IT Project Manager

Watson Farley & Williams is an international law firm advising on complex disputes and transactions through local knowledge and an integrated international network.  We have a strong sector focus, combining our technical excellence with deep industry knowledge across Energy, Transport and associated Infrastructure.

The firm has achieved rapid expansion and year-on-year growth owed almost entirely to a focused strategy, strong leadership and the quality of its people.  The next stage in the firm’s growth plan is to achieve full-service strength within core sectors across the global platform.

We strive for excellence in all that we do and view investment in our people as key to achieving our business goals and values, which rest on developing deep and long-lasting relationships externally and internally through respect, sharing, communication and integrity.

Our global practice is integrated across our offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and North America delivering consistently high levels of service across borders and locally through a deep understanding of local business customs and culture.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace to attract and retain the most talented people from all backgrounds and cultures.  We believe in celebrating difference and that people from any background can rise to the top, ensuring opportunities to develop and progress are available for all.

• Promote WFW project management within the IT Department and across WFW.
• Manage IT and relevant business projects end to end, requirements gathering, contract review and negotiation, development and testing through to implementation and handover to operational teams.
• Manage various stakeholders and resources involved in projects and change initiatives with a focus on benefits realisation.
• Create and manage/administer project plans and documentation and define and manage project budgets.
• Promote a flexible approach to project management for WFW together with relevant documentation and processes to suit the needs of the project/initiative.
• Apply a mix of relevant project and stakeholder management skills and approaches to deliver multiple projects and initiatives across the firm.
• Provide guidance, support and coaching to others within the firm (who are not PMs) and who may be charged with delivering projects within WFW to help them grasp project essentials and deliver the benefits.
• Monitor and maintain project elements to identify progress and issues, prioritise items and produce and present update reports for delivery to the Managing Partners and leadership teams of the firm.
• Contribute to research and evaluation of software solutions from 3rd party suppliers and help in the production of necessary deliverables such as tender documents, liaising with suppliers.
• Maintain and build relationships with key suppliers to the firm in terms of software and services so they understand business needs and can respond accordingly.
• Help identify and evaluate new systems and solutions coming to market (and outside of legal) to understand potential benefits to the business.
• Work with the IT applications and other support teams as well as suppliers and third parties to define systems and solutions to address business issues.
• For business projects and change initiatives which will require an element of end user training, work with IT Training and relevant third parties to provide input and insight into how to define, develop, manage and deliver relevant training and materials to facilitate a smooth change.
• Work with the IT training team to coordinate the approach to IT Training for such projects.

Communication

• Create and proactively maintain links with the business to communicate clearly, listen to needs and present advice or instructions.
• Maintain and promote templates and other resources relating to the project methodology which can be shared with others.
• Use a range of communication tools and skills to promote change, gain buy-in and educate WFW staff on what is coming and what is needed/expected of them.

General

• Be a team player and help generate enthusiasm across IT team members and facilitate effective team communications and awareness.
• Maintain awareness of the firm's goals and strategy, legal market influences and the commercial environment in general.
• Seek to extend internal and external networks.
• Consider and contribute to opportunities for strategic change initiatives, for example, based on new technologies, emerging practices and competitor activities.

• An eye for detail; ability to work accurately and effectively even when under pressure.
• A proven track record of helping define and deliver change in the business.
• Display a positive and flexible approach to work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to describe and present more technical/technological aspects of solutions to non-technical people.
• Planning and prioritising work and contributions from others to meet deadlines and manage expectations.
• Awareness of suitable practices around information security and how this influences IT and business operations.
• Ability to elicit, define and manage business processes and requirements, and manage the delivery of these through the life of a project.
• Able to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Organised, thorough and robust in approach.
• Can work under own initiative as well as part of a team.
• Strong analysis and requirements gathering skills.
• Excellent facilitation skills.
• Tactful and diplomatic when in pressured situations.
• Able to liaise and build relationships with members of staff at all levels.
• An eye for good working practices and how to promote these.
• Actively share information, knowledge and opportunities with others.
• PRINCE2: Practitioner Certificate preferable
• ISEB / BCS Diploma in Business Analysis: Desirable.

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Respect for different backgrounds and perspectives is at the heart of our firm’s core values and we recognise the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential. This is a key feature of our Global Code of Conduct, which places diversity and inclusion at the centre of our firm’s ways of working.

We believe that exceptional client service can only be delivered by exceptional people. For this reason, we aim to attract, retain and develop the best talent from a wide range of backgrounds. All decisions relating to employment will be objective and based on merit and ability.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are as inclusive and barrier-free as possible. This includes making adjustments for candidates with a disability or long-term health condition.  If you require adjustments to be made at any stage of the recruitment process, we’d encourage you to get in touch with a member of our team who would be happy to discuss options with you.