenance company, which combined methods of managing operations and teams. After 5 months, he received an invitation to join a Spanish construction company, which he did not hesitate to accept, and where he currently works. He started out as an assistant onsite production engineer, managing a 45,000m² building, focusing mainly on the areas of Specialties/Installations, mainly covering electromechanics and water systems in buildings. The apprenticeship was intense, marked by overtime and challenges that ultimately led to exponential growth.

Subsequently, he took on responsibility for facilities project management, contracting and managing the construction of an 8,000m² logistics building, including the 60,000m² plot, for a German client. After the successful completion of this project, he became responsible for the commercial department in obtaining and reviewing budgets for the Facilities, and supported the construction managers in the Production department in the execution of the works. At the same time, he was responsible for After Sales in Portugal. More recently, he also became one of the people responsible for the new Luxury Homes department.

André emphasizes the importance of the practical lessons, events and study visits he had during the course:

"[...] some curricular units that have more practical cases that allow us to create a more real visibility of the working world, some events such as lectures that allow us to meet successful people who captivate us and make us "fit" the next path, as well as study visits to national reference sites in terms of engineering and business quality."

In the academic sphere, André highlights several important subjects that have contributed to his profession: Thermodynamics, Business Organization and Management (OGE), Financial Accounting, Mechanical Technology, Production Planning and Control (PCP), Energy Management and Integrated Management Systems (SIG). He also singled out Professor José Francisco de Oliveira Santos for his excellent teaching skills and relevant professional experience.

What advice could he give students? André is pragmatic: "Be versatile and brave enough to face different challenges" and stresses the importance of acquiring knowledge of Excel and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software in business management.

May André Raposo's path be filled with success.

Reviewed by: Prof. Raphaela Vidal and Dr. João Tavares