Director of Program Management Office

Jackson Lewis P.C. • Los Angeles, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of the Program Management Office (DPMO) plays a pivotal leadership role within the firm, demanding a blend of strategic vision, hands-on problem-solving abilities, and a high degree of cross collaboration ability. This position is crucial for spearheading firmwide transformation initiatives, requiring the DPMO to effectively communicate and deeply partner with the leadership team to align projects with the firm’s overarching goals. Through extensive relationship building, and intimate knowledge of law firm dynamics, and culture, the DPMO will execute and manage complex programs, and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget. This role is instrumental in driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and ultimately contributing to the firm’s long-term success and goal achievement. The role reports directly to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and involves close collaboration with members of the firm leadership teams. The DPMO is responsible for orchestrating portfolio and project activities throughout their entire lifecycle. The DPMO is expected to integrate design thinking methodologies throughout the lifecycle of portfolio governance, ensuring that innovative and user/firm-centric approaches are embedded in all initiatives. By ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, the DPMO plays a vital role in delivering high-value business and technology solutions that drive and align with firm goals. The Director will also provide project management standards, methodologies, templates, and training to administrative staff who manage projects, as well as maintain centralized project management tools for use by all project managers. The DPMO maintains the project portfolio for the firm and regularly reports on the individual project statuses, including budgetary data, to department and firm leaders.

Requirements

• PMI – Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification preferred
• Knowledge and experience with common PM and development methodologies
• This position calls for an experienced senior project program management professional with a technology and business management background.
• A proven track record in a Project Program Management Office at a law firm, with an established track record of implementing and supporting solid technical and business solutions using established methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience managing a high-performing team in multiple sites.
• 10+ years project management experience at a Amlaw firm, including managing project managers and managing high-level firm-wide projects across a variety of departments including Information Technology, Financial Systems, Human Resources and Marketing.
• Strong cross collaboration abilities in a law firm, with working knowledge of the business and the practice of law
• Extensive knowledge of law firm culture, implementing critical systems while maintaining quality with minimal disruption to the firm and its lawyers.
• Working understanding of law firm business and practice operations that span projects from new business intake, billing efficiencies, marketing workflows, and various law firm application upgrades.

Responsibilities

• In coordination with various stakeholders and leadership, play a key role in the overall development, strategic planning, prioritization, service delivery and management of the organization’s administrative project and firm portfolio across multiple departments.
• Continually improve the Program Management Office at the firm, including methodology, templates, education, and firm-wide project strategy.
• Directly supervise Project Managers and Business Analysts in the department while working closely with senior staff and attorney leadership to successfully prioritize and implement firm-wide projects.
• Provide guidance, training, templates and reporting assistance to those inside and outside the PMO
• Assist Business Services leadership in facilitating the development of the annual administrative project-related budget and acts as a bridge between departments to help identify firm needs, resource allocation issues, and project priorities.
• Work with key stakeholders, lead the enhancements of the PMO framework as mechanism for driving an efficient, consistent approach and ways of working reflected in projects being delivered on time, to budget, to scope.
• Work with various firm leaders to deploy resources efficiently and effectively toward organizational goals, working with staff to balance workload and effort, and provide regular feedback so that key staff can continuously improve their project management skills.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed