My early career started in 2006 with the position of an English Language and Literature Teacher at a Foreign Languages High School and in the meanwhile I combined my main occupation with the job of a translator and interpreter. That secondary occupation opened to me the doors to engineering and technical translation in particular, which predetermined my future development.
Soon enough, I was proposed the position of a Project Office Coordinator and Translator for a major infrastructural project with international contractors. The project was located in the town of Shoumen, Bulgaria and it envisaged the rehabilitation and extension of the city’s water supply and sewerage network as well as the extension of an existing Waste Water Treatment Plant to secondary (biological) treatment. During that time I was able to develop good organisational and coordination skills that enable me to master adequately various situations.
The project was successfully completed in August 2011, so I began working at the University of Shoumen's International Relations and Projects Centre, where besides translation on daily basis my duties covered all activities related to project development. I was also responsible for maintaining the University’s international relations and I gave assistance on various matters to foreign lecturers and students.
Yet, with the extension to a second stage of the infrastructural project, described above, I was invited by the Municipality of Shoumen to join the project team. The project envisages further improvement of the Water Cycle of the town of Shoumen in Bulgaria with focus on the quality of discharged waste water to the requirements on EU Water Directives. As part of the project team I was responsible for coordination of project related assignments with state institutions and parties involved, preparation of Tender Procedures as per the Bulgarian and EU legislation on Public Procurement and FIDIC Conditions of Contract, planning of and participation in coordination meetings with the parties involved, as well as preparation of media statements and project publicity related materials.
However, as I always seek challenges and adventures I decided to relocate to the city of Bourgas, Bulgaria, where after working for one academic semester as a University Lecturer in English Studies I came across a curious job offer related to the South Stream Project. So in May 2014, I grasped the opportunity to join the project as a Pipe Tally Clerk for Saipem S.p.A – Bulgaria Branch. Being a Pipe Tally for a while allowed me become aware of the actual production processes in a Marshaling Yard, which experience I value highly.
In October, I was proposed the position of a Community Liaison Officer (Sustainability Specialist). As such I liaise closely with all departments for the purposes of reporting and problem solving. I interact with stakeholders and local communities informing them about the Project benefits and potential risks. I am responsible for monitoring the implementation of Saipem’s Community Liaison Plan during the Project execution phases as well as subcontractors’ adherence to the latter and contribute to the development and dissemination of Saipem’s Sustainability culture. This simply outlines and does not exhaust my responsibilities. I am happy to say that to date I have managed to establish very good relations with all parties involved in and affected by the project. Being responsive to people’s needs and the ability to mitigate potential conflicts are essential for the job, therefore I strive to enhance good communication between all parties and to educate them in emotional rationality in order to maintain sustainable interaction between stakeholders.
Unfortunately in July 2015 South Stream Transport B.V. terminated its contract with Saipem S.p.A, to suit the convenience of the Client, which is a standard contractual clause that does not imply the presence of a contractual breach or non-compliance. This circumstance has currently set me on look around for a job opportunity that will be as much inspiring and challenging as my current one. So now I am now open to new adventures to come into my life.