This is the second in a series of blog posts about some of the key members of the Zarr team. Vicki talks about her role overseeing the project management team at Zarr.
I’ve been working at Zarr and have worked here for just over
10 years. Initially I started as a receptionist and then worked my way up to overseeing
the wide range of projects that Zarr handles.
One of the things I love most about my job, is that every
project and client is unique and different, one moment I could be discussing
requirements with an artwork specialists while the next it could be trading
emails with a machinery consultant or a dermatologist, it is so varied.
In a nutshell my main role is to work along side our
developers and graphic designer to oversee the development of web projects - from
initial sign off, to go live, while ensuring deadlines are met. Requirements
can have various scopes and time frames and there are always multiple jobs in
the pipeline at any given time, so delegating tasks out efficiently and
effectively while prioritizing timescales is a balancing act.
Within the role I try to translate complex tech savvy jargon
into good old plain “English” for our clients, while also fully understanding
the client’s needs, detailing, and relaying their requirements back to the
team. I like to think of myself as a bit of an organisational freak, who loves
nothing more than to write check lists for any task, no matter how big or small,
so organising and managing multiple tasks, is something I feel I thrive at - keeping
on top of the schedule, making sure project deadlines are delivered, being able
to adapt to any changes or new situations that arise, while also keeping the
clients in the loop as to the progress of the projects.
If I were to think of the main attributes that are needed
within my role, and what I feel I bring to it - good communication skills,
being comfortable and positive with one’s decision making and the ability to
listen and understanding the task at hand. It is also so important to develop
positive relationships with clients and to make sure they feel heard, and more
importantly understood in exactly what they are requesting from us.