Senior Legal Project Manager

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Senior Legal Project Manager to join our growing Legal Project Management team, part of WBD Advance.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in transforming the way legal services are delivered, working alongside lawyers, technologists, analysts and operations professionals on some of the firm's most significant matters, programmes, service implementations and client initiatives.

Our Senior Legal Project Managers are trusted advisers to both clients and legal teams, leading governance, managing stakeholder relationships and bringing structure, visibility and control to complex programmes of work.

This role can be based in Bristol, Newcastle or Plymouth, with hybrid working available. Ideally, the successful candidate will be able to attend one of our offices one to two days per week to support collaboration with colleagues, partners and clients.

WBD Advance is Womble Bond Dickinson's alternative legal and business services division. Bringing together lawyers, legal project managers, technologists, data analysts and operations professionals, we help clients and legal teams deliver work more efficiently, effectively and intelligently.

Our Legal Project Management team is embedded within legal delivery, working directly with partners, lawyers and clients to scope, manage and deliver complex legal matters, programmes and strategic initiatives. The team plays a critical role in improving client experience, managing risk, driving efficiency and supporting innovative approaches to legal service delivery.

This is a broad and varied role that combines project delivery, implementation, mobilisation and operational improvement.

You will be responsible for leading complex matters and programmes from initial scoping through to successful implementation and transition into business-as-usual operations. Working closely with lawyers, clients and business services teams, you will help design and embed scalable delivery models, sustainable processes and effective governance arrangements.

The role will initially have a primary focus supporting our Planning & Infrastructure practice, including major infrastructure and Development Consent Order (DCO) projects. However, WBD Advance supports a wide range of legal and business services across the firm, and there will be opportunities to work on a variety of legal, operational and transformation initiatives.

• Lead the planning, governance and delivery of complex legal matters, programmes and strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with partners, lawyers and clients to define scope, objectives, delivery approaches and success measures.
• Manage risks, issues, dependencies, budgets and resources to ensure successful outcomes.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across legal, operational and technology work streams.
• Develop reporting, governance and management information that provides clear visibility of progress and performance.
• Support the implementation, mobilisation and transition of new client services and solutions into operational delivery teams.
• Design and embed efficient, scalable delivery models and ways of working.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, quality and client experience.
• Support business development activities and help demonstrate the value of Legal Project Management to clients and prospective clients.
• Coach and mentor junior members of the Legal Project Management team.

• Significant project or programme management experience within legal services, professional services, consulting or a similarly complex environment.
• Experience delivering large, multi-stakeholder projects and programmes.
• Experience implementing new services, operational processes or business change initiatives.
• Experience supporting the transition of projects into operational or business-as-usual delivery environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence working with senior leaders, lawyers and clients.
• A structured and pragmatic approach to planning, governance, risk management and problem-solving.
• Strong commercial awareness and a focus on delivering value and client outcomes.
• Excellent communication, organisation and influencing skills.
• A recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, or equivalent practical experience.