IT Solutions Delivery Lead

Sidley Austin LLP (IL LLP); Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Benefits package

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP is seeking an IT Solutions Delivery Lead to plan, design, communicate, and execute large-scale IT initiatives across the firm. You’ll collaborate with Product Management, Architecture, Engineering, and leadership to align strategy and execution, overseeing delivery analysts and coordinating with the IT Project Manager.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years in leading complex technology implementations, with strong PM skills and executive-facing communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• 7+ years leading complex, cross-functional technology implementations.
• 7+ years of experience in project management or implementation leadership for enterprise-level technology initiatives.
• Experience delivering large-scale, high-user-impact solutions.
• Strong knowledge of PM tools (Smartsheet, Asana, MS Project).

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, and guide end-to-end IT delivery initiatives.
• Lead requirement gathering and action plans with stakeholders.
• Prioritize work by business impact and strategic alignment.
• Oversee pilots and firmwide rollouts of new technologies.
• Communicate technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Identify risks and mitigate issues; maintain delivery frameworks.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Smartsheet

Asana

Microsoft Project

Job description

Reporting to the IT Solutions Delivery Manager, the IT Solutions Delivery Lead is pivotal in planning, designing, communicating, and executing high-impact IT initiatives that support firmwide transformation. These initiatives encompass core IT services such as Unified Communications, Microsoft platforms, Mobility, Infrastructure & Hosting, Marketing, Financial, and other business technology. The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams—including Product Management, Architecture, Engineering, and Technical Operations—as well as firm leadership to ensure strategic alignment and execution. Based on project size and complexity, the Lead may work independently or oversee a team of Delivery Analysts. Partnering with the IT Project Manager, the IT Solutions Delivery Lead oversees end-to-end initiative implementation—from early planning and analysis through build, testing, launch, and post-deployment support. This includes risk identification and mitigation, documentation, and issue triage. A key focus of the role is guiding technical and portfolio teams to research, engineer, implement and maintain delivery solution frameworks throughout each project lifecycle. The ideal candidate brings broad technical and cross-functional expertise, enabling them to quickly adapt to new technologies and deliver solutions that enhance operational efficiency and integration across the Firm’s technology ecosystem.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyze complex problems and translate them into clear, actionable goals and strategic plans.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to build and support compelling business cases, including analysis, process documentation, and action plans to ensure project success.
• Lead solution delivery by defining business requirements, providing technical guidance, creating actionable plans, and executing seamless implementation paths.
• Work with leadership and stakeholders to prioritize work based on business impact and strategic alignment.
• Leverage a deep understanding of user experience, particularly in a legal environment, to identify and address unique technical challenges.
• Partner with operational teams and IT Solutions Delivery Analysts to ensure technology initiatives are closely aligned with business objectives.
• Engage with external vendors to resolve product inquiries, conduct technology assessments, and participate in design and architecture reviews.
• Proactively identify unknowns and potential blind spots in technical implementations.
• Emphasize user experience and the quality of solutions over speed of delivery.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies and trends that support the firm’s long-term technology strategy.
• Manage pilot programs and firmwide rollouts of new technologies, ensuring readiness and effectiveness.
• Advise on project management implications throughout the initiative lifecycle, including strategy development, readiness assessment, training, and communication planning.
• Communicate technical and business concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences across various levels of the organization.

Education and/or Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of 7 years of experience leading complex, high-impact, cross-functional technology implementations.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in project management, business analysis leadership, or implementation leadership for enterprise-level technology initiatives.
• Experience delivering large-scale, high-user-impact solutions—whether in software, infrastructure, or hybrid implementations.
• A proven track record of contributing to the improvement of processes, methodologies, and delivery frameworks.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience with project management principles, tools, and methodologies (e.g., Smartsheet, Asana, Microsoft Project).
• Demonstrated strategic and creative problem-solving abilities, including the design of efficient systems, performance-metrics, and decision-making tools.
• Exceptional collaboration and influencing capabilities
• Experience preparing and delivering executive-level presentations.

Preferred

• Master’s Degree
• Consulting experience
• Legal industry experience
• Professional services experience

Other Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

#LI-EC1 #LI-Hybrid

The target salary range for this role is: $107,000 - $145,000 if located in Illinois. Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate.

Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email [e-mail] (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sidley is an elite global law firm with a known reputation of deploying innovative strategies to achieve powerful results. Business professionals are essential to the firm’s ability to deliver the highest quality legal services to our clients. We are always looking for talented, motivated individuals who thrive in a performance-driven culture to join our team. Sidley employs approximately 2,300 lawyers working with our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Our 160 years of perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape.