Applications Manager

We are seeking an experienced and operationally focused Enterprise Applications Manager to lead the firm’s Product Owner function and oversee the performance, alignment, and continuous improvement of the enterprise application portfolio.

This role is responsible for establishing and reinforcing a structured product ownership model that ensures business-critical applications are effectively owned, prioritized, and supported. The position combines people leadership and operational accountability, managing a team of Product Owners while maintaining visibility into backlog priorities, application performance, and delivery outcomes.

Operating with a strong ownership mindset, this role partners closely with business stakeholders, delivery teams, and vendors to ensure applications are aligned to business needs and delivered with consistency, quality, and accountability.

The ideal candidate brings a balance of leadership discipline and delivery execution, with a focus on standardization, governance, and continuous improvement across the application portfolio.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as the position and department evolve. Incumbents must be able to perform all essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Lead and manage a team of Product Owners / IT Ambassadors across the enterprise application portfolio, providing coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback to drive consistency and capability across the team
• Establish and reinforce a standard Product Owner operating model, including clear expectations for application ownership, backlog management, stakeholder engagement, and delivery accountability
• Maintain overall accountability for the health and performance of the enterprise application portfolio, ensuring each application has defined ownership, an active and prioritized backlog, and alignment to business priorities
• Define and enforce consistent processes for intake, prioritization, and backlog management, ensuring work is well-defined, actively managed, and aligned to business value
• Provide oversight of release planning and execution across applications, ensuring coordination of user acceptance testing (UAT), release readiness, and communication of changes
• Monitor delivery outcomes, including timelines, quality, and adoption, and intervene as needed to address risks, gaps, or execution issues
• Oversee vendor engagement models supporting application delivery and support, and ensure effective coordination between Product Owners and external partners
• Monitor vendor performance, including responsiveness, delivery quality, and alignment with expectations
• Ensure application support processes are effectively managed, including incident and request backlogs, escalation handling, and resolution tracking
• Monitor support performance and identify recurring issues or trends, driving improvements based on data and user feedback
• Partner with business stakeholders, delivery teams, and infrastructure and security teams to ensure alignment between business needs, backlog priorities, and delivery execution
• Act as an escalation point for cross-functional conflicts, competing priorities, and delivery challenges
• Drive continuous improvement and standardization across product ownership practices, backlog management, and release coordination
• Identify gaps in process, ownership, or execution and implement practical improvements to improve consistency and delivery outcomes

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications

The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of this position. Michael Best will always consider candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (or equivalent experience)
• 5–7 years of experience in application management, product ownership, delivery leadership, or IT operations
• Demonstrated experience leading or managing Product Owners, analysts, or delivery teams
• Strong understanding of product ownership models, application lifecycle management, backlog prioritization, and release cycles
• Experience working in cross-functional environments with business stakeholders and technical teams
• Proven ability to coach, influence, and align teams to defined operating models and delivery expectations
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills

The Company

This is an opportunity to work with the Best. We are Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP. We are a full-service law firm with more than 350 lawyers and technical professionals who work in collaborative, interdisciplinary practices to serve clients around the world.

We work with companies in all kinds of industries, as well as trade associations, nonprofits, educational institutions, governments, family trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. Since our firm’s founding in 1848, we’ve continuously evolved to meet our clients’ changing needs and expectations. One thing remains the same: For generations, clients have relied on Michael Best for exceptional legal service and business acumen.

The Location

We have offices in Wisconsin (Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha); Illinois (Chicago); Utah (Salt Lake City); Colorado (Denver, Broomfield); Texas (Austin); North Carolina (Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, Wilmington); California (Los Angeles); Nebraska (Lincoln); and Washington DC. Our contemporary office spaces are ideal for concentration and collaboration; supporting our culture of working together to make great things happen for our Clients. This position will be based in our Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, or Waukesha office.

Why You Should Apply

At Michael Best, we are proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package that provides a variety of resources designed to enhance its employees’ overall well-being, both at work and at home. Competitive base pay, outstanding benefits, opportunities for learning and growth, programs designed to help you plan for the future, and perks that inspire your downtime are all part of our total compensation package.

Learning and Growth

• Challenging and Dynamic Role
• Career Development Planning
• Professional Growth Opportunities
• Performance Management and Coaching
• Specialized Training Programs

Health & Wellness

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision Care
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Program
• Employee and Family Assistance Program

Total Compensation

• Competitive Base Pay
• Annual Merit Review/Incentive Pay
• Outstanding Benefits
• Generous PTO Plus 10 Paid Holidays

Planning for the Future

• 401(k) with Company Contribution
• Short Term Disability Plan
• Long Term Disability Plan
• Life Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Parental/Family Leave

Culture and Workplace

• Respected organization with Collaborative Culture
• Growing Firm with an Exciting Future
• Contemporary Work Environment
• Positive and Respectful Work Climate
• Performance Recognition

To be considered for this position, please submit an application via our online portal.

Recruitment Agencies: Michael Best is not accepting unsolicited agency resumes for this position. Please do not forward resumes to our careers email address or any Firm employees. Michael Best is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and Michael Best Strategies LLC (collectively known as "Michael Best") are steadfastly committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination based upon age, race, religion, color, disability, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact our Recruiting team at 414.225.4999 or careers@michaelbest.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.