Innovation Portfolio & Operations Lead; office

Position: Innovation Portfolio & Operations Lead (Any office location)
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

## Innovation Portfolio & Operations Lead (Any office location)
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Posted 2 Days Agojob requisition :
JR101395

This role provides an exciting opportunity to support the effective operation of Freeths’ central innovation function, working across the Service Innovation Studio and Legal AI Lab. The successful candidate will combine strong organisational capability with a detail-and process-oriented mindset, and a disciplined approach to governance and portfolio coordination.

This is a new role and an important enabler in the next phase of Freeths’ innovation and AI strategy. It will ensure that innovation activity is effectively captured, prioritised, tracked, and reported across the firm, supporting transparency, consistency, and delivery discipline. The role will also help ensure that innovation activity tessellates with the firm’s broader portfolio and governance arrangements, including appropriate alignment with the central PMO where initiatives move beyond exploration, design, or early-stage delivery.

The Innovation Portfolio & Operations Lead will report into the Head of Service Innovation Studio and work closely with the Head of Legal AI, the Divisional Innovation Managers, and wider Knowledge and Innovation stakeholders to maintain a clear and coordinated view of the firm’s innovation pipeline and portfolio. The role is deliberately situated within the innovation function, with a focus on managing the innovation pipeline and enabling disciplined progression through the innovation lifecycle, while also acting as an effective interface with the central PMO to ensure innovation activity is aligned with broader portfolio rhythms and can be handed over cleanly into wider delivery structures at the appropriate point.
** Key Responsibilities**
* ** Innovation Pipeline Management**:
Own and manage a coordinated intake process for innovation opportunities across the firm, supporting consistent triage and ensuring a clear and controlled pipeline of activity spanning Divisional, Studio, and AI initiatives.
* ** Portfolio Oversight**:
Maintain a consolidated, accurate, and up-to-date view of innovation activity across the function, ensuring consistency of documentation, visibility of status, and clarity on risks, dependencies, ownership, and progression through the innovation lifecycle.
* ** Governance & Operating Cadence**:
Support the design and operation of governance processes and regular cadences, including intake processes, triage forums, and reporting cycles, ensuring that actions and decisions are appropriately tracked and that innovation governance aligns effectively with broader firm portfolio and PMO rhythms.
* ** Reporting & Insight**:
Prepare regular reporting on portfolio status, progress, and outcomes, supporting senior stakeholders with clear and structured insight into innovation activity across the firm.
* ** Project & Delivery Coordination**:
Provide structured coordination support across innovation initiatives, helping to track milestones, risks, and interdependencies, enabling consistent delivery discipline across projects, and supporting timely transition into wider delivery, operational ownership, or PMO-led structures where appropriate.
* ** Stakeholder Coordination**:
Work closely with the Head of Legal AI, Divisional Innovation Managers, the central PMO, and wider stakeholders to maintain alignment between demand, prioritisation, design, delivery, and portfolio management, and to support effective handovers between stages of the innovation lifecycle.
** Essential
* ** Typically at least 3 years’ experience in portfolio coordination, PMO, operations, or similar roles within complex organisations.
* Demonstrable experience supporting governance frameworks and operating cadences, including preparing structured reporting for senior stakeholders and aligning project or portfolio information across related governance forums.
* Strong organisational skills with high attention to detail and disciplined documentation, process consistency and maintaining accurate, up-to-date portfolio information across multiple work streams.
* Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret information and support prioritisation and tracking of activity.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across teams and functions.
* Comfortable working in evolving environments, with the ability to bring structure and clarity to developing processes and ways of working.
** Desirable
* ** Experience working within legal or professional services environments may be beneficial.
* Project or Programme Management certifications (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP, Agile) or equivalent practical experience.
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