Programme Manager - Job Opportunity at Kennedys Law

Dublin, Ireland
Full-time
Senior
Posted: May 26, 2025
Hybrid
EUR 85,000 - 110,000 annually. This estimate reflects the senior-level nature of the role, Dublin's competitive market for technology programme managers, and the international scope of responsibilities. The position's strategic importance in a major transformation initiative and requirement for extensive travel and stakeholder management justifies the upper-mid range for programme management roles in Ireland's legal sector.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities through specific training programs that enhance career progression and industry expertise
International exposure through travel to 21 key countries where Kennedys operates, providing global experience and cultural competency
Leadership development through managing complex multi-regional programmes and diverse stakeholder groups
Strategic business involvement in major technology transformation initiatives that directly impact firm-wide operations

Key Responsibilities

Drive enterprise-wide digital transformation across 21 countries, implementing new platform strategies that fundamentally reshape global operations and competitive positioning
Lead cross-functional programme execution using structured Discover, Design, Deliver, Review methodology to ensure systematic delivery of complex multi-million-dollar initiatives
Orchestrate multiple concurrent workstreams while eliminating critical blockers and establishing accountability frameworks that drive organizational performance
Develop and execute comprehensive risk mitigation strategies while escalating critical issues to C-suite leadership for strategic decision-making
Cultivate strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders across diverse geographic regions to ensure programme alignment with business objectives
Optimize financial resources and programme budgets to maximize ROI while maintaining operational efficiency across multiple project portfolios
Design and maintain executive-level performance dashboards tracking KPIs that provide actionable insights for senior leadership decision-making
Establish programme scope and deliverables that align with corporate strategy while ensuring measurable business value creation
Facilitate strategic communication between business units, technical teams, and executive leadership to maintain organizational alignment during major transformation
Allocate human and financial resources across competing priorities while balancing regional requirements and global standardization objectives

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred)

Experience

10 + years of experience in programme management, project management, or a related role

Required Skills

Strong knowledge of project & programme management methodologies (MSP, PRINCE2 and/or APM Practitioner, AgilePM) Proven experience managing large, complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders across multiple regions Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and prioritise competing demands Experience with budgeting, financial tracking, and resource allocation Strong problem-solving skills and ability to navigate ambiguity Proficient in project management tools (e.g. Monday.com, Microsoft Project, Trello) Flexibility to travel to other office locations as required A motivated self-starter who is a strong leader and team player, determined to meet a challenge and resilient in the face of set-backs

Certifications

MSP PRINCE2 APM Practitioner AgilePM
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Legal industry is experiencing accelerated digital transformation post-COVID, with law firms investing heavily in technology infrastructure to improve client service delivery and operational efficiency. This transformation includes cloud migration, automation of routine processes, and implementation of AI-powered tools for document review and case management. Global law firms are consolidating their technology platforms to achieve economies of scale and standardize service delivery across international offices. This trend is driven by client demands for consistent service quality and the need to reduce operational complexity in multi-jurisdictional practices. The legal technology market is witnessing increased adoption of integrated practice management systems that combine case management, billing, document management, and client communication tools. Firms are moving away from disparate systems toward unified platforms that provide better data analytics and workflow optimization.

Role Significance

The role likely involves managing a programme team of 15-25 professionals including project managers, business analysts, technical leads, and regional coordinators. Additionally, the role requires coordination with hundreds of stakeholders across 21 countries, making stakeholder management a critical competency.
This is a senior-level strategic role that reports directly to IT leadership and interfaces regularly with C-suite executives. The role holder will have significant autonomy in programme execution while being accountable for multi-million-dollar transformation outcomes. The position requires someone who can operate as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and drive change across a global organization.

Key Projects

Global technology platform migration involving core practice management systems, document management platforms, and client portal implementations Business process reengineering initiatives that standardize workflows across international offices while accommodating local regulatory requirements Change management programmes that ensure user adoption of new technologies and processes across diverse cultural and linguistic environments Data migration and integration projects that consolidate information from legacy systems while maintaining data integrity and security compliance

Success Factors

Ability to navigate complex organizational politics across different cultural contexts while maintaining programme momentum and stakeholder buy-in. This requires exceptional emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity combined with strong negotiation and influence skills. Deep understanding of both technology implementation challenges and legal industry operational requirements. Success depends on bridging the gap between technical possibilities and business needs while managing competing priorities from different practice areas. Strong financial acumen to manage programme budgets effectively while demonstrating clear ROI to partnership-level stakeholders who may be skeptical of technology investments. This includes ability to translate technical benefits into business value propositions. Exceptional communication skills to facilitate alignment between technical teams, business users, and executive leadership. The role requires ability to present complex programme status information in formats appropriate for different audience levels. Resilience and adaptability to manage inevitable setbacks and scope changes that occur in large-scale transformation programmes while maintaining team morale and stakeholder confidence.

Market Demand

High demand driven by widespread digital transformation initiatives across professional services firms. The combination of programme management expertise and legal industry knowledge creates a specialized skill set that is increasingly valued as firms modernize their operations.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Programme management methodology expertise (MSP, PRINCE2) is essential because legal firms require structured, risk-managed approaches to transformation that can demonstrate clear governance and accountability to partnership stakeholders who are typically risk-averse Cross-cultural communication and stakeholder management skills are vital given the need to coordinate across 21 countries with different languages, cultures, and legal systems while maintaining programme coherence and momentum Financial management and budget optimization capabilities are crucial because law firm partners closely scrutinize technology investments and expect clear demonstration of ROI with detailed cost-benefit analysis Change management expertise is critical in the legal industry where professionals are often resistant to technology adoption and require careful support and training to embrace new ways of working

Beneficial Skills

Legal industry knowledge or professional services experience provides valuable context for understanding the unique operational challenges and client service requirements that drive technology transformation priorities Agile project management skills complement traditional methodologies and enable more responsive programme delivery, particularly important when managing technology implementations that may require iterative development and user feedback incorporation Data analytics and reporting capabilities enhance ability to demonstrate programme value and identify optimization opportunities, increasingly important as law firms focus on data-driven decision making and performance measurement

Unique Aspects

This role offers rare opportunity to lead a global transformation programme across 21 countries, providing exceptional international experience and exposure to diverse legal markets and regulatory environments
The position combines strategic programme management with hands-on operational involvement, allowing for both high-level strategic thinking and detailed execution experience
Working within the legal industry provides unique insights into professional services transformation challenges, including managing change-resistant cultures and complex regulatory compliance requirements
The role offers direct exposure to senior partnership-level stakeholders, providing valuable experience in managing sophisticated client relationships and understanding legal business economics

Career Growth

Career progression to director-level roles typically occurs within 3-5 years after successfully completing a major transformation programme of this scope. The international experience and proven ability to deliver complex change initiatives significantly accelerates advancement opportunities.

Potential Next Roles

IT Director or Head of Technology roles within large professional services firms, leveraging the experience gained from leading enterprise-wide transformation initiatives Chief Digital Officer positions in mid-sized organizations, particularly in professional services or other knowledge-intensive industries Senior Programme Director roles in major consulting firms specializing in legal technology transformation Independent consulting opportunities as a transformation specialist for law firms and professional services organizations

Company Overview

Kennedys Law

Kennedys Law is a global law firm specializing in litigation, dispute resolution, and regulatory matters with particular strength in insurance, healthcare, and marine law. The firm has grown significantly through international expansion and strategic acquisitions, establishing itself as a major player in the international legal market with offices across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.

Kennedys is recognized as a leading international law firm with strong market presence in key commercial centers. The firm's focus on specialized practice areas and international coordination capabilities positions it well among mid-to-large sized global law firms, competing effectively with both traditional international firms and emerging global players.
The Dublin office serves as a key European hub for Kennedys' operations, benefiting from Ireland's favorable business environment and EU membership. This location provides strategic advantages for serving European clients while maintaining strong connections to UK and international markets.
Kennedys emphasizes collaborative teamwork and professional development, with values focusing on being approachable, straightforward, supportive, and distinctive. The firm's international growth strategy creates opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and global career development, while maintaining a relatively entrepreneurial culture compared to traditional large law firms.
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