Director, Project Management Office

Kilpatrick, a large international law firm, is seeking an exceptional individual for the role of Project Management Office (PMO) Director in our Atlanta, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, New York or Washington DC office. In this role, the PMO Director will initially lead the creation and launch of a new Project Management Office function within the firm. At Kilpatrick we are one team where each person plays an integral role in serving the needs of our clients. The firm has a strong dedication to its employees, values, diversity and inclusion initiatives and commitment to the community.

The Director serves as its senior leader, accountable for overall supervision and operation of the Office, and its management of the firm’s portfolio, programs, and projects. The PMO, in collaboration with firm stakeholders, will create and maintain multi-year roadmaps, with a responsibility to drive exceptional service delivery across our teams. The Director will oversee the governance of the PMO and its associated processes and standards. This role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and provides representation of the PMO and firm portfolios to leadership and senior administrative leaders.

Essential Job Functions

• Establishes and implement overall strategic governance for programs and projects within Office’s responsibility.
• Leads portfolio execution, partnering with firm leadership, stakeholders, and internal clients; defines and manages overall portfolio, including alignment of projects with firm programs.
• Defines, develops, and maintains PMO methodologies and common program/project management standards; ensures PMO governance processes extend across portfolio. Responsible for the implementation and rollout of these standards as part of standing-up the Office.
• Works with internal stakeholders to ensure key initiatives, progress, risks, and impacts are properly prioritized, estimated, resourced, managed, and communicated across the portfolio.
• Interfaces with internal teams to drive successful portfolio and project delivery.
• Oversees program and project managers assigned to portfolios within responsibility.
• Establishes methodologies to set targets for monitoring progress and performance of portfolio and projects, assessing results and evaluating realization of business benefit.
• During PMO launch and maturation, provides project management responsibilities for key initiatives.
• Provides portfolio updates to executive leadership and stakeholders; escalates issues and risks that may impede overall strategic delivery, and coordinates solutions.
• Communicates key portfolio financials (e.g., budgeting, actuals) and KPI’s (planned versus actual dates, % completion, quality), along with other metrics identified as needed to support stakeholder expectations.
• Develops and manages a quality program for the PMO, monitoring, analyzing, and improving operational delivery through periodic review and revision of common standards, practices, tools, templates, etc.
• Coaches and mentors program managers and project managers added to PMO as staffing is increased.
• Provides PMO leadership in the yearly budget planning process including labor, capital, and operating expenses for the Office.
• Additional duties as assigned.
  
  

Knowledge/Skills Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Computer Science, or related field required; PMP certification a plus.
• Experience working in a law firm; exposure within AmLaw 100 preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience creating and/or maturing a PMO function in a professional services organization.
• 10 years of PMO leadership experience.
• MBA a plus.
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Experience leading portfolios with general business initiatives and technologies utilized in the support of firm operations and the professional practices within the legal industry; Experience implementing the following and/or related:
• Firmwide Legal Applications and Business Services (Document Management Systems, Finance systems, New Business/Conflicts, etc.)
• Practice Support Systems (Knowledge Management, Case Management, Litigation Support, Client Extranets, etc.)
• Strategic Competitiveness and Efficiency Initiatives
• Enterprise Technology Solutions (Microsoft, SharePoint, Teams, etc.) typically used in law firm environments.
• Experience structuring portfolio roadmaps over multiple years of delivery that include client needs, business strategy, and financial constraints.
• Experience leading the work of portfolio, program and project managers contributing to PMO deliverables
• Strong interpersonal skills: Demonstrated ability to interact with senior management/leadership, external stakeholders, Department leaders, and contributing team members.
• Ability to lead, influence, negotiate, and work cooperatively across the organization matrix to achieve organizational goals.
• Excellent organizational skills: Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Willingness to travel, based on internal client and organizational needs.
  

This is a full-time, regular position with a multi-faceted health benefit package including medical, dental, and vision. The firm also offers life insurance, short term disability plans and retirement plans in addition to holidays and paid time off. The firm offers hybrid work schedules combining in office work days as well as remote work days. The pay range for this position is $175,000 to $225,000 annually.

Selected applicants will be contacted. Kilpatrick is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information about our firm, please visit our website at www.ktslaw.com.

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP is committed to equal employment opportunity for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex or gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities