Programme Manager

Location: London

Purpose

Oversees the end-to-end management of high-impact programmes, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and successful delivery of outcomes. Leads cross-functional teams, manages the full programme lifecycle, identifies risks, and collaborates with key stakeholders to ensure resources, scope, and timelines are effectively managed and benefits are realised.

Your key responsibilities

• Oversees end-to-end programme management, including programme mobilisation, business case development, planning, scope, budget, timeline, resource management, and service transition.
• Works with other members of the team to develop and executes change enablement strategies to support successful programme implementation.
• Manages risks, issues, and dependencies to ensure seamless programme delivery and integration.
• Aligns programme outcomes with business cases and strategic objectives to ensure benefits realisation.
• Facilitates programme governance, ensuring that the programme has the right steering committee composition and that strategic decisions are made effectively.
• Facilitates stakeholder engagement, ensures effective communication and preparation for change adoption.
• Prepares reports and presentations for senior leadership, provides updates on programme status and progress.
• Monitors programme performance to identify and address challenges or opportunities for improvement.
• Drives best practice in programme management and ensures alignment with the Firm's overall goals.
• Leads a high-performing team in a matrixed programme environment, developing and implementing team goals and providing guidance to enhance team performance.

Your experience

• Five or more years’ experience in managing high-impact programmes in a global professional services firm, preferably in the legal sector.
• Track record of leading a high-performing team in a matrixed programme environment, managing the full programme lifecycle and collaborating with key stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to drive best practice and ensure alignment with the Firm’s goals.
• Solution-oriented thinking, commitment to best practice, and a keen eye for identifying value opportunities.
• Forward-thinking, collaborative, and inclusive mindset in line with Linklaters’ values and culture.
• A recognised project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE 2 Practitioner or APM equivalent), programme management certification (e.g. MSP) and demonstrated continuing professional development.

The Team

The Business Change team partners with stakeholders across the firm to deliver change initiatives that align with strategic goals—whether through process optimisation, technology implementation, organisational transformation, or cultural change. The team plays a crucial role in ensuring that change is delivered effectively, sustainably, and with minimal disruption. This role offers exposure to a broad range of projects and change methodologies, providing significant opportunities for professional development and meaningful contribution.

We are excited to welcome individuals who are forward-thinking, solution-oriented, and passionate about making a positive impact through well-executed change.

Linklaters

• Linklaters is a global law firm, with 31 offices in 21 countries worldwide.
• Linklaters is a people business. Being best in class in the eyes of our clients means that our people must be exceptional.
• We look not only for brilliant minds, but for people who will thrive in our environment: people who love working collaboratively and demonstrate the innovative, efficient, agile, entrepreneurial, and responsible mind-set we aim to bring to every interaction.
• Ours is an environment of outperformance. We achieve this not with targets and incentives, but by fostering a positive, supportive, fair, and open atmosphere.
• We respect and value difference but insist on inclusivity. We celebrate all aspects of diversity and challenge any form of bias. This is vital to our ability to work as one team, with a common goal.

Linklaters

• Linklaters is a global law firm, providing legal services in 20 countries and through 30 offices.
• Linklaters is a people business. Being best in class in the eyes of our clients means that our people must be exceptional.
• We look not only for brilliant minds, but for people who will thrive in our environment: people who love working collaboratively and demonstrate the innovative, efficient, agile, entrepreneurial, and responsible mind-set we aim to bring to every interaction.
• Ours is an environment of outperformance. We achieve this not with targets and incentives, but by fostering a positive, supportive, fair, and open atmosphere.
• We respect and value difference but insist on inclusivity. We celebrate all aspects of diversity and challenge any form of bias. This is vital to our ability to work as one team, with a common goal.

What sets us apart

At Linklaters

• We offer a truly global work experience and the opportunity to be involved in strategic projects that drive innovation and shape the future of our business
• We belong to a firm that embodies its corporate social, environment, and governance responsibility commitments
• We remain focused on talent and having the best people which will result in a diverse workforce
• Having got the best people, we want them to feel included, valued and respected so they can perform at their best
• We advocate speak-up culture to empower our people in sharing their voices and an open-door policy to ensure they are listened to
• We invest in custom-fit career paths for our people in line with their talents and aspirations
• We provide agile working solutions to meet the changing needs of our people and our business
• We are committed to people first relationships based on mutual trust, respect, and appreciation
• We support the health and wellbeing of our people, providing a safe space to talk about emotions and mental health with access to expert advice as needed
• We invest in developing leaders of the future who demonstrate emotional intelligence and a passion to discover, coach and develop the talents of others

Technical Skills

Budget Management, Change Management, Cost Management, Plan Management, PPM Frameworks & Methodologies, Program Designing, Project/Initiative Benefits Management, Project Management, Project Scoping, Projects Design, Resource Management, Risk Management, Schedule Management, Stakeholder Management

This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Application Policy

Applications and CVs (direct or via agency) areonlyaccepted online via the portal. Queries related to our roles must be directed to the relevant recruitment team andnotthe partners, practices or stakeholders ([email protected] [email protected] team roles).