Project Manager for Private Equity

Firm Information

Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers in 30 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, entertainment and media, shipping and transport, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.

Position Summary

Project Management for Private Equity (“PM Manager”) will contribute to Reed Smith’s value proposition by driving operational excellence and fostering an inclusive, collegial culture. The role will advance the Global Private Equity Chair’s (“PE Chair”) priorities and values, both independently and as a member of a key team (“The Team”).

Key drivers for success are strong organizational and project management skills, understanding of the clients and the legal projects in Private Equity for the clients, commitment to internal and external client service, and a high degree of drive, initiative and judgment.

This role will be a member of a fast-paced team that supports the PE Chair in driving forward business development, client on-boarding and client service. The candidate must be adept at navigating complex, high-pressure environments and be comfortable working both independently and as a member of a fast-moving team. The Team is expected to function as a singular unit, with each member contributing to ensure tasks are completed, processes are continuously improved, communication flows and deadlines are met. The candidate will interact directly with clients and partners across Reed Smith, maintaining and fostering positive relations.

Essential Functions

• Write complex engagement letters, including project scoping and pricing, with input from firm partners, PE Chair, Client Value Team, and others on the Team. Must be able to apply own understanding / research of project to draft scoping and assumptions for partner review.
• Create matter workstreams, including for full engagement and onboarding process of new clients, and train other team members on this set of tasks/responsibilities.
• Take ownership of tasks and projects, keeping status updated in team tracking documents, and contributing to team meetings and team communications with key updates and status information; demonstrate flexibility and ability to be nimble in the face of changing priorities as well as ability to juggle multiple tasks/projects simultaneously.
• Proactively manage changes in project scope, identify potential risks and devise contingency plans as appropriate.
• Step into legal engagements already in motion and diagnose ways to get matters on track and aligned with client goals.
• Must be able to handle dozens of simultaneous transactions for domestic and international clients, across multiple time zones and geographies, often on a very rapid turnaround basis; also ability to delegate; and ability to multitask.
• Frequent and clear communicator.
• Build strong relationships and rapport with key stakeholders to ensure clarity of objectives, delivery of projects, and alignment to overall strategic focus.
• Establish matter delivery framework by creating and implementing tools, processes, standards, and tracking mechanisms to follow-through on client initiatives.
• Manage significant client matters involving a number of resources, including client representatives, legal resources, project managers and technology.
• Estimate the resources and participants needed to achieve project goals and provide input in the budget-creation process.
• Continually compare matter progress to budget utilization and convey status to stakeholders in a Legal Project Management type capacity.
• Consult on the use of alternative staffing approaches and automation where needed
• Define project success criteria and disseminate them to involved parties throughout project life cycle.
• Create and complete “after action reports” to facilitate the continuous improvement of the execution of our legal project management program and legal work at large.
• As an active team member, identify support resources and help ensure all tasks/projects are moving forward.
• Liaise with innovation and technology teams to develop approaches to accelerate delivery and introduce efficiency.
• Work with the firm technology, including but not limited to dashboards, client extranets and matter management system to underpin the execution of the plans.
• Actively participate in initiatives set by PE Chair; help define and prioritize objectives, meet with stakeholders, source and analyze data, coordinate participants, monitor milestones, drive progress against plan and provide updates to sponsors and other relevant leaders.
• Analyze data from Reed Smith financial systems and create Excel-based financial reports.
Develop a keen understanding of law firm profitability metrics and key performance indicators-and how they interrelate
• -and demonstrate the ability to discuss those metrics with firm attorneys and clients.
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel.
• Enter and release time spent on Project Management and Legal Project Management for clients in the firm’s Time Entry system (currently Intapp), such that PE Chair can charge PM/LPM activities to clients as appropriate.
• Stay current with the varied project management approaches (e.g., Agile, Six Sigma, Scrum, Prince2) and tools within the legal market and other verticals.

Job functions included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job functions at any time.

Requirements

Education: College degree in Business or related field or equivalent work experience.

Experience: Minimum five years of relevant working experience, with at least 2 years of project management experience managing projects including drafting, scoping, and pricing engagement letters, financial/pricing aspects, and internal and client resources. Experience with use of technology to further project management.

Skills:

• Computer proficiency with advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, Visio, and MS Project (or equivalent) are required, Power BI preferred.
• Must be able to learn, understand and apply finance skills and new technologies.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to quickly and effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure team-based environment is crucial.
• Ability to respond appropriately to shifting priorities, demands and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to read communication styles of team members and clients who come from a broad spectrum of disciplines.
• Adept at conducting research into project-related issues and products.
• Willingness to work remotely with the Global Team and maintain seamless communication.
• Experience at working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment is essential.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior partners, clients and other constituents.
• Capable of walking the line between controlling and stifling the execution of a legal engagement by pairing the appropriate level of rigor and management to a matter.
• Ability to respond to project adjustments and alterations promptly and efficiently.
• Ability to welcome change and embrace the challenges and opportunities therein.
• Ability to bring projects to successful completion while navigating the related political and cultural environments.
• Ability to be persuasive, encouraging and motivating and to maintain a client-service focus and mindset.
• High level of professional maturity and integrity, demonstrable good judgment in sensitive and/or complex situations and unwavering discretion with confidential information.
• Ability to forge strong relationships and inspire trust quickly, collaborative work style, persuasive and influential at the executive level, and proven ability to manage and follow-through on situations and/or events successfully across business units, levels, and regions.
• Excellent verbal and written business communication skills with extensive experience creating presentations, visual and verbal.
• Ability to compile, review, analyze and synthesize data – financial, demographic or otherwise – to determine logical conclusions or provide recommendations based on data and information that is varied in context, content, and format.
• Self-starter with a high level of initiative and a bias for action who takes ownership, prioritizes, manages multiple complex and time-sensitive projects, and can meet competing deadlines with little guidance or oversight; ability to bring together multiple stakeholders to help drive decision; eager to learn through hands-on hard work and adapting to new responsibilities.

Other

Pay Range:This represents the presently-anticipated low and high end of Reed Smith’s pay range for this position. Actual pay may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location and experience.

NYC: $136,100 - $179,000.

CA: $143,000 - $188,000

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Equipment To Be Used: Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, fax, machine, copier, scanner, etc.

Typical Physical Demands: Manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office equipment.

Typical Mental Demands: Able to work effectively in a fast paced environment. Make judgment decisions and adapt to changing work situations. Grasp and apply new ideas. Communicate with various personalities at all levels.

Working Conditions: Works in typical office setting and/or remotely. Occasionally called upon to work hours in excess of your normal daily schedule.

Reed Smith offers a challenging work environment, business casual dress code and a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, flexible benefits program, tuition assistance, and generous 401 (k) plan.

Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reed Smith's success depends heavily on the effective utilization of qualified people, regardless of their race, ancestry, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, veteran's status, or any characteristic protected by law. As a firm, we adhere to and promote equal employment opportunity for all.

Reed Smith provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including in the application and interview process.

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.