Have you ever wondered what the person dealing with your installation does in a day? Matthew Ndudim joined us in 2023 as a Project Manager. He is thoroughly enjoying the variety of his role and with the training he has been working through at Spitfire, Matthew is very well placed to speak to our customers and ensure that they have a professional and efficient experience with us.
So here is his Day in the Life of…
A Day in the Life of a Project Manager at Spitfire Network Services Ltd
Being a Project Manager at Spitfire Network Services Ltd involves handling complex customer requirements, creative problem-solving and cross-department teamwork. Here’s a closer look at what it’s like to manage projects at Spitfire, where technical expertise meets a client-centric approach.
08:00 – Starting the Day with a Quick Hello
I get into the office, say good morning to the team, and pull up my calendar to map out the day’s schedule as I go through my inbox.
09:00 – Breakfast and Project Overview
Light breakfast of tea and fruits at my desk and an initial project check-in. I skim through each project to confirm that everything’s running smoothly and mark the ones that need action today. I check on projects that are still in their defining stage and where I need to explain how the phone system will work .
10:00 – Planning the Next Steps
Now I’m looking at projects that are in the planning stage. Going over timelines align both our team and the customer’s expectations. I use this time to update our engineers (the real heroes) to ensure everything is on track and within scope.
11:00 – Cross-team Updates
After covering the basics, I dive into updates on ongoing projects the team are working on today. I also catch up with the account managers to see if there have been an requests or adjustments from the customer, such as re-signing any documents or changes in any lead-times or contact info.
12:00 – Quick Team Catch-Up
I gather with the team for a quick catch-up with our ongoing projects.
12:30 – Lunch Break
I heat up some rice and chicken or a Tesco meal deal if I’ve not cooked the night before and relax at my desk with an episode or two of the latest series I’m watching on Netflix. I also gather with the team for a quick round of our favourite online game, Globle. Think of it as Marco Polo with countries around the globe.
13:30 – Provider Coordination
I touch base with external providers to schedule any necessary service transitions for our customers. A smooth handover is key to keeping customer satisfaction high.
14:00 – Email Catch-up and Department Updates
More emails have rolled in by now so I take some time to catch up and respond to any that need my attention. I might also loop in other departments if they’re better suited to respond. Now is when I plan around any delays so I have a structured timeline to bring to clients.
15:00 – Client Calls
This is when I usually jump on calls with clients. I provide project updates, ask for any final details, and answer any questions they might have to get us on the same page.
16:00 – Testing Client Systems
I check on product deliveries. For the items that have arrived, I access client systems to run some tests on their phone setups, ensuring everything’s working as expected. This step is a big one in confirming that all requirements have been met and everything’s good to go. I then advise on the customer testing on their end to ensure they’re satisfied with the outcome.
16:00 – Project Closures and Feedback Requests
Time to wrap up any completed projects! I send closing emails to customers with all the final details and ask if they have any feedback. It’s always nice to get a sense of their experience and if there’s anything we can improve for next time.
17:00 – End-of-Day Project Updates
With most of the day’s tasks wrapped up, I take a few minutes to update my project tracker. I note down any major updates, prioritise tomorrow’s tasks, and review any issues that might need extra attention. After a final check of the inbox, I log off and head out.
Wrap up
Life as a Project Manager at Spitfire Network Services is interesting as two projects are rarely the same. Every project brings its own set of challenges, which often brings unique thought processes, broadening my horizons both professionally and personally. Working closely with customers and members of my team helps me to complete a project, which I find to be the most satisfying aspect about being a Project Manager.