Manager: IT Program Management

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Information Technology department in our Chicago office, as a Manager: IT Program Management.

The Manager: IT Program Management's overall responsibility is to deliver programs and/or projects that are on-time, on-budget, within scope, and fulfill the business requirements. To do this, the Manager will need to work closely with the Business Sponsor(s), the program and project team members, and IT Management to ensure the timely completion of the agreed upon deliverables. When a Program Management opportunity does not exist, will manage multiple projects, or may simultaneously manage programs and projects. Will at times manage multi-year programs and/or projects with budgets in excess of $1 million, and a resource effort in excess of 2,500 hours.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• This role will provide Program Management when Program opportunities exist, but will also provide Project Management in the absence of a Program opportunity, or in conjunction with a Program. For the purpose of this position description, the term “program” represents both Program and Project Management
• Accountable for the overall management of assigned programs through the Project Delivery Framework phases: initiate, plan, execute, and close
• Develops and maintains program documentation, including charters, project plans, communications plans, program team status, executive status reports, program roles & responsibilities, and maintain the document repositories
• Facilitates executive status meetings with business sponsors and other Firm leadership as necessary during which the program’s progress will be reviewed, issues discussed for resolution, and any material changes to scope, budget, or schedule should be raised
• Program Management oversight including mentoring of staff in project management best practices
• Responsible for managing multiple large and complex programs at one time
• Accountable for coordinating program activities with domestic and international team members, including establishing schedules, assigning tasks, monitoring, and resolving conflicts
• Accountable for the program Risk, Issue, and Change Management processes, analysis, reporting, and escalation
• Responsible to work closely with the business functional areas, vendors, and other IT teams in defining program priorities, scope, approach, resource requirements, schedule, deliverables, and budgets; facilitate cross project coordination and communication
• Responsible for the definition of program business requirements, analysis, and design; facilitate decision making sessions for program specific architecture, business strategy, operational processes, business processes, and organizational requirements
• Meets with program stakeholders to clearly capture business requirements, critical milestones, and dependencies – may occasionally require travel to other offices
• Obtains stakeholder buy-in and proactively manage expectations throughout the program
• Responsible for vendor relationships throughout the program ensuring outsourced tasks meet contract expectations, Firm standards, and are delivered on time
• Assists with the development of RFIs and RFPs as required to enable third party solutions and IT services
• Provides regular status progress reports to the Project Management Office to assist with the overall tracking and management of the Project Portfolio
• Assists the Global Director of the IT Project Management Office with Project Portfolio planning and process improvements
• Adheres to and promotes IT PMO standard project management tools, procedures and best practices
• Coordinates the creation and follow up of program related surveys and end-user communications that clearly explain technical concepts using non-technical language
• Coordinates risk assessment between internal functional reviews to determine the program’s potential risk to the Firm
• Acts as a liaison between IT stakeholders to strengthen understanding of business-aligned goals
• Participates in occasional calls and meetings outside of normal business hours to accommodate international team member schedules when necessary
• Challenges the status quo
• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives
  
  

Education/Training/Certifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered in lieu of the degree when the experience has been directly related to the functions of the job
  
  

Professional Experience

• A minimum of 8 years successfully managing large and complex IT programs and projects from inception to completion, overseeing direct / indirect reports and vendors. 12 years of IT experience
• Legal Industry experience preferred
• Agile and DevOps experience preferred
  
  

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and M365 products
• Strong understanding of project management principles and methods; preferred current Project Management certification such as PMP, Agile, Prince 2, Master’s Certificate, CSM or other certification / degree in project management
  
  

Performance Traits

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, and meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong client-service orientation and skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
  
  

Management Accountabilities

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
• Participation in the recruitment process
• Able to determine and implement change processes to improve workflow efficiencies
• Process- and service-oriented with strong leadership and project management skills
• Able to set priorities and delegate in an efficient manner
  
  

The typical pay scale for this position is between $170,000 and $225,000, although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate’s education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified.

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

Thank you for your interest in Mayer Brown. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request a reasonable accommodation related to the application process and/or job interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.