In conversation with our head of delivery

Can you begin by telling us a bit about yourself and your role in the agency?

My role in the agency is to ensure that we give our clients the digital facsimile of the analogue briefs we are presented with. It suits me down to the ground as I enjoy planning and problem solving more than anything else. I’m lucky enough to work in an environment that supports change when it will improve how we work, which means that I get to practice continual improvement and fulfill my personal goal of always wanting to try something new. Balancing long term goals with immediate needs is very much the order of the day.

Could you describe a typical day in the studio?

It’s the best non-answer ever, but there really isn’t a typical day. There is a bit of structure that keeps things organised which revolves around a studio meeting with the whole team first thing and then some daily stand-ups for the larger projects we have on the go but other than that it’s usually a case of removing blockages to upcoming work as well as looking at bigger picture requirements such as continual integration or the delivery workflow – anything that can make us more efficient as a delivery team.

What key skills do you think are most important in your role? A cool head when things go wrong, the ability to communicate with everyone in a format they understand, x-ray vision, equal respect for everyone in the team, pragmatism and a sense of humour.

Do you have a favourite part of your job?

Discussing new ideas with the team and observing how they put them into practice in the real world. That isn’t as voyeuristic as it sounds, honestly.

Is there a project that you are particularly proud of and why?

It’s hard to single out a project in particular as the team work as hard on all of them and they deliver consistently, regardless of how pressured the delivery is. I’m prouder of their ability to problem solve in a high pressure environment, overall.