Senior Project Manager in Bristol

RWK Goodman are seeking a Senior Project Manager to join our newly formed Business Transformation team in Bristol.

The Senior Project Manager provides leadership for a portfolio of complex, high-impact transformation initiatives across RWK Goodman, spanning both technology-enabled and broader business change. Sitting within Business Transformation, the role translates firm priorities into well-governed delivery from initiation through to closure, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement, risk management and achievement of agreed time, cost, quality and business outcomes. Operating as a trusted partner to Partners and senior leaders, the role brings clarity, structure and constructive challenge across multiple teams and suppliers, manages competing priorities and maintains momentum, while collaborating with other Senior Project Managers to embed best practice, strengthen governance and drive continuous improvement in the firm’s project and transformation capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of multiple complex and strategically important projects, taking full accountability for scope, timescales, budget, quality, risks and successful business outcomes.
• Establish clear project structure and direction, developing robust project plans, business cases, budgets, benefits, KPIs and delivery milestones, and maintaining control of risks, issues and dependencies.
• Select and apply the appropriate delivery methodology, using Agile, Waterfall or hybrid approaches according to the nature of the project, business environment and stakeholder needs.
• Lead and influence senior stakeholders, working collaboratively with Partners, legal teams, Business Services, IT and third-party suppliers to maintain alignment, resolve challenges and drive effective decision-making.
• Provide strong project governance and commercial control, including resource planning, financial management, reporting, escalation and management of cross-project dependencies.
• Anticipate and proactively manage delivery risks, providing constructive challenge and intervention where projects are at risk of moving away from agreed objectives, timelines or expected outcomes.
• Embed change management throughout delivery, ensuring stakeholder engagement, communications, training, adoption and transition activities are planned and successfully executed.
• Own benefits realisation, establishing measurable success criteria and ensuring projects deliver demonstrable business value and return on investment.
• Contribute to the development of RWK Goodman’s wider project and transformation capability, sharing best practice, supporting consistent ways of working and helping continuously improve project governance and delivery standards.

• 5+ years' experience successfully managing complex projects and business change initiatives, ideally within legal, professional services or another complex stakeholder-led environment.
• A strong track record of delivering projects end-to-end, from initial definition, requirements and business case through to implementation, transition and benefits realisation.
• Experience delivering a mixture of business transformation and technology-enabled change, rather than operating solely within IT.
• Strong project management disciplines, including planning, governance, budgeting, resource management, risk and issue management, dependency management and project reporting.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence and credibility to work effectively with Partners, senior leaders and subject-matter experts.
• The ability to undertake and facilitate business analysis, helping stakeholders understand current-state challenges, define requirements and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Experience managing projects involving multiple business functions, technology teams, external suppliers and other delivery partners.
• Experience of working with both traditional and Agile delivery approaches, with an understanding of Scrum principles and when different approaches are appropriate.
• Sufficient technical understanding to work confidently with technology teams and suppliers, ask the right questions and provide appropriate challenge without needing to be a technical specialist.
• A strong understanding of change management and adoption, recognising that successful project delivery requires changes to people, processes and ways of working, not simply implementation of a solution.
• Experience defining project outcomes, establishing appropriate success measures and supporting the measurement and realisation of benefits and return on investment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly understand complex business challenges and bring structure and clarity to them.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and succinctly to different audiences.
• A high level of personal ownership and accountability, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain momentum in a fast-moving environment.
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach, with a willingness to help develop and continuously improve the firm's wider approach to project and change delivery.

At RWK Goodman, you can enjoy a strong legal career, with exceptional client work. And you’ll be supported, every step of the way.

A progressive Top 100 law firm, over 650 colleagues. 36 specialist areas. 3 legal divisions. With offices across the South West, Thames Valley and London.

Committed to collaborative growth and shared success, we’re focused on delivering sustained positive change. Because we want to make a lasting difference to the world around us and achieve our vision of being the firm what clients want to work with and people want to work for.

To find out more about why we are different click here.

Some benefits will differ depending on the level of role. Please reach out to the Recruitment team for further clarification.

• 26.5–31.5 days’ holiday per year
• Buying and selling holiday
• Healthcare cash plan / private medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Discretionary profit and performance-related bonus
• Hybrid working
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced family leave
• Recruitment referral bonus
• Group income protection
• Salary reviewed regularly

We know our people are what sets us apart. That’s why we continue to nurture and develop our colleagues and attract and retain the best talent.

We support colleagues with a robust programme of learning and development opportunities, underpinned by our transparent Career Development Framework (CDF), which shows exactly what you need to achieve to grow your career with us.

From mentoring initiatives, through to personal development programmes and courses, we are proud to offer a suite of opportunities to drive your career and achieve your ambitions.

We’re on a mission to create a dynamic and inclusive culture. And that starts with our recruitment process. If you have a disability, whether visible or not, we want to work with you every step of the way. Because we want to give you the best chance of success when you apply.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to accommodate your disability, such as extra time on written assessments, an accessible interview room or a quiet space before and after the interview, please speak to our Recruitment Team so that we can work together to help bring your best self.

You can find out more about our ED&I initiatives here.