Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Business Senior Manager to join our Business Services department on a permanent basis.

Role purpose

The Business Senior Manager is responsible for managing and successfully implementing large scale, complex projects alongside overseeing multiple smaller scale projects whilst adopting appropriate delivery methodologies. Projects include departmental/firm wide change and transformation programmes that are aligned to the firm’s strategy.

The incumbent also maintains visibility of future, inflight projects and governance across Business Services and the firm as a whole, to identify synergies, risks and opportunities.

The Business Senior Manager has overall responsibility for maintaining a proactive and positive client relationship framework between Business Services and internal key stakeholders. Our key stakeholders include key stakeholders within the fee earning departments and support departments.

Role and responsibilities

Operational

• Proactively evaluate the Business Services department for opportunities to enhance our services and customer experience.
• Ensure the delivery of best practice and evolution of services to maintain alignment with business need.
• Influence and act as a convener to identify, plan, develop and improve services in support of the firm’s strategy.
• Support and analyse departmental and team planning and process improvement; analyse resourcing data, identifying alternative solutions to problems, assessing their feasibility, and recommending new approaches where appropriate.
• Gather and analyse complex data to forecast and lead future project development.
• Keeping up with industry trends whilst networking with contacts outside A&O to identify new best practice/approaches.

Project Management/ Programme Management

• Manage large and oversee smaller projects and change activities that deliver new Business Services offerings and departmental/firm wide change, ensuring these are aligned to the firm’s global strategy.
• Support and advise global Business Services colleagues on the best practice of project delivery and business change.
• Maintain responsibility for the management of the full PM Lifecycle (defining, implementing, evaluating) of all operational projects within Business Services.
• Proactively identify projects within Business Services that could benefit from project management support.
• Provide subject matter expertise and strategic advice on the project/programme management lifecycle to senior stakeholders including Partners.
• Develop and create business cases of high-value and complex projects to demonstrate value and achieve appropriate sign-off.
• Preparing, maintaining and tracking against project plans and budgets. Managing critical path, dependencies and contingencies. Resource management, oversee the prioritisation of work whilst driving forward simultaneous activities. Effectively manage changes in scope.
• Lead project meetings with senior stakeholders internally and externally- milestone progress, unblock issues, and leverage support/expertise.
• Identifying risks and issues and developing appropriate mitigation plans whilst keeping project sponsors up to date.
• Constantly reviewing the project management process and documentation through process improvement and automation of tasks.

Customer relationship

• Oversee the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative feedback and data from inflight projects.
• Develop and implement, in conjunction with Senior Leadership, innovative and strategically focused solutions to critical Business Services issues.
• Work directly with senior stakeholders. This includes participating in Partner engagement activities, interactions with senior support management and other support functions.
• Act as an escalation point for any major incidents relating to the projects and drive their resolution, leading communications to key stakeholders.
• Ensure a cohesive and coordinated service offering, with messages delivered to key stakeholders via close working relationships with the Business Services Leadership Team.
• Spot opportunities to amplify Business Services’ profile and value across the global network.
• Work with stakeholders to understand requirements and anticipate pain points, incepting a project to provide solutions.

Leadership and Managerial responsibilities

• Overseeing and line management responsibility of a small project team and providing coaching, feedback, compass reviews and advice.
• Manage a complex cross functional team/ matrix environment within projects. Ie. To work with senior stakeholders, other project managers/ key contacts within departments and third party suppliers.
• Working in and with different countries and cultures, ensuring local customs, cultures and delivery approaches are considered and appropriate people engagement is applied.
• Inputting to thought leadership/ strategy on the scope of the project.
• Provide strategic direction on projects, research and thought leadership that support Business Services.

Key requirements

• Experience working on global projects / programmes and global systems.
• Ability to confidently and concisely create and present information to senior stakeholders.
• Experience working in a deadline-sensitive and pressurised environment.
• Possess strong leadership skills with a positive attitude and excellent communication skills.
• Commercial acumen, including an understanding of the overall picture of Business Services and how it adds value to the firm.
• Entrepreneurial mind set, goal orientated, strong practical problem solving skills, outstanding work ethic and professionalism.
• Able to succeed in a dynamic changing environment where priorities and activities will be changing to respond proactively.
• Experience in business change implementation.
• Good knowledge of different software development methodologies e.g. waterfall, agile etc.
• Enthusiastic, highly self-motivated, a self-starter who will undertake all activities to the highest professional standards.
• Experience with Microsoft Project (or similar tools) to produce plans for programmes of work and individual projects.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of Allen & Overy’s recruitment team who will work with you to provide any reasonable adjustments as required.

At Allen & Overy, we recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Allen & Overy recognises the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together. If you would like additional flexibility we will of course consider this in line with business needs.


Additional information - External

Allen & Overy is a leading global law firm operating in over thirty countries. By turning our insight, technology and talent into ground-breaking solutions, we’ve earned our reputation as a firm that leads the industry and opens up new possibilities in law. Our lawyers are leaders in their field – and the same goes for our support teams. Ambitious, driven and open to fresh perspectives, we find new ways to deliver our services and maintain our reputation for excellence, in all that we do.

The nature of law is changing and with that change brings unique opportunities. We are defined by our consistent commitment to creating a collaborative and supportive working culture and investing in your progress. We’re committed to supporting a culture that drives diversity and inclusion. Every day, we’re working hard to create an environment where you feel you can bring your authentic self to work. To be comfortable and confident to be who you are in the workplace. To feel like you belong. We offer rewarding careers that are built around your strengths and designed to ensure you can achieve your personal and professional ambitions. Joining our global team, you’ll discover what collaborating on a global scale really looks like; you’ll learn how to help drive change; and you’ll be at the heart of an organisation that’s defining the future of law. If you’re ready to find a place to thrive: It’s Time.