Intranet Platform Owner

Job Description

We are currently recruiting for an Intranet Platform Owner to join our Information Technology team in London.

Reporting to the Head of Knowledge Technology Platforms this Manager level role is responsible for the strategic evolution, governance and operational management of the A&O Shearman Intranet platform. The role will ensure the intranet becomes an intelligent, AI-enabled destination that connects people, knowledge, expertise and business services through search, Copilot experiences, agentic solutions and personalised digital experiences.

The role will chair the Intranet Governance Group, an executive-level strategic body composed of senior leaders and key business stakeholders from across the firm that provides strategic direction for the Intranet. The role is responsible for managing and motivating a virtual team of skilled IT professionals and directing external third-party service providers.

The role is accountable for ensuring the alignment of the A&O Shearman intranet with the strategic goals, digital transformation roadmap and operational priorities of the global firm.

The role-holder will work with teams and individuals to:

• design, develop, curate and build user-friendly but flexible solutions to store content and deliver requirements intuitively to our lawyers and business teams; and
• develop and implement governance frameworks for content management, and AI usage within the intranet

Role and responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the execution of the roadmap for the A&O Shearman intranet, delivering continuous improvement through enhancements to usability, personalisation and productivity using AI and automation where suitable.
• Define and execute the roadmap for AI-enabled intranet capabilities including enterprise search, knowledge discovery, personalised content experiences and agentic workflows.
• Facilitate and chair the Intranet Governance Group, the executive level strategic steering group for the Intranet
• Foster a culture of digital adoption and innovation; engage and communicate with business stakeholders across the firm, including senior management, practice groups, regions, functions and end-users, to understand their requirements, expectations and feedback
• Drive the adoption of AI capabilities (e.g., intelligent search, summarization, document classification) to enhance knowledge discovery and legal research.
• Support a global network of intranet content owners and local champions and lead and co-ordinate their engagement and activities.
• Establish and maintain best practice standards for intranet design, usability, accessibility, security and performance
• Support the governance and strategic rollout of Microsoft Viva Engage, ensuring alignment with organisational goals for employee engagement, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Align Viva Engage with the broader intranet strategy, identifying and leveraging synergies across the wider Microsoft technology stack to deliver a cohesive and scalable digital workplace experience.
• Develop customer relationships with senior business leaders, fee earners, knowledge lawyers and business teams to manage the delivery of the intranet platform.
• Support the Enterprise Architecture & Technology Platforms leadership team to collectively define, implement and operate the firm's the intranet platform.
• Act as the focal point for matters related to the intranet platform, providing expert guidance to other teams when required.
• Support service provider reviews to assess performance against service targets, drive innovation and ensure any remediation activities are being delivered.
• Contribute to the management of the intranet platform budget and benefits delivery, developing estimates and tracking performance against plans.

Key requirements
Experience

• Direct or related experience in managing intranet or similar platforms preferably within the legal or professional services sector.
• Knowledge and understanding of intranet best practices, trends and standards, including user experience, information architecture, content management, search and social. In-depth knowledge of data quality, metadata management, and related disciplines
• Expert knowledge of SharePoint Online, including features, functionality, configuration and integrations
• Familiarity with Microsoft Copilot, including its integration with Microsoft 365 and Power Platform. Knowledge of Copilot Studio for building custom agents and extending Copilot with enterprise data.
• Understanding of agentic AI-autonomous agents that perform tasks, make decisions, and adapt over time
• Knowledge of IT strategic planning, design, and operations processes.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to plan, prioritize and deliver on time and within budget
• High attention to detail and quality, with the ability to ensure compliance with the firm's policies, procedures and brand guidelines
• A passion for innovation and user-centric design, with the ability to identify and implement new ideas and solutions
• Have a keen interest in technology, automation, and data-driven decision-making in a legal context
• Have demonstrated ability to develop and cultivate senior stakeholder relationships across practice groups and business services
• Can work with the business to enable a more streamlined and simplified technology landscape ensuring user experience, accessibility and security is at the core of everything that we do.
• Have an understanding, or willingness to learn, the capabilities of existing Legal technology solutions such as M365, MS Teams, iManage and Search and how they can be integrated so that we can use them to solve the business challenges faced by our lawyers
• Knowledge of current IT and data market trends and technology innovations.

Personal

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate across all levels and functions
• Experience in a variety of roles that evidence an ability to challenge and embed new working practices whilst leading a can-do culture focussing on curiosity, collaboration, learning and development.
• Strong business acumen and deep understanding of how the firm is positioned in the global market.
• Ability to lead and develop team members.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and conflicting priorities.
• Promotes the firm's values at all times and is comfortable working with a wide range of people and departments.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.