Chief Information Officer

Kennedys; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global law firm in London is seeking an experienced IT leader to oversee its IT function and manage global operations. The successful candidate will ensure operational delivery, develop IT policies, and maintain compliance with regulations. The role requires excellent leadership skills and a track record of managing IT teams across locations. This position offers a dynamic and supportive work environment focused on professional growth.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Diversity and inclusion programs

Support for professional growth

Qualifications

• Experience in a leadership role within an IT department in a professional services environment.
• Ability to lead and manage teams across multiple global locations.
• Comfortable leading and supporting change, managing stakeholders with empathy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global IT function and maintain operational delivery of IT services.
• Develop and implement IT policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership experience in IT

Excellent communication skills

Technical fluency

Strategic thinking

Client-focused orientation

Resilience in high-pressure environments

Job description

Team

Kennedys IT Team comprises approximately 90 people across Asia Pacific, EMEA, Latin America, UK, and the US. The UK IT Team has specialist teams focusing on IT Operations, IT Applications, IT Infrastructure IT Security and IT Data Teams.

The majority of the IT team is based in the UK, with key hubs in London, Chelmsford and Manchester.

The role involves regular travel to these offices to engage with teams and support key initiatives.

Key responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead the global IT function and maintain operational delivery of existing IT services
• Communicate the global IT priorities and roadmaps for function to all stakeholders globally
• Coach and develop senior team members in terms of industry technical knowledge and promote a team culture in keeping with the firm's values
• Oversee the IT function's global salary reviews and resourcing requirements
• Develop and share best practice and facilitate collaborative working between regions and countries
• Manage the central IT operational budget, collate global IT budgets, analyse and advise regions on proportionate spend
• Actively contribute to required transformation projects within the firm working closely with the other Global Business Services Chiefs.

Operational

• Deliver existing IT operations globally ensuring systems are secure, robust, reliable and properly supported and meet the day-to-day needs of all users
• Develop and implement IT policies and procedures as required
• Ensure effective information services procurement and vendor management from contract negotiation to monitoring service provision, in partnership with the Procurement team
• Ensure all technology related systems, processes, controls and security are kept up to date and fit for purpose and add value to the firm
• Provide expert advice and support when systems are being upgraded or installed
• Identify ways in which new technology may enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Risk, Security, Compliance and Cyber Resilience

• Ensure resilient technical architecture and robust contingency, risk management and business continuity plans for the IT function, including disaster recovery plans and cyber response
• Maintain IT governance to ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory standards
• Support the Risk & Compliance Team as required in the delivery of improved practices to maintain ISO 27001 accreditation.

Projects

• Ensure that key projects are delivered effectively (with the appropriate governance and oversight) to deadlines with close management of costs, resources and risks
• Oversight of IT programmes and projects, reporting on governance and delivery as required.

Key Relationships

• Global Business Services Chiefs
• Executive Group
• Regional Managing Partners

Requiredskills and experience

• Previous experience in a leadership role within an IT department gained in an international professional services environment
• Track record of leading, motivating and managing IT teams across multiple global locations
• Excellent communication skills, confident presenter, able to engage and persuade at all levels
• Possesses a high degree of technical fluency and is able to demonstrate and communicate the practical application of this competence
• Strong strategic thinker and influencer
• Strong team leadership skills and collaborator
• Comfortable leading and supporting change
• Ability to manage stakeholders collaboratively and with empathy
• Builds and manages relationships across a global network with senior leadership, including effectively managing within a global organisation
• Deals with difficult conversations with senior leaders to jointly come to the right outcome for the business
• Highly client service orientated, solutions focused, and results orientated
• Resilient with the ability to operate within high pressured environments

*where a level of experience is indicated, this is a guideline only and represents the amount of time we would usually expect a candidate to accumulate the requisite level of experience. This does not preclude applications from candidates with more or less experience.

About Kennedys

Kennedys is a global law firm with expertise in dispute resolution and advisory services. With over 2,750 people worldwide across 47 offices in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and America we have some of the most respected legal minds in their field.

Our lawyers handle both contentious and non-contentious matters, and provide a range of specialist legal services, for many industry sectors but we have particular expertise in litigation and dispute resolution, especially in defending insurance and liability claims.

We're a fresh-thinking firm, and we're not afraid to bring challenging new perspectives to the table way beyond the traditional realm of legal services. We empower our clients with a diverse range of ideas, tools and technology to make their lives easier, as well as delivering exceptional results, every time.

What do we have to offer?

We welcome high-performing lawyers, business services professionals, secretaries, graduates and apprentices to join our rapidly expanding global firm. Whatever your role at Kennedys, you'll be involved in exciting and stimulating work, where your input will make a difference.

Our values are at the core of who we are and what make us a great firm to work with and for.

The Firm recognises the value of investing in our people's development and believes our culture and values contribute to the quality of our work and of our client relationships. With a culture of on-the-job and experiential learning, peer to peer learning, mentoring, resources and tools that enable you to drive your career, we can support your development in your current and future roles.A variety of other opportunities are available including secondments to clients and our global offices.

We strive to celebrate diversity, empower our people and ensure everyone can bring their authentic selves to work.We've created a culture based on client service, professional excellence, hard work and trust, where diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is a key priority.We recognise that many of our people want to work for an employer that is aligned to their values, which is why we are building an inclusive culture, decarbonising our operations and supporting our people to thrive at work.Our people are the key to driving this change and helping us to make a difference to our clients, our people and the communities in which we live and work.

Kennedys is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. We expect all employees to be aware of and comply with all relevant policies and procedures within their jurisdiction, including those relating to Information Security, Data Protection and Quality Management, refer any breach promptly to Risk & Compliance and to complete all mandatory training when requested.