Guillem Rosique: "The figure of the Document Controller will become a fundamental piece in the organization chart of companies"

16/01/2025

We have had the opportunity to talk to Guillem Rosique, former student of the Official Master's Degree in Archival and Document Management, so that he can tell us what his experience is like working as a Document Controller in Ireland.

1.What does a graduate of the Official Master's Degree in Archival and Document Management need to be a Document Controller?

A graduate of the Official Master's Degree in Archival and Document Management can become a Document Controller by acquiring specialized knowledge in document management. In addition to basic archival skills, it is essential to understand workflows in projects, especially in environments such as the construction of data centers, and master digital tools to manage technical, legal and contractual documentation that accompanies large-scale projects.

2. What is your professional career in this field?

My career as a Document Controller began in Barcelona, working for a multinational that managed large-scale oil refinery projects. Currently, in Ireland, I am part of a macro-project to build a data center for Microsoft, which has allowed me to delve into document management in a global and highly tech environment.

3. Tell us about your daily life as a Document Controller. What is the most interesting or exciting thing?

My day to day involves the management and organization of the technical documentation of the construction, as well as the supervision of updates and revisions of documents such as plans, works reports and legal and contractual documents. I also coordinate the communication with various actors in the project to ensure that all the documentation is aligned and accessible. The most interesting thing is the variety of documents with which I work and the relevance of each task in the good development of the project. Document quality is essential, especially in such complex projects, and I use trackers to control delivery dates and ensure compliance with requirements agreed with the client.

4. Why did you choose Ireland as your destination? Would you recommend students to go outside to study and/or work?

I chose Ireland for the great opportunities it offers in relation to document management. While in Spain a recent graduate can earn about 1,200 euros, abroad the salary can triple and the chances of growing professionally are much greater. Spanish labour culture is often characterized by a lack of dynamism and professional stagnation. In Ireland, I have been able to find a more active environment with more opportunities to move forward. In addition, I needed to learn English immersively. Personally, I recommend going abroad to live this experience, as it gives you the opportunity to master a language and realize that there are many more professional options besides the traditional ones of the public function.

5. The centre offers specific training that prepares students to work as a Document Controller. Do you know her?

I know this training, but I have not had the opportunity to take an additional course after the master's degree. I find the option offered very interesting, but I consider that it would be convenient to include a specific subject within the official master's degree to prepare students for a reality that is booming and will be consolidated in the future.

6. In the description of the Document Controller course, it is mentioned that “this pioneering training responds to the existing professional gap in the field of document management in the industry, providing a specialized and unprecedented degree, with a high rate of employability and international professional projection”. Do you agree?
I totally agree with that. Document Controller training in the industrial sector responds to a real need that has been consolidating over time. Document management is essential for the proper functioning of large industrial projects, such as construction, energy or data centers. Specialized training such as the one offered by the master's degree provides professionals with the necessary tools to face these specific challenges. In addition, the international projection of the profile is undeniable, since the demand for professionals trained in document management is growing globally.

7. Document Controller is defined as a specialized document manager profile for the industrial sector. Searching the internet, we have found professionals who consider whether this figure should be an engineering graduate with knowledge of archival and not an archivist/document manager. What do you think?
I believe that the profile of Document Controller must combine technical knowledge and document management. While it is true that engineering knowledge can be useful to understand technical documents such as plans and specifications, document management goes beyond that. The Document Controller must be able to organize, control versions, ensure access and integrity of documentation, and comply with regulatory requirements. Therefore, an archivist with specialized training in industrial document management can be equally valuable, since it provides a global vision of the process of preservation and documentary organization.

8. A LinkedIn post by a professional in the field comments that “it is a little-known job in Spain (and in some other countries) that is being developed day by day, and in which not all tasks or the clear role within the organization chart of the company are yet defined”. What is your opinion on this?
I agree with that. The profile of the Document Controller has traditionally been little known and, in many cases, its role is not clearly defined. However, in sectors such as the construction of data centers or other large industrial projects, this figure has been gaining more relevance. There is still a way to go in terms of clear definition of tasks and responsibilities, as well as in specific training within companies. As projects become more complex and regulatory requirements more demanding, the role of the Document Controller will continue to be consolidated and established as a fundamental piece in the organization chart of companies.

9. Why would you recommend studying this master's degree at the FUAB Training School?
I recommend this master's degree for its solid theoretical training in document management, which provides an excellent basis in the fundamental concepts of the profession, with exceptional treatment and the opportunity to carry out paid internships. However, I would suggest adding a specific subject dedicated to document management in construction, which dealt with both the types of documents that are managed and the challenges of the sector, including coordination between teams and constant updating of documentation. This improvement would provide students with specific tools to face the particularities of the construction sector, from the design phase to the commissioning phase.

Source: FUAB

More information: null