A day in the life of… Alistair – Digital Project Director

Ever wondered what it’s like to deliver complex digital projects on time and in budget? Our Digital Project Director, Alistair, gives us a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes, and explains what he loves about his job. 

What’s your role at Torpedo, and how long have you been here?

I’m the Digital Project Director and I’ve been at Torpedo for 9 years. 

What exactly does your role entail? Can you run us through what you might get up today, for example?

As a Digital Project Director, I’m responsible for making sure complex digital projects are delivered on time, on budget, and – most importantly – in a way that genuinely solves our clients’ problems. 

A typical day is a mix of planning, problem-solving, and communication. I start every day with a catch up with the project teams reviewing project progress, priorities, and blockers. From there, it can range from shaping project roadmaps and refining scopes, to joining client calls to translate high-level objectives into practical next steps. I’m also keen to ensure we review internal processes to make them more efficient where possible to help future projects. No two days are the same, but the common thread is keeping momentum moving forward and ensuring everyone has clarity on what success looks like. 

What tools/resources/people do you depend on to get your job done?

I use a lot of project management tools for my job. At Torpedo we mainly use Jira and Confluence for digital projects, so much of my time is using these tools which really do help keep projects on track and share visibility with stakeholders. Teams and chatting to people are also essential, so it’s great to be in the office alongside teams to have conversations face-to-face. I couldn’t do my job without the specialist teams delivering their excellent work which includes Developers, UX designers, Digital Marketing expertise as well as support from Finance and the wider Client Services team! 

What do you love most about your job at Torpedo? What’s the highlight of your day?

What I enjoy most is bringing structure and clarity to complexity. Digital projects at Torpedo often involve multiple stakeholders, systems, and moving parts, and it’s satisfying to turn that into a clear, deliverable plan that teams and clients can get behind.  

The highlight of my day is usually seeing progress click into place—whether that’s a team unblocking an issue together, a client gaining confidence because they finally see how everything connects, or a project hitting a milestone that once felt ambitious. Those moments make the effort worthwhile. 

And what do you find most challenging?

The biggest challenge is balancing competing priorities while maintaining quality. In a fast-moving agency environment, there’s always pressure around timelines, budgets, and changing requirements. Knowing when to adapt and when to continue is a constant judgement call. 

Another challenge is communication – making sure technical detail, commercial constraints, and strategic intent are all understood by the right people, at the right level. Getting that balance right is crucial, but it’s also where a lot of value is created. 

Is there a particular piece of work/project that you’re really proud of?

I’ve been fortunate to work on several website projects that helped position our clients for significant growth, including being acquired by larger organisations. It’s always rewarding to see work we’ve delivered play a part in that journey, and even more so when Torpedo continues to support those clients as their digital partner after the transition. 

What did you see yourself doing when you were a kid?

I wanted to work in television production when I was growing up. While that didn’t quite happen, I think the curiosity around how ideas come together behind the scenes has carried through into what I do now. 

If you weren’t a Digital Project Director, what do you think you’d be?

If I wasn’t a Digital Project Director, I’d still want to be in a role that sits between strategy, people, and delivery. I enjoy turning complex ideas into clear plans and helping teams do their best work, so it would likely be something that involves problem-solving, collaboration, and creating structure in complex environments. 

What made you choose this career path? How did you get to where you are today?

I started my career as a developer, so my background allows me to have a good understanding of the challenges developers face when building digital projects. My developer role naturally evolved to include more oversight and more about digital project management which I’ve been doing for the past 9 years. 

When your OOO is on, what are you likely to be doing?

When my OOO is on, I’m usually focused on my most important role outside of work: being a parent! 

That means playing with my son, spending time with my family, and properly recharging before jumping back into agency life. 

What’s your favourite memory of working at Torpedo to date? 

It’s hard to pick a single moment, but my favourite memories are centred around the great colleagues I’ve worked with over the past 9 years. While there’s a lot of hard work to do, it’s been great to have fun along the way. Company events like the summer and Christmas parties are a great example of that and have been highlights of the memories. 

What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever been given?

 “Assume less, communicate more.”

Clear, proactive communication prevents many issues before they arise and builds trust with both teams and clients.