Yanis is a Contracts Manager, specializing in post-award site subcontract administration and cost control for large scale international EPC projects.
He is currently working on a major transportation project in Montréal, Canada, where he focuses on the management of claims and the prevention of disputes.
Yanis is a Contracts Manager, specializing in post-award site subcontract administration and cost control for large scale international EPC projects.
He is currently working on a major transportation project in Montréal, Canada, where he focuses on the management of claims and the prevention of disputes.
Having joined the company in March 2020, a mere week before the first confinement measures were rolled out in Montréal, I did not get the opportunity to meet my colleagues. Despite these unprecedented circumstances, I have never felt isolated and was often amazed by the flexibility and overall kindness displayed by management.
Remote working was implemented seamlessly and I received significant support from my Country Manager upon relocating home.
I would advise to develop a T-shape skill set, where one must have a deep knowledge of one core discipline while being knowledgeable in a couple of related fields. It is essential to gain as much knowledge as possible on a range of international projects with various contract setups and clients in order to create a wide range of experience on which you can draw.
And of course, one should be geographically fluid.
There is a strong “can do” attitude not dissimilar to that of a startup company. Expertise and experience are highly valued and shared internally with a genuine willingness to contribute to a common goal.
This is a refreshing environment which contrasts with the corporate world I had known up to now.
After 12 years spent managing cost control and subcontract administration in the oil & gas industry for EPC contractors, I felt that the time was right to join a team on the client side, in a work environment where I would be able to develop an expertise in claims management.
Systech has provided me with the opportunity to concentrate all my time and efforts on this goal instead of having to juggle between team management, budget forecasting and training.
I feel that Systech is much nimbler on its feet, with a keen focus on the excellence of its staff. I also find a greater reactivity and flexibility in this organization than what I have been accustomed to.
It might be somewhat premature to record an achievement in such a short period of time, but I feel proud of having been able to work simultaneously for two clients in Canada and Japan . I liked the idea of assisting our clients in Asia with short-term requirements while carrying on with my main project in Canada.
I have learned from a recent project how to adapt my communication style with contractors depending on their size as well as their command on project management procedures.
I realised that it is actually more beneficial to the overall progress of a project to invest some time at the beginning in order to explain the main contractual procedures to the contractors and listen to their concerns.Better that than to simply assume that they had read and understood all the requirements and obligations.
Honest appraisal, strategic guidance and the preparation of time and cost entitlement documentation that is technically, legally and commercially accurate.
John Aslett is one of our legal consultants, based in Toronto, Canada. John has worked on a range of contentious and non-contentious projects in Asia, the Middle ...