Information Technology Manager

Kilburn & Strode is one of Europe’s pre-eminent intellectual property firms. We act for UK, US and European clients at the forefront of their sectors on their most challenging, business-critical IP matters – from EPO and Unified Patent Court proceedings to M&A due diligence, strategic portfolio management and high-value prosecution. We have offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the US.

We are a certified B Corporation™ that looks forward, not back. We have a clear five-year strategy and an ambition to be the market leader in premium IP work by 2030. Our values – be curious, think commercially, act collaboratively, take ownership, make a positive impact – are not a poster on a wall. They shape how we work and who we hire.

Reporting to the Head of IT, you will be accountable for day-to-day IT service delivery, team performance, operational governance and compliance, and ensuring operations support the firm’s strategy. You will ensure that core platforms, including Microsoft 365, the wider SaaS estate, and AI tools, are secure, scalable, and audit-ready.

This is a broad, highly visible, hands‑on leadership role within a modern cloud‑first environment. It will suit someone who enjoys balancing operational responsibility with technical involvement, while mentoring, managing, and developing an IT team.

You will have the experience of running and managing all aspects of the IT function, including direct line management of other managers within the team. You will bring proven operational maturity from comparable roles, and drive continued improvement in service standards, process discipline, and governance.

You will remain technically hands‑on, comfortable building, configuring, and troubleshooting directly when it adds value, not only managing through the team.

• Maintain regular communication with the Head of IT, providing relevant updates and escalating significant issues.
• Lead day‑to‑day IT service delivery, accountable for team performance, operational governance, and compliance.
• Ensure that core platforms, including Microsoft 365 and the wider SaaS estate, are secure, scalable, and audit‑ready.
• Deliver a high‑quality, client‑first IT service to colleagues, with empathy for the urgency and pressures of a fee‑earning environment.
• Manage and maintain office‑based technology, and ensure internal and external events are delivered to a high standard.
• Prioritise work across the team and hold the team to account for delivery against agreed timescales.
• Drive improvements to system performance, reliability, and user experience.
• Take end‑to‑end ownership of major incidents and operational issues, ensuring resolution, root cause identification, and prevention of recurrence.

• Build, develop, and retain a high‑performing IT team.
• Provide direct line management of other managers within the team, with mentoring, coaching, and performance management.
• Define ownership across operational domains and set clear standards for delivery.
• Ensure consistency of standards, processes, and delivery across the IT team.

• Develop strong incident, problem, and change management processes.
• Oversee JML processes, ensuring they are controlled, efficient, and auditable.
• Standardise documentation and knowledge management across IT.
• Deliver continuous improvement and maturity across the IT operational disciplines.

• Ensure operational alignment with ISO 27001 controls and the firm's ISMS framework.
• Maintain audit‑ready evidence (patching, access reviews, monitoring, backups).
• Contribute to cyber security, risk management, and business continuity planning, including managing live…