Bird & Bird is looking for an experienced Programme Manager to join the firm's Strategy & Transformation team at a key point in the firm's strategic development. Working closely with the Head of Change & Transformation and the firm's senior leadership, the Programme Manager will help shape and deliver major strategic programmes to drive revenue growth, improve efficiency, strengthen the firm's competitive position and enhance the way the firm operates globally. This is an exciting opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of impactful projects, ranging from AI and legal tech enabled transformation, organisation and operating model change, geographic strategy and process optimisation.
This role sits within the firm's Strategy & Transformation team, reporting to the Head of Change & Transformation. The team works collaboratively with the C‑suite, Partners and other colleagues across all departments and geographies, leading on the firm's most strategically important initiatives to deliver programmes that have a direct and lasting impact on how Bird & Bird operates and grows globally.
Key Responsibilities
- Mobilise and manage day‑to‑day delivery of complex, cross‑functional strategic programmes, delivering in line with budget and defined timescales.
- Maintain a relentless focus on outcomes and benefits, ensuring that every programme has a clearly defined business case and success criteria.
- Define, set up and manage cross‑functional and geographically distributed project teams, clarifying roles, responsibilities and ways of working to deliver at pace.
- Develop and maintain detailed project plans, resource plans, budgets and RAID logs, ensuring all workstreams remain on track and within scope.
- Coordinate activity across multiple workstreams and geographies, managing interdependencies and proactively resolving issues as they arise.
- Set up and run appropriate governance, including clear decision‑making forums, escalation routes and controls to maintain oversight and enable timely decisions.
- Prepare clear programme status reports, escalating risks, issues and decisions to the Head of Change & Transformation and relevant sponsors.
- Design and deliver change management plans, including stakeholder engagement, communications and training, to drive adoption and benefits realisation.
- Work with colleagues across the team and the firm to continuously improve delivery methods, tools and capability.
What You’ll Bring
- Significant experience in programme or project management, ideally within professional services, legal or a similarly complex global environment.
- A track record of delivering complex, cross‑functional programmes, related to relevant examples.
- Excellent programme and project management skills, including planning, risk management, resource coordination and benefits tracking.
- Analytical and data‑driven, able to use insight and metrics to shape plans, prioritise work and support decision‑making.
- Strong change management capability, with experience designing and delivering stakeholder engagement, communications and training plans.
- Comfortable working across multiple programmes simultaneously in a fast‑paced, global organisation.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build credible relationships with senior leaders, partners and colleagues across geographies and functions.
- Willingness to work flexibly across time zones, in line with the global nature of the role.
- A relevant project or programme management qualification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, MSP or equivalent) is desirable but not essential.
What’s In It For You
We provide comprehensive support for our colleagues' health and wellbeing, including private medical cover, life assurance, critical illness cover, and regular health assessments. In addition, we offer a range of lifestyle benefits designed to help our team live their best lives, such as a cycle to work scheme, access to online GP appointments, discounted gym memberships, and an electric vehicle scheme.
Equal Opportunities and Accessibility
We are a disability and neurodiversity inclusive employer and we want to ensure that you have a barrier‑free recruitment experience at Bird & Bird. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please provide details to your recruitment contact. We will be in touch to discuss these adjustments and to understand your individual needs.
