Innovation Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership for the delivery of assigned AI and legal technology products and initiatives across their full lifecycle - including horizon scanning opportunity assessment product shortlisting vendor engagement proof of concept and pilot design go / no-go recommendations implementation adoption usage monitoring benefits tracking optimisation and product retirement.
• Lead delivery of key elements of the AI Enablement pillar including the adoption and effective use of Microsoft Copilot Legora and AI agents ensuring initiatives are delivered against a clear plan with defined priorities governance adoption measures and success criteria.
• Work with practice group leadership partners and business services teams to identify and assess opportunities to apply AI legal technology automation data and process improvement to change how legal services are delivered with a strong emphasis on process redesign and process optimisation.
• Build the case for change and investment developing clear business cases (including ROI) and securing approval and buy-in from senior stakeholders - which will require strong influencing skills.
• Plan manage and execute projects and workstreams including governance scoping planning budgeting resourcing and delivery.
• Manage coach and develop junior members of the team; setting objectives overseeing the quality of work and supporting their professional growth.
• Champion and promote the firms legal technology and AI solutions across the firm becoming an SME on key products and driving practical adoption through training demonstrations communications and hands-on support.
• Partner with Innovation Lawyers and practice groups to identify high-value use cases and assist with embedding AI and legal technology into legal workflows in a way that is relevant safe and sustainable.
• Work closely with colleagues in IT Risk & Compliance and data owners to ensure that solutions are introduced and used in accordance with firm policies regulatory requirements professional obligations and client expectations.
• Support client-facing activity including the preparation and delivery of pitches tenders and client briefings where the firms AI innovation or legal technology capability forms part of the proposition.
• Provide insight on legal market and technology trends and investigate potential new solutions and technologies to ensure the team better addresses the challenges faced by lawyers.
• Champion and foster a culture of responsible innovation excellence and continuous improvement within the Innovation & AI team and the firm more broadly.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Bachelors degree or higher required.
• A minimum of 8 years applicable experience with at least 3 years at manager level including direct supervisory responsibility.
• Extensive project management and project delivery experience ideally in a large consulting organisation law firm or financial services company. A strong understanding of formal project management methodologies is important.
• Experience in deploying business applications into an organisation including business analysis and requirements gathering testing change management and ongoing adoption.
• Experience in driving process review and process re-engineering projects to deliver process efficiency.
• Experience in screening the technology landscape to quickly identify appropriate solutions to a particular problem.
• An understanding of how Generative AI works and experience in applying Generative AI tools (e.g. Microsoft Copilot) to achieve useful outcomes in a business context.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office is essential.
  
  

• Experience with configuring and managing SaaS platforms.
• Certifications in Project Management (e.g. PRINCE2 PMP) Process Re-engineering (e.g. Lean Six Sigma) agile delivery methods (e.g. Certified Scrum Master) or Change Management methodologies.
• Familiarity with the challenges affecting law firms and the changing legal services market.
• Familiarity with the legal tech landscape.

• Team player and people manager with a track record of working in and leading within a highly collaborative environment with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Ability to establish credibility with a diverse group of demanding senior stakeholders including at partner level.
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to set direction manage competing priorities establish delivery discipline and achieve outcomes through others.
• Innate curiosity and willingness to learn about the legal business and technology environment with a strong interest in AI and its practical application.
• Ability to distinguish genuine value from hype and to translate emerging AI and technology developments into practical well-governed initiatives with defined business outcomes.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills often needing to influence to get things done rather than direct.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills with a can-do attitude.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels.
• Financially literate with the ability to manage budgets assess investment cases and link spend to measurable value.
• Excellent judgement and risk awareness balancing innovation and commercial opportunity with information security data governance regulatory requirements and professional obligations.
• Ability to work well under pressure and to deliver outcomes under tight deadlines.
• Drive to deliver excellence and to maintain a client-centred approach to all projects.
• Flexible and adaptable to a changing and evolving business and technology environment.
• Creative and innovative.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Discretionary bonuses
• 25 days annual leave
• Leading hybrid working policy
• Immediate pension scheme
• Wide-ranging opportunities for involvement in internal committees
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits including full gym and wellness programmes