Product Specialist 1

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.

What to expect
For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It’s energetic, fast-moving and there’s always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity. Focusing on your success and for what’s next, will ensure you thrive too.

Our team
The SES Team was initially created in 2018 to focus on working 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 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.

Role and key responsibilities

The Product Specialist acts as a key member of the SES team supporting the delivery of the Platforms team strategy using their expertise and knowledge to enhance awareness and ensure the adoption of the solutions in day to day practice whilst focussing on delivering an outstanding client experience.

Product Specialists work with the Product Owner, Solution Manager, Practice Groups and directly with clients on day to day activities to support the business requests for their products which can include new sites, training or troubleshooting and delivery of the product roadmap. They will be required to have a deep understanding of the products, help establish best practice within the team, and proactively work towards increasing our knowledge and usage of the product across both the SES Team and within the Practice Group Tech Teams. They will also have the freedom to identify new opportunities with the product base and develop prototypes to pitch to the practice groups.

They will support the Product Owner in raising awareness or the ongoing pipeline of work.

Working predominantly with HighQ Collaborate and Contract Express (the Products), Product Specialists work with the business to understand requirements, progress with the development/configuration against those requirements, complete user testing and support go live activities. They are the experts in their products from a technical point of view, being the go to people for capability queries and actively feed ideas for enhancements or fixes into the product backlog for consideration. They work with the Product Owner to provide advice and guidance on the best way to meet business needs and solve problems, along with estimates on the effort required to deliver each phase for the Product Owner to agree priorities and manage the expectations of the business.

Skills and experience
We are looking for:

Primary accountabilities of the Role;

• Reporting to the Legal Tech Solutions Manager the Product Specialist will support the delivery of the Platforms team strategy in line with the SES firm-wide strategy.
• Embeds themselves within the firm as an expert for the Products, understanding what is achievable and how, as well as helping to define specific solutions to requirements.
• Proactively works to deliver ongoing benefits across the Products, working with stakeholders to understand the needs and detailed requirements.
• 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.
• Takes responsibility for any ongoing/regular maintenance activity required.

Key Capabilities and Behaviors

• Experience of the following (in order of importance):
• HighQ or Contract Express knowledge and experience would be beneficial but not mandatory.
• Strong day to day self-management with a focus on service excellence and delivery whilst role modelling exemplary behaviours in line with the firm’s purpose and values.
• Has a good technical ability and proficiency with the ability to translate this in to an understandable manner for a variety of audiences to understand.
• Excellent communication skills in a variety of situations and when dealing with a variety of challenging stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use their expertise within HighQ Collaborate to define suitable and quality solutions to complex problems as well as estimate the effort required to deliver them.
• Confident and credible in dealing with internal and external stakeholders with the ability to build lasting and strong relationships
• Innovative and solution oriented with a positive outlook.
• HTML, CSS or JAVA coding experience would be beneficial but not mandatory.
• Works with stakeholders in driving the awareness and adoption of the Products, supporting with any initial issues where appropriate.
• Helps to support with upskilling stakeholders in the Products across the practice groups. To achieve this, the Product Specialist will be required to work collaboratively with the Product Owner, practice group technology teams to share best practice and experiences on how to get the most value.
• Manages a busy workload day to day with the ability to prioritise work and achieve time sensitive deadlines.
• Builds excellent relationships within the practice groups and with international operations teams working collaboratively with them to understand their requirements alongside any challenges in order to deliver a legal technology solution that is fit for purpose.
• Assists with the introduction and embedding of new solutions built using the Products to ensure a seamless integration and use for lawyers and fee earners.
• Deploys agile project management methodologies as well as IT best practice to provide an excellent and efficient service to all stakeholders.
• Assists with any upgrades, integrations or configurations of existing solutions ensuring that these are thoroughly tested and any quality issues are resolved. This may require working with the appropriate Suppliers and/or other Teams within the wider D&O Teams
• Define, design, tests and implements solutions that allows lawyers and fee earners to work more efficiently and to deliver excellent client experiences whilst also proactively identifying opportunities to add value through their interactions with stakeholders.
• Collaborates with the cyber security team to ensure best practice, especially when sharing technology solutions with clients.
• Collaborates with the Risk and IT teams to ensure that relevant IT and Risk policies are adhered to and that any legal technology matters are compliant with quality and procurement policies.

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

We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

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.