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 firm’s Business Teams such as Technology, Finance, Marketing and HR and, of course, our lawyers.
Responsibilities
- 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. firm‑wide 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’, ensuring that the change is embedded and sustained in the business in accordance with best practice and the firm’s 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 firm’s 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. PRINCE2 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 firm’s 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 firm’s Business Team’s such as Technology, Finance, Marketing and HR and, of course, our lawyers. In addition, you will be expected to regularly manage third‑party suppliers and consultants.
Key Dimensions And Skills
- 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. firm‑wide 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 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’, ensuring that the change is embedded and sustained in the business in accordance with best practice and the firm’s 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 firm’s project delivery governance arrangements.
Training And Experience
- At least seven years’ experience leading projects or programmes in a project environment.
- A recognised project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2 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 world’s 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) are only accepted online via the portal. Queries related to our roles must be directed to the relevant recruitment team and not the partners, practices or stakeholders (lateralrecruitment@linklaters.com for legal roles or ukbtrecruitment@linklaters.com for business team roles).
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