Innovation Manager
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The Innovation Manager will play a key role in supporting and driving forward innovation across the firm. You will work closely with lawyers, business services staff and the Head of Legal Innovation to lead and support the development and implementation of innovative ideas from lawyers and other stakeholders by creating new services and products as well as improving existing services.
About CMS
CMS is a Future Facing firm with more than 70 offices in over 40 countries and 5,000+ lawyers worldwide. We combine deep local market understanding with a global perspective. We are passionate about building strong relationships with our clients, our people, and the communities we work in.
We take a bold, dynamic, and agile approach to ensure our clients are able to face the future with confidence. We are driven by technology and readily embrace the possibilities it opens up for developing new and better ways of working. Our aim is to inspire, impact and support our clients and our people, helping them to maximize their potential and thrive.
About the Role
Responsibilities:
• Promote a culture of innovation and creativity across the firm, encouraging and supporting lawyers and other stakeholders to come up with new ideas and solutions that address client needs and market opportunities.
• Provide guidance and support to lawyers on developing innovative ideas into feasible projects, assisting with planning, resourcing and implementation.
• Work with the Head of Legal Innovation to review and approve applications for Innovation Hours, providing feedback and guidance to lawyers who want to pursue innovation projects.
• Manage the innovation pipeline, ensuring that ideas are captured, evaluated, prioritised and progressed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Oversee the Innovation Projects portfolio, tracking progress and ensuring timely delivery. Provide regular updates to the Head of Legal Innovation. Some elements of project management will be required here to support delivery of the innovation projects.
• Work closely with key stakeholders and IT developers to scope, design, prototype and test new services and products, using agile and user-centric methodologies to leverage technology and data analytics to bring new innovative ideas to life.
• Work with the Practice Groups, Business Development and other internal teams to identify and communicate the value proposition and benefits of new services and products to clients and internal stakeholders and to present this in a well-articulated and clear business case.
• Monitor and measure the impact and performance of innovation projects, new services and products, using data and feedback to inform continuous improvement and iteration.
• Keep abreast of the latest trends and developments in legal innovation and technology and share best practices and learnings with the wider innovation team and the firm.
• Collaborate with other Business Service teams throughout the firm who may have a role to play within the project and maintain and sustain good relationships with stakeholders. This includes the Document Automation team, the Legal Tech team as well as the IT Developers.
• Provide training to lawyers and other stakeholders on innovation tools and methods (e.g. design thinking).
We are looking for someone who has a passion for innovation and a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions in a legal or professional services environment. You will have strong project management and stakeholder management skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
You will have a creative and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to identify and seize opportunities, and overcome challenges. You will also have excellent communication and presentation skills, and the ability to influence and persuade others. This role would suit an individual who wants to make a difference and drive change within the legal industry.
About You
Qualifications & experience
• Degree or equivalent qualification in business, law, technology or related field.
• 3+ years experience in an innovation focused role.
• Experience of leading and managing innovation projects, from ideation to implementation, using agile and user-centric methods.
• Experience of working in a legal or professional services environment, with a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the legal industry.
• Experience of working with and managing senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, and building strong relationships across the firm.
• Experience of working with IT developers and data scientists and understanding the technical aspects and requirements of innovative solutions.
• Experience of working with legal tech tools and platforms, such as Microsoft Power Platform, HighQ, Contract Express, Kira, etc. preferred but not essential.
Personal attributes
• Excellent attention to detail and consistent delivery of high-quality work.
• Innovative self-starter who can work independently with minimal supervision.
• Naturally curious, open-minded and creative.
• Passionate about innovation with an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Highly organised with the ability to prioritise and manage tasks on simultaneous projects.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to persevere through challenges.
• Solution oriented approach.
• Exceptional relationship building and influencing skills.
• Inspires and motivates others around innovation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven.
Equal Opportunities
At CMS, a next-generation mindset is woven into all we do. We're diverse, supportive and inclusive, embracing our corporate social responsibility and creating a culture of sustainability in which every one of our people, whatever their background, can maximise their potential and thrive. For further information about CMS' diversity initiatives and programmes, please view the Diversity & Inclusion pages on our website.
Please apply online or contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team if you have any questions. For information regarding our competitive range of benefits please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.
Please note that CMS have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.
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