At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects that transform ideas into impactful solutions.
- Company: Join Freshfields, a top global law firm driving legal innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse work environment, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic setting with a focus on emerging technologies.
- Why this job: Shape the future of legal tech while collaborating with global teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and a passion for innovation.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About Freshfields
This role could be based in either Manchester or Bratislava. Freshfields is a global law firm with a long-standing reputation for delivering outstanding client service. As technology continues to transform the legal industry, innovation is playing an increasingly important role in how we work, collaborate and deliver value. Our Innovation team sits at the centre of that transformation, identifying opportunities, exploring emerging technologies and turning ideas into practical solutions that enhance both client and colleague experience. We're looking for an experienced Innovation Project Manager to help drive this agenda forward.
The Opportunity
Innovation is not just about generating ideas. It is about converting those ideas into meaningful outcomes. As an Innovation Project Manager, you will be responsible for taking innovative concepts, emerging technologies and strategic opportunities and transforming them into structured, well-governed initiatives that deliver measurable business value. In some cases, your role will be to prove an idea's potential. In others, it will be to demonstrate why it should not progress further. Operating across business, technology and innovation teams, you will manage the full lifecycle of innovation initiatives, from concept and experimentation through proof of concept, pilot delivery, adoption and transition into business-as-usual operations. This is a role for someone who is comfortable working in ambiguity. You'll be equally capable of facilitating creative discussions around emerging technologies as you are producing executive reporting, managing risks and ensuring projects remain aligned with business priorities. You will act as the bridge between innovation and execution, helping the firm realise the value of its innovation investments while ensuring initiatives are delivered responsibly, securely and sustainably.
What You'll Be Doing
- Innovation Project Delivery
- Lead the delivery of innovation initiatives aligned to strategic business objectives.
- Manage projects through the complete lifecycle, from idea generation and proof of concept through pilot, production delivery and operational handover.
- Apply the most appropriate delivery approach, whether Agile, hybrid or waterfall, according to project needs.
- Coordinate multiple workstreams to ensure successful outcomes and delivery against agreed objectives.
- Governance & Risk Management
- Establish robust project governance, milestones, dependencies and controls.
- Produce and maintain project plans, RAID logs, business cases, delivery artefacts and status reports.
- Work closely with Legal, Security and Procurement teams to ensure initiatives align with firm standards and risk requirements.
- Support governance forums and Go/No-Go decision-making for pilots and scaling activities.
- Monitor project performance, risks and benefits realisation throughout the delivery lifecycle.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the central point of coordination across Business Teams, Innovation, Technology, Legal, Procurement, Transformation and external partners.
- Translate business requirements into clearly defined project scope and measurable success criteria.
- Facilitate workshops, demonstrations, steering groups and decision-making sessions.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and ensure initiatives remain aligned to strategic objectives.
- Innovation & Change Enablement
- Support experimentation and innovation while maintaining delivery discipline and governance.
- Coordinate pilots, testing activities and user feedback loops.
- Partner with Adoption and Communications teams to ensure successful implementation and user engagement.
- Help create the conditions for successful adoption and long-term value realisation.
- Vendor & Partner Management
- Manage relationships with third-party suppliers, technology vendors and emerging technology partners.
- Oversee delivery commitments, timelines, commercial arrangements and performance throughout project delivery.
- Support planning for operational ownership and ongoing support arrangements following implementation.
About You
We're looking for a delivery-focused professional who enjoys bringing structure, momentum and clarity to complex initiatives. You will likely bring:
- Proven experience delivering projects within innovation, technology, digital transformation or related environments.
- Strong project management expertise with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Experience producing business cases, project plans, governance documentation and executive reporting.
- The ability to operate effectively in fast-changing and uncertain environments.
Desirable Experience
- Experience working within professional services, legal, financial services or other regulated environments.
- Exposure to emerging technologies such as AI, agentic AI, automation, cloud technologies or data platforms.
- Familiarity with Agile, Lean or product-led delivery approaches.
- Experience managing proofs of concept, pilots, innovation programmes or innovation labs.
Personal Attributes
- Pragmatic and outcomes-focused.
- Comfortable balancing experimentation with governance and control.
- Highly organised with strong prioritisation skills.
- A confident communicator who can engage effectively with senior stakeholders.
- Curious, proactive and enthusiastic about innovation and emerging technologies.
- Able to navigate ambiguity while maintaining delivery momentum.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to help shape the future of innovation at one of the world's leading law firms. You'll work with senior stakeholders, emerging technologies and global teams to bring innovative ideas to life and deliver meaningful business outcomes. From AI and automation to digital transformation and new ways of working, you'll play a key role in helping Freshfields identify, test and scale the innovations that matter most. If you enjoy combining strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement and disciplined project delivery to create real impact, we'd love to hear from you.
Bratislava Only
Gross monthly salary from €2,000. Final salary will be determined using objective criteria including relevant skills, experience and qualifications.
Inclusion
Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK in the role in question and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only if and when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of relevant factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.
Freshfields is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world’s leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments on ground-breaking and business critical mandates. At Freshfields we seek to create a better future for our clients, our people and the communities in which we work. Our global teams bring together individuals with different experiences, skills and strengths in a culture where we support all to belong, engage and excel.
Innovation Project Manager in Manchester employer: 0110 FF UK (Service Co)
0110 FF UK (Service Co) offers a collaborative work culture that prioritizes leadership development and professional growth. Employees benefit from a focus on aligning technology initiatives with business priorities, ensuring impactful contributions to the organization.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Project Manager in Manchester
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like 0110 FF UK (Service Co).
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like 0110 FF UK (Service Co).
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Project Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at 0110 FF UK (Service Co) that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at 0110 FF UK (Service Co) and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at 0110 FF UK (Service Co)
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at 0110 FF UK (Service Co), they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show 0110 FF UK (Service Co) that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At 0110 FF UK (Service Co), they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
