Programme Lead

The role

The Programme Lead (Maternity Cover to December 2025) will be responsible for the management oversight of the Operational Strategy Programme, ensuring its alignment with the firm's business objectives. This role involves strategic planning, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder engagement to drive operational efficiency and deliver projects on time, within scope, and on budget. The Programme Lead will also establish key performance indicators and maintain effective communication channels to ensure transparency and alignment across all initiatives.

In addition to programme management, the role encompasses significant responsibilities in dilapidations (for the existing building) and lease management. This includes reviewing and validating dilapidations programmes and costs, coordinating legal and administrative aspects, and engaging relevant teams for decommissioning plans. The Programme Lead will support negotiation strategies, facilitate presentations to senior management, and maintain visibility of ongoing activities and interdependencies with landlords and stakeholders.

The Programme Lead will also manage base building (for the new building) responsibilities, ensuring improvements in building accessibility and parking, obtaining and reviewing planning updates and insurance policies, and managing legal variations. The role involves overseeing base build modifications, construction monitoring, and design development, as well as facilitating practical completion and handover processes. This includes ensuring all documentation and protocols are in place, setting up ongoing management meetings, and establishing financial arrangements.

Who you will work with

You will join an established Programme Team, reporting to the Programme Manager and collaborating closely with the Programme Support Office and Sub-Programme Leads.

Your role in the Operational Strategy Programme will involve close cooperation with the Head of Facilities and Business Operations and their management team.

All responsibilities will necessitate strong engagement with external consultants.

What you will do

Operational Strategy Programme Leadership and Strategic Planning:

• Oversee the Operational Strategy Programme, ensuring timely, budget-compliant, and scope-accurate delivery.

• Develop and implement strategies that align with the firm's business goals.

• Engage and manage senior stakeholders to ensure programme objectives are met.

• Allocate and manage resources, including project teams and budgets.

• Identify and mitigate risks, establishing KPIs to monitor progress.

• Facilitate change management initiatives and maintain effective communication channels.

• Develop comprehensive programme plans and maintain effective governance processes.

• Ensure compliance with standards and sustainability goals.

Dilapidations and Lease Management:

• Review and validate dilapidations programmes and costs.

• Coordinate legal and administrative aspects of dilapidation works.

• Engage relevant teams for decommissioning plans and cost updates.

• Support negotiation strategies and facilitate presentations to senior management.

• Maintain visibility of ongoing activities and interdependencies with landlords and stakeholders.

Base Building Management:

• Pursue improvements in building accessibility and parking.

• Ensure planning updates and insurance policies are obtained and reviewed.

• Manage legal variations and address fire strategy changes.

• Fulfil planning and landlord conditions, ensuring timely submission of required information.

• Coordinate approvals and manage construction industry obligations.

• Oversee base build modifications, construction monitoring, and design development.

• Facilitate practical completion and handover processes, ensuring all documentation and protocols are in place.

• Set up ongoing management meetings and ensure financial arrangements are established.

2AS Sub-Letting (only required if we decide to sub-let levels 1 & 2):

• Plan and co-ordinate subletting activities, including appointing a Real Estate Agent.

• Understand sub-tenant expectations for various lease terms.

• Organise workshops to define scope of work and key activities.

• Investigate and plan for exterior and ground floor signage for sub-tenants.

• Define sustainability requirements and infrastructure separation for sub-tenants.

• Confirm allocation of plant space and determine building areas requiring segregation.

• Outline building offerings and service charges, including access to facilities.

Your experience

Experience:

• Proven experience in Programme and Project Management, preferably within a legal or professional services environment.

• Ideally, experience in managing Projects/Programmes within Facilities Management & Business Operations.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of operational strategy and project management principles.

• Strong leadership and team management skills.

• Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Excellent strategic planning and organisational abilities.

• Proficient in risk management and problem-solving.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritise effectively.

• Proficiency in project management software and tools.

Personal Attributes:

Detail-Oriented: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure high standards of programme delivery.

Adaptable: Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a dynamic environment.

Collaborative: A team player who can work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Strategic Thinker: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge.

From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.

Hybrid Working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society. 

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.

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