What’s it like to work flexibly at the facility producing Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine?

We’re proud to partner with CSL, the organisation that’s manufacturing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. We spoke to Monika Goretzki, the Director for Operational Excellence at CSL Behring at Broadmeadows about what it’s like to work flexibly where the vaccine is produced.

Tell us about your role at CSL Behring, and brief history at the company:

I am the Director for Operational Excellence for the Broadmeadows facility. I support the end-to-end manufacturing teams which includes a mix of strategic and tactical activities.

I started with CSL Behring in December of 2019, just before the pandemic hit, and as a consequence I had to adjust very quickly to learning and engaging with the business through Team meetings.

I work in a matrix organisation, with my role directly reporting into the Global Operational Excellence team and a dotted line into the Site. This requires working across multiple time zones, on both global and local initiatives.

The move to CSL Behring is one of the best decisions I have made as the business lives its values, supports and encourages its team members to contribute fully, irrespective if they are working at home or in the plant.

CSL Behring’s purpose and my wonderful work colleagues push me to go the extra mile.

What makes you want to go the extra mile at CSL Behring and really make a difference? 

CSL Behring’s purpose and my wonderful work colleagues push me to go the extra mile. Knowing that what we produce makes such a difference to so many lives around the world encourages me to contribute and engage on a continuous basis.

Everyone in the business feels the sense of purpose and lives our values to their best abilities. The Site is incredibly welcoming; collaboration and constructive challenging are encouraged (and acknowledged). And seeing how other teams work so hard to ensure we release our products to market on time energises me every day.

What does collaboration look like with you and your stakeholders at CSL Behring?

I work with colleagues in Bern, Marburg and Kankakee on global initiatives. Having cross-functional representation in forums is key to gain maximum insight in how to address the task at hand, as well as welcoming constructive challenge, feedback, and recognition.

At the end of the day it’s all about team work, supporting each other and encouragement. We only need to look at the how the teams pulled together to assist in the production of the COVID vaccine to truly see collaboration being demonstrated.

How have your flexible work options evolved for you over the last year through COVID?

Some of the positive outcomes to come out of COVID are:

• The use of technology to engage and remain connected to the business irrespective of where we were located
• Flexible work options allowing us to be as, if not more, productive when working through a global pandemic
• Flexible start and finish times to accommodate challenges such as home schooling, caring for my recently widowed father, and working across multiple time zones

How does working flexibly help you achieve in your role?

It has allowed me to manage my days to accommodate some of the challenges mentioned above, and knowing that I can be as productive and deliver on the requirements of my role outside of the typical 9-5 workday.

What difference does flexible work make for you personally?

It has provided me with a greater peace of mind knowing that I can work extended hours and still do my job well.

Thank you, Monika, for sharing about your work at CSL Behring. We’re truly inspired to see that flexible work can be so successfully implemented at a major biomedical facility that working around the clock to support Australia’s vaccine effort.

Want to play a part in creating a healthier world? See CSL Behring’s available roles here.