Programme Manager at Eversheds Sutherland in Birmingham

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

What to expect

For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It’s energetic, fast-moving and there’s always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity. Focusing on your success and for what’s next, will ensure you thrive too.

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced IT Programme Manager to join our established Project Delivery team.

Reporting to the Senior Programme Manager, you will play a key role in the successful delivery of a portfolio of high-profile and business-critical technology projects, alongside providing oversight across a wider programme of work.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across IT, Business Services and the wider firm, you will manage a range of concurrent initiatives through the full project lifecycle and Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). You will build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, project teams and third-party partners to ensure projects are delivered effectively and provide the intended business outcomes.

The portfolio will encompass a broad range of technology and transformation initiatives, with a particular focus on AI and Agentic AI, alongside other strategic IT projects.

You will also provide leadership and direction to our Project Managers and Business Analysts, including both permanent colleagues and contractors, creating a collaborative and high-performing delivery environment

Key Responsibilities

• Planning and designing the programme and proactively monitoring its progress, resolving issues and initiating appropriate corrective action
• Ensuring governance in line with IT structure requirements and delivery to appropriate levels of quality, time and budget
• Responsible for the full project lifecycle through design, supplier onboarding, planning, build, test, deployment and lessons learned.
• Responsible for the day-to-day management of 3rd parties and internal team members working on the delivery of the project including facilitation of appointment of individuals to project teams.
• Creation and ownership of MS Project plans, identifying and understanding dependencies and interfaces between projects, ensuring realistic delivery dates, and reporting progress against the baseline for key milestones.
• Creation and ownership of project RAID logs, including management of risks and resolution of issues.
• Responsible for ensuring engagement of key stakeholders and keeping them engaged and up to date with project and programme progress.
• Understand and communicate technical solutions and designs to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Working closely with IT, business and 3rd party vendors to understand requirements and deliver effective designs.
• Responsible for reporting project and programme status, progress, planning and budget management to senior stakeholders at regular intervals.
• Manage, motivate and monitor cross functional teams as well as line management of a team of Project Managers and Business Analysts.
• Responsible for handover of solutions to support teams (internal and external) as part of service introduction along with production of relevant handover documentation.
• Responsible for working with business change management, including any training resource to transition solutions into the new business-as-usual position

Skills & Experience

• Experience in delivering projects related to the implementation of new applications into organisations
• Experience as a Programme and/or Portfolio Manager with a proven track record of delivery
• Experience in end-to-end delivery of AI/Agentic AI projects
• Excellent understanding of application system design, software development lifecycle and infrastructure change
• Experience of working in agile, waterfall and hybrid project frameworks
• Experience of working with external suppliers including large outsource providers
• Extensive experience delivering IT projects to non-IT areas including managing business SMEs within project teams
• Previous line management experience of managing up to 10 people both permanent as well as contract
• Prince 2 or APM Practitioner certified or equivalent

Desirable:

• Previous experience of working within Law Firms and/or the professional services sector
• Experience of cloud technologies, SAAS application delivery, Azure technology

Personal Attributes

• Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships at the most senior level
• The ability to command respect and to create a sense of community amongst the members of project teams, including working with vendors in a fully collaborative manner
• Excellent knowledge and proven experience of techniques for planning, monitoring and controlling projects as well as programmes of work
• Good understanding of the procurement process including negotiation with third parties
• Ability to go to a low level of understanding in terms of business requirements and the suitability of solutions
• Good knowledge of budgeting and resource allocation
• Sufficient seniority and credibility to advise other project teams on their projects in relation to the programme

What’s in it for you?

At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

• We’re fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.

For you,

For your success.

And what's next.

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