Senior Project Manager

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 management; restructurings; high-stakes litigation and trials; 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 19 offices across the United States, Europe 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) role requires a results-driven professional who is highly organized, can effectively communicate with all levels of the organization, and has a strong ability to navigate complex situations to lead firm-wide change. This role will lead enterprise-level projects within the organizations, ensuring efficiency and enthusiasm for the future and positive adoption of changes with minimal disruption to business operations.

The PM will oversee multifaceted, cross-functional programs and project assignments across the Firm. The PM will have the autonomy to make decisions and recommendations regarding assigned projects per firm policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines and will have accountability to drive the performance of cross-functional teams involved in the planning and delivery of projects. They will also oversee organizational change management workstreams within more extensive projects/programs. For those projects/programs, the PM will be responsible for developing and implementing communications, training, post-implementation support, and change adoption. 

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 will be able to contribute to the evolution of existing project/change management practices and impact potential business practices at Kirkland and Ellis. The PM is responsible for applying project/change management principles and practices to deliver projects on time and within budget. The PM is expected to work independently with limited guidance and be aware of when and how best to escalate project risks and challenges.

Essential Functions:

• Experience leading multiple simultaneous cross-functional programs from inception through to deployment.
• Interacts with various stakeholders as a peer and trusted advisor, including multiple interactions with Senior Staff and C-Suite.
• Collaborate with leaders and partners across corporate functions and lines of business to develop and implement change strategies in support of projects and initiatives - with a heavy emphasis on communications.
• Creates and shares timelines/WBS at the right level and understand how to show high level or milestones to Senior Leaders on projects.
• Must be a great active listener who can translate complex technical situations into consumable information for all levels of stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive change management plan outlining each change initiative’s scope, objectives, and deliverables.
• Determine user adoption metrics and goals, measure adoption pre- and post-change, and identify solutions to improve adoption
• Create communication plans that effectively communicate the change to stakeholders at all levels.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and presentation skills, including tailoring messages to various audiences.
• Execute assigned project efforts in accordance with the Firm’s project management methodology.
• Lead and manage the change management process for assigned projects, ensuring that changes are implemented smoothly and effectively.
• Manages resources and escalates appropriately if not getting responses needed.
• Must be a flexible and adaptable teammate, able to work in ambiguous situations and collaborate with and through others. 
• Influences project team and stakeholders to ensure projects are on time and within budget.
• Escalates known issues/risks as appropriate when at an impasse where time, cost, or resources are affected.
• Ability to create and articulate mitigation plans and options. The goal is to minimize the trade-offs between cost containment and timeliness of service so that both are achievable.
• Work closely with project managers and other stakeholders to ensure that change management is integrated into the project plan.

Other Functions:

• Leads business-process analysis and process-improvement activities when business analyst resources are not available.
• Prepare, analyze, and present requirements, designs mockups, and other relevant project data.
• Assist with vendor management throughout assessments and implementations of products.
• Contribute to developing and maintaining change management standards, tools, and templates, incorporating the field’s best practices and innovative thinking. 
• Model change management best practices and engage in peer learning and coaching with other organizational change agents.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Prosci change practitioner certification, ACMP-approved certification (CCMP), or Project Management Professional certification (PMP or other) is a plus.
• At least 10 years of experience in project management/consulting.
• 3+ years’ experience in organizational change management
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field is required. A Master’s Degree is a plus.
• Proven experience managing change initiatives, including developing and implementing change management plans and communication strategies.
• Knowledge and experience in change management methodologies and best practices.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional office environment. Therefore, this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, iPhones, 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

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