Programme Manager

Team description:

The Business Change Delivery team is an engaging personable and highly motivated team entrusted with the end to end delivery of strategic projects and programmes to bring about positive change for our lawyers support staff and clients.

Projects and programmes that our team delivers include strategy development regulatory change organisational design merger & alliance technology-enabled change and business / process improvement projects.

As a key member of our team you will work closely with senior leaders our Project Management Office colleagues in the broader Projects and Change Delivery Team other members of the firms Business Teams such as Technology Finance Marketing and HR and of course our lawyers.

Responsibilities

This is an exciting position in our Business Change Delivery and wider Projects and Change Delivery team for an experienced project delivery professional.

• Effectively shape and mobilise large complex projects and programmes identifying the resources needed establishing the right governance and building teams to deliver against agreed objectives and desired outcomes.
• Continually evaluate the alignment of changes with e.g. firmwide strategy functional strategies and the technology roadmap to protect and enhance the value of changes for the firm.
• Identify and initiate new projects as required within a programme structure. Lead other resources (internal and external) including other Project Managers in a programme context.
• Develop appropriate target operating models (people process technology governance) and plan for successful transition to business-as-usual to ensure that that change is embedded and sustained in the business in accordance with best practice and the firms project delivery processes.
• Pro-actively manage project or programme stakeholders at all levels identifying and mitigating risks dynamically and collaboratively.
• Develop and maintain all related project or programme documentation. Manage project or programme performance in accordance with the firms project delivery governance arrangements.

In addition to core delivery responsibilities the role-holder will also be expected to:

• Coach Project Managers Delivery Leads and other members of the wider Projects and Change Delivery team.
• Play a leading role in driving the continuous improvement of our project delivery practices and support with other knowledge sharing and capability-building initiatives as required.

Skills

• Strong leadership skills with a focus on meeting project objectives or programme outcomes seeking trade-offs and alternatives when required to ensure success.
• Comfortable working and leading others in an ambiguous environment. Flexible and able to cope with changing priorities.
• An ability to manage stakeholders and communicate effectively at all levels - clearly and succinctly conveying ideas and options.
• A proactive and action-oriented approach driving progress via self and others
• An Inclusive style aware of the needs of and supportive of team members

Other requirements

• A recognised project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE 2 Practitioner or APM equivalent) programme management or change management certification and demonstrated continuing professional development.
• Prior legal services or professional services experience.
• Clear thinking able to provide sound decision-making and/or guide others including senior stakeholders under pressure.

Role Purpose

As a Programme Manager you will be recognised as an experienced project delivery professional and a key member of the Business Change Delivery Team. You will be responsible for the end to end delivery of projects and programmes to bring about positive change for our lawyers support staff and clients.

You will have a focus on ensuring that projects and programmes are delivered effectively and that change is embedded and sustained in the business in accordance with best practice and the firms project delivery processes.

In doing so you will work closely with our Project Management Office colleagues in the broader Projects and Change Delivery team other members of the firms Business Teams such as Technology Finance Marketing and HR and of course our addition you will be expected to regularly manage third party suppliers and consultants.

This is a great opportunity for people who have a desire to work in a global organisation alongside senior leaders delivering high impact business changes. Examples of the types of projects and programmes that this role would be responsible for are:

Strategy development / policy changes e.g. implementation of new practice / sector related strategies. Regulatory change e.g. associated with data and tax regulation. Organisation design e.g. shared service centre work operating model design. Technology enabled change e.g. introducing new document management systems advanced learning technologies client relationship management tools with a particular focus on working practices change management and stakeholder management. Business performance / process improvement e.g. implementation of desktop tools and technology initiatives to support greater function or practice integration / collaboration.

Key Dimensions and skills

Responsible for managing all aspects of one or more complex projects or programmes through the lifecycle:

• Define a vision for the project or programme agree desired outcomes and define and agree the approach to managing anticipated benefits.
• Effectively shape and mobilise large complex projects and programmes identifying the resources needed establishing the right governance and building teams to deliver against agreed objectives and desired outcomes.
• Continually evaluate the alignment of changes with e.g. firmwide strategy functional strategies and the technology roadmap to protect and enhance the value of changes for the firm. Ensure requirements are clearly understood aligned with objectives and traceable to desired outcomes.
• Identify and initiate new projects as required within a programme structure. Lead other resources (internal and external) including other Project Managers in a programme context.
• Plan realistically; apply rationale and pragmatism to prepare plans (quality budgets schedules) and estimate the effort required from others to achieve project objectives or achieve desired outcomes.
• Where appropriate facilitate the selection of and manage third party project suppliers and consultants.
• Identify and implement change management interventions to effectively embed and sustain change in the business.
• Develop appropriate target operating models (people process technology governance) and plan for successful transition to business-as-usual to ensure that change is embedded and sustained in the business in accordance with best practice and the firms project delivery processes.
• Manage stakeholders keeping others included supported and involved at all levels.
• Oversee the budget including spend to date forecast to close FY accounting and changes.
• Manage risks and issues; identify plan and mitigate threats in a dynamic and collaborative way escalating to the Head of Projects and Change Delivery as required.
• Develop and maintain all related project and programme documentation e.g. business case project initiation document(s) reports and change requests.
• Monitor performance provide project or programme updates and support health checks in accordance with the firms project delivery governance arrangements.

In addition to core delivery responsibilities the role-holder will also be expected to:

• Coach Project Managers Delivery Leads and other members of the wider Projects and Change Delivery team.
• Play a leading role in driving the continuous improvement of our project delivery practices and support with other knowledge sharing and capability-building initiatives as required.

Training and experience

• At least seven years experience leading projects or programmes in a project environment
• A recognised project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE 2 Practitioner or APM equivalent) programme management or change management certification and demonstrated continuing professional development.
• Budget control in a project environment.
• Prior legal services or professional services experience would be advantageous.

Leadership

• Success and results-oriented seeking trade-offs and alternatives when required to ensure project success. Willing to have difficult conversations to ensure the right outcomes for the firm.
• Embraces accountability and sets an example to others.
• Clear thinking able to provide sound decision-making and/or guide others including senior stakeholders under pressure. Comfortable working and leading others in an ambiguous environment.
• Consultative and collaborative in approach.

Style

• Good attention to detail and able to communicate effectively at all levels - clearly and succinctly conveying ideas and options.
• Proactive and action-oriented driving progress via self and others and not easily diverted or distracted.
• Inclusive aware of the needs of and supportive of all team members.
• Flexible and able to cope with changing priorities.

About Linklaters

Linklaters is a leading global law firm undertaking the most important challenging and complex assignments for the worlds foremost companies financial institutions and governments. We recruit and develop exceptional people empowering them to do and think differently. We serve our clients as a team with a common focus on innovation efficiency and agility.

Technical Skills

This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. As such the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Application Policy

Applications and CVs (direct or via agency) areonlyaccepted online via the related to our roles must be directed to the relevant recruitment team andnotthe partners practices or stakeholders (forlegal rolesorforbusiness team roles).