Product Owner - Productivity Solutions

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

Our team 
The SES Team collaborates with legal teams and clients to develop our outward facing technology solutions and further increase our innovation offering. We at Eversheds Sutherland understand the need to ensure the fundamentals are delivered across the firm, but also that there will be a growing need to look at emerging and innovative technology to allow the firm to continue to deliver a high quality service to our Clients. The Team focuses on how we can improve the service we deliver to our Clients across the firm, whether that’s through the use of technology, innovation or process improvements.

We’re looking for a Product Owner to support on the delivery of the productivity solutions team strategy. The product owner will use their expertise, knowledge and hands on experience to both raise awareness and ensure the adoption of relevant solutions for our business whilst focusing on delivering an excellent client service. 

Role and key responsibilities
On a day-to-day basis, the product owner will take responsibility for how we drive value from our key technology solutions across the firm. This includes but is not limited to AI document review, 365 Copliot, diagramming, e-signature, comparison and proofreading solutions. They will be working closely with our practice group legal technologists to understand business needs, working with and managing our suppliers to help ensure the solutions meet our needs, identifying new uses to support our legal teams and defining product roadmaps.

They will also be involved in driving awareness campaigns, understanding and improving our current technology usage, using data and trend analysis to identify areas for improvement, as well as defining good processes and governance for the use of the solutions. 
Stakeholder management, at all levels of seniority, and communication will be integral in helping to succeed in this role. You will be expected to engage with various stakeholders such as our legal teams, legal technologists, IT business relationship managers, and suppliers, to understand how we can make better use of our technology solutions and drive value.
–    Reporting to the solutions manager, the product owner will support the delivery of our productivity solutions strategy in line with the SES firm-wide strategy.
–    Leads and supports on projects within the productivity solutions workstream to achieve the team’s objectives.
–    Driving the awareness and adoption of legal tech solutions and ensuring that they are embedded in day to day practice.
–    Takes a proactive role in upskilling stakeholders in tech solutions in line with the SES strategy. The product owner will need to develop detailed knowledge of the solutions and how these can be applied to legal work.   
–    Manages a high and complex workload. This will include the management of team sprints in relation to project and development work.
–    Uses analytical skills to report on the team’s tech solutions usage to relevant stakeholders to better understand adoption, adoption gaps as well as barriers to adoption. 
–    Builds excellent relationships within all areas of the business and clients. Working collaboratively with them to understand their requirements alongside any challenges in order to deliver a legal technology solution that is fit for purpose.
–    Defines, designs, tests and implements new tech solutions that allows lawyers and fee earners to work more efficiently and to deliver excellent client experiences.
–    Works collaboratively with the practice group partners, IT business relationship managers, knowledge, marketing and the wider IT team to drive returns on investments in legal tech supporting overall business and IT objectives factoring in budget, time and resource requirements.
–    Collaborates with the risk, cyber security, and IT teams to ensure that relevant IT, security and risk policies are adhered to and that any legal technology matters are compliant with quality and procurement policies.
–    Acts as a point of escalation for any issues identified that cannot be resolved by the support teams and responds to them within a timely fashion, managing communications to those impacted accordingly.

Skills and experience
We are looking for:
–    Demonstratable experience of working with legal technology platforms and products essential.
–    Experience in legal or professional services essential.
–    Certifications in different technologies or professional qualifications would be highly desirable, and in some cases essential.
–    Experience in delivery methodologies like waterfall and/or agile and product ownership would be desirable but not essential.
–    Experience with business analysis and/or project management would be desirable but not essential.
–    Demonstrable experience of contributing to winning work in pitches desirable but not essential.
–    Experience of working in a partnership environment would be desirable but not essential.

What’s in it for you?
At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.
–    We’re fair, transparent and equitable
–    We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
–    We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
–    We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
–    We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
–    We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
–    We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
–    We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
 

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.

For you,

For your success.

And what's next.