Kirkland and Ellis
Senior Project Manager II
Kirkland and Ellis, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
About Kirkland & Ellis
At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.
As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including 3,500 lawyers) operating from 20 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.
Essential Job Functions
The Project Manager (PM) Senior II role requires a results-driven professional with a proven track-record of experience. The successful candidate will be highly organized, with a keen attention to detail, who has been able to effectively communicate to all levels of the organization and has a strong ability to lead and solve complex problems. The PM is expected to complete project assignments within the context of Cloud and SaaS programs with limited direction and has the autonomy to make decisions and recommendations regarding assigned projects, in accordance with Firm policies, procedures, standards and guidelines. The Project Manager will have accountability to drive the performance of cross-functional teams involved in the planning and delivery of projects. The individual must implement effective and efficient business solutions, perform management and oversight of complex projects, and provide ongoing strategic direction to project teams. The PM is responsible for applying project management principles and practices to deliver projects on time and with high quality. The PM is expected to work independently with limited guidance, have the ability to act on what is coming up in the plan, and understand how and when to escalate issues and risks.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Leads programs for client-facing product/s/ at both build and run levels at the most complex level for the Firm.
Responsible for respective program/project tracking in accordance with Firm policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.
Interacts with a variety of business and IT stakeholders as a peer and trusted advisor including consistent interactions with Senior Staff/C-Suite; may direct Senior 1 with oversight.
Develops and executes against work breakdown structures (WBS) for each project.
Drives results and provides transparency to results through the skillful use of timely, supporting data in project meetings and through other forms of verbal and written communications.
Consistently creates and shares timelines/WBS at the right level and understand how to show high level or milestones to Senior Leaders on projects.
Helps IT/Sr. Leadership create roadmaps and big pictures for multi-phased projects or Firm strategies.
Regularly presents and provides presentation materials as needed by Senior Staff to support client-facing project initiatives.
Successfully manages the action items outside of meetings.
Sets clear expectations with project resources around criticality and due dates.
Manages resources and escalates appropriately if not getting response needed.
Executes assigned project efforts in accordance with the Firm's project management life cycle methodology, complying with security, risk, data and other Firm PMLC protocols.
Actively utilizes Firm systems, including the Firm's project portfolio management system to hold timeline/WBS, issues/risks, financials and status message on a daily/standard basis to reflect current state as real time as possible.
Assigns and tracks resources across project efforts in conjunction with functional managers.
Influences project team and stakeholders to ensure projects are on time and on budget.
Escalates known issues/risks to project success to manager as appropriate when at an impasse where time, cost or resources are affected.
Manages solution and vendor assessments, including creating a request for proposal (RFP), coordinating multiple vendor demonstrations, assisting the Business Partner with scoring and selecting the vendor and working with appropriate areas to finalize/negotiate contracts.
Acts as project management coach to functional led (non-PM) projects to follow PMO methodology, guidelines and templates.
Assists with vendor management throughout assessments and implementations of products.
Qualifications & Requirements
Required experience: 15+ years with a background in IT delivery, including at least 8 years in project/program management, working with multiple interdependent teams.
Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience required.
Preferred: Project management of ServiceNow implementations and/or enhancements.
Communication: Listen, draw out key concepts and articulate advanced technical and non-technical concepts with ease (both written and oral formats) to customers, peers and management at several levels and across the organization with minimal oversight.
Effective production support activities, including advanced business and technical writing including writing for high level Executives.
Document medium to large scale projects with minimal supervision; will be involved in developing/delivering presentations.
Critical Thinking: Encourage deeper, more productive discussions. Facilitate open communication between team members. Resolve issues between team members and stakeholders more quickly. Develop better solutions to problems. Reduce stress throughout a project. Prevent repetitive issues.
Decision Maker: Excellent command of business knowledge. Ability to solicit input from internal and external sources, including the ability to investigate and incorporate best practices from other corporations, experience and sound judgment. Knows when to seek senior management input or escalate issues based on impact. Influence stakeholders on requirement and design decisions that best meet Firm's goals. Ability to create and articulate decision trees and alternate path diagrams. The goal is to minimize the trade-offs between cost containment and timeliness of service so that both are completely achievable. Ability to think and act outside of job responsibilities when necessary.
Interpersonal Skills: Understands what is needed to support the tactical and strategic goals of the team and in the Firm. Recognized as a positive and motivational leader on the team. Has the courage to accept difficult relationship scenarios and regularly negotiates win-win solutions for all involved. Inspires and motivates with positivity. Utilize sound judgment in highly active times on projects.
Strategy and Change Management Skills: Affects change within sphere of influence. Contributes individually or through others on complex issues or initiatives. Assumes responsibility for others and for team results. Seen as a leader in the group.
Program/Project Management: Proceeds from concept, to design, to leading the implementation of complex, medium to large scale projects. Uses project management software as a critical tool in charting or adjusting the course of a project. Ensures that programs and projects are designed to support and implement company goals and strategic objectives. Ability to influence and balance priorities amongst portfolio of projects. Experience with waterfall, hybrid, and agile solution development methodologies.
Technical Ability: Understands multiple projects and how to integrate them into business solutions. Articulate tech jargon and translate tech concepts to business sponsors.
Technologies/Software
Microsoft Project
Proficiency with Visio diagrams and decision trees
Experience with project portfolio management software such as Eclipse or ServiceNow
Experience with agile management software such as JIRA or Azure Dev Ops
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Outlook
Document Management System (DMS)
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, as well as iPhone and Citrix for remote access.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."
Equal Employment Opportunity
All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Closing Statement
The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm. #LI-Hybrid #LI-AR1
#J-18808-Ljbffr
At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.
As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including 3,500 lawyers) operating from 20 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.
Essential Job Functions
The Project Manager (PM) Senior II role requires a results-driven professional with a proven track-record of experience. The successful candidate will be highly organized, with a keen attention to detail, who has been able to effectively communicate to all levels of the organization and has a strong ability to lead and solve complex problems. The PM is expected to complete project assignments within the context of Cloud and SaaS programs with limited direction and has the autonomy to make decisions and recommendations regarding assigned projects, in accordance with Firm policies, procedures, standards and guidelines. The Project Manager will have accountability to drive the performance of cross-functional teams involved in the planning and delivery of projects. The individual must implement effective and efficient business solutions, perform management and oversight of complex projects, and provide ongoing strategic direction to project teams. The PM is responsible for applying project management principles and practices to deliver projects on time and with high quality. The PM is expected to work independently with limited guidance, have the ability to act on what is coming up in the plan, and understand how and when to escalate issues and risks.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Leads programs for client-facing product/s/ at both build and run levels at the most complex level for the Firm.
Responsible for respective program/project tracking in accordance with Firm policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.
Interacts with a variety of business and IT stakeholders as a peer and trusted advisor including consistent interactions with Senior Staff/C-Suite; may direct Senior 1 with oversight.
Develops and executes against work breakdown structures (WBS) for each project.
Drives results and provides transparency to results through the skillful use of timely, supporting data in project meetings and through other forms of verbal and written communications.
Consistently creates and shares timelines/WBS at the right level and understand how to show high level or milestones to Senior Leaders on projects.
Helps IT/Sr. Leadership create roadmaps and big pictures for multi-phased projects or Firm strategies.
Regularly presents and provides presentation materials as needed by Senior Staff to support client-facing project initiatives.
Successfully manages the action items outside of meetings.
Sets clear expectations with project resources around criticality and due dates.
Manages resources and escalates appropriately if not getting response needed.
Executes assigned project efforts in accordance with the Firm's project management life cycle methodology, complying with security, risk, data and other Firm PMLC protocols.
Actively utilizes Firm systems, including the Firm's project portfolio management system to hold timeline/WBS, issues/risks, financials and status message on a daily/standard basis to reflect current state as real time as possible.
Assigns and tracks resources across project efforts in conjunction with functional managers.
Influences project team and stakeholders to ensure projects are on time and on budget.
Escalates known issues/risks to project success to manager as appropriate when at an impasse where time, cost or resources are affected.
Manages solution and vendor assessments, including creating a request for proposal (RFP), coordinating multiple vendor demonstrations, assisting the Business Partner with scoring and selecting the vendor and working with appropriate areas to finalize/negotiate contracts.
Acts as project management coach to functional led (non-PM) projects to follow PMO methodology, guidelines and templates.
Assists with vendor management throughout assessments and implementations of products.
Qualifications & Requirements
Required experience: 15+ years with a background in IT delivery, including at least 8 years in project/program management, working with multiple interdependent teams.
Bachelor's Degree in related field or equivalent experience required.
Preferred: Project management of ServiceNow implementations and/or enhancements.
Communication: Listen, draw out key concepts and articulate advanced technical and non-technical concepts with ease (both written and oral formats) to customers, peers and management at several levels and across the organization with minimal oversight.
Effective production support activities, including advanced business and technical writing including writing for high level Executives.
Document medium to large scale projects with minimal supervision; will be involved in developing/delivering presentations.
Critical Thinking: Encourage deeper, more productive discussions. Facilitate open communication between team members. Resolve issues between team members and stakeholders more quickly. Develop better solutions to problems. Reduce stress throughout a project. Prevent repetitive issues.
Decision Maker: Excellent command of business knowledge. Ability to solicit input from internal and external sources, including the ability to investigate and incorporate best practices from other corporations, experience and sound judgment. Knows when to seek senior management input or escalate issues based on impact. Influence stakeholders on requirement and design decisions that best meet Firm's goals. Ability to create and articulate decision trees and alternate path diagrams. The goal is to minimize the trade-offs between cost containment and timeliness of service so that both are completely achievable. Ability to think and act outside of job responsibilities when necessary.
Interpersonal Skills: Understands what is needed to support the tactical and strategic goals of the team and in the Firm. Recognized as a positive and motivational leader on the team. Has the courage to accept difficult relationship scenarios and regularly negotiates win-win solutions for all involved. Inspires and motivates with positivity. Utilize sound judgment in highly active times on projects.
Strategy and Change Management Skills: Affects change within sphere of influence. Contributes individually or through others on complex issues or initiatives. Assumes responsibility for others and for team results. Seen as a leader in the group.
Program/Project Management: Proceeds from concept, to design, to leading the implementation of complex, medium to large scale projects. Uses project management software as a critical tool in charting or adjusting the course of a project. Ensures that programs and projects are designed to support and implement company goals and strategic objectives. Ability to influence and balance priorities amongst portfolio of projects. Experience with waterfall, hybrid, and agile solution development methodologies.
Technical Ability: Understands multiple projects and how to integrate them into business solutions. Articulate tech jargon and translate tech concepts to business sponsors.
Technologies/Software
Microsoft Project
Proficiency with Visio diagrams and decision trees
Experience with project portfolio management software such as Eclipse or ServiceNow
Experience with agile management software such as JIRA or Azure Dev Ops
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Outlook
Document Management System (DMS)
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, as well as iPhone and Citrix for remote access.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."
Equal Employment Opportunity
All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Closing Statement
The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm. #LI-Hybrid #LI-AR1
#J-18808-Ljbffr