Acceptance Testing, Agile Programming Methodologies, Analysis Skills, Atlassian JIRA, Automation, Budget Management, Budgeting, Business Analysis, Business Case, Business Development, Business Plan, Business Skills, Communication Skills, Computer Science, Corrective Action, Cost Benefit Analysis, Cross-Functional, Customer Relations, Customer Support/Service, Documentation, EEO Regulations, Employment Law, Establish Priorities, Leadership, Legal, Litigation, Mentoring, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word, Multitasking, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Metrics, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Project Lifecycle, Project Management Certification, Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Software, Project Planning, Project Tracking, Project/Program Management, Publications, Quality Assurance, Requirements Management, Resource Management, Risk Management, Scrum Project Management and Software Development, Status Reports, Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Technical Delivery, Technical Leadership, Test Plan/Schedule, Testing, Time Management, Waterfall Model of Software Development, Writing Skills
Greenville, South Carolina
The Senior Project Manager is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and delivery of complex technology and business initiatives that support Ogletree Deakins’ legal, operational, and client service objectives. This role holds accountability for project outcomes, including scope, timeline, budget, risk management, and value realization.
This position partners closely with attorneys, Immigration practice stakeholders, firm leadership, IT and Knowledge and Innovation teams to translate strategic priorities into well-managed, scalable solutions. The Senior Project Manager provides leadership across the full project lifecycle, from initiation and intake through execution, deployment, and post-implementation optimization.
Essential Functions:
- Lead and manage multiple complex projects from initiation through delivery, ensuring alignment with Firm strategy and business objectives
- Partner with business stakeholders, attorneys, immigration practice teams, and IT to define project scope, goals, and success criteria
- Facilitate project intake, prioritization, and governance processes across initiatives
- Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, resource allocations, and budgets
- Identify, assess, and proactively manage risks, issues, and dependencies across projects
- Serve as the primary liaison between business stakeholders, legal teams, vendors, and technical delivery teams
- Drive requirements gathering efforts and ensure clarity of business and functional requirements
- Oversee execution activities, including design, development, testing, and deployment
- Ensure effective coordination across cross-functional teams, including developers, architects, QA, and business analysts
- Lead user acceptance test plan development and business testing efforts and ensure readiness for production deployment
- Monitor project progress, performance metrics, and stakeholder satisfaction; implement corrective actions as needed
- Communicate project status, risks, and key decisions to leadership and stakeholders in a clear and professional manner
- Support process improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities for efficiency, automation, and standardization
- Maintain key project documentation, including project charters, plans, status reports, and process documentation
- Provide guidance and mentoring to Business Analysts and project team members
- Manage competing priorities across multiple initiatives while ensuring timely and high-quality delivery
Requirements:
The Senior Project Manager demonstrates strong leadership, business acumen, and a client-focused mindset, operating effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative law firm environment.
- Proven ability to lead complex initiatives with accountability for outcomes
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills grounded in data and business value
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, including attorneys and executives
- Demonstrated ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams without direct authority
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across diverse groups
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment in a legal services environment
- Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic environment and manage shifting priorities
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives
- Collaborative mindset with a focus on driving alignment and successful outcomes
Product & Delivery Expertise
- Full lifecycle project management for complex, cross-functional initiatives
- Experience managing projects within a law firm environment preferred
- Familiarity with immigration-related processes, systems, and compliance considerations preferred
- Business and systems analysis, including requirements elicitation and documentation
- Risk management, dependency management, and issue resolution
- Development of business cases and cost/benefit analyses
- Experience with Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid delivery methodologies
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting
Computer Skills / Office Equipment:
- Proficient in all Microsoft applications, including but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams
- Experience with project management and collaboration tools (for example: Microsoft Project, Jira, or similar platforms) preferred
Education/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience) preferred
- 5+ years of experience in project management, preferably within IT and/or legal environments
- Law firm experience strongly preferred
- Immigration practice experience or exposure to immigration-related systems and workflows strongly preferred
- PMP, Agile, Scrum, or other relevant project management certification preferred
Benefits:
Ogletree Deakins offers a robust suite of benefits for our Staff including: Paid Time Off, Paid Sick Leave, a 401(k) matching program, Profit Sharing, Paid Holidays, Paid Parental Leave, affordable Health and Life Insurance including Dental & Vision coverage, Health Savings Account /Flexible Spending Accounts to help offset the cost of dependent care and/or health care expenses, Tuition Reimbursement and an Employee Assistance Program.
Contact Information:
If you have questions, please e-mail Libby Naikelis at libby.naikelis@ogletree.com with “Sr. Project Manager – IT" in the subject line. Please note, applications submitted via e-mail will not be considered.
Firm Overview:
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Best Law Firms® has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 14 consecutive years. In the 2025 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor and Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 1,100 attorneys located in 60 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S.
We are fully committed to the importance of diversity within the legal profession, as well as all workplace environments.
Equal Opportunity Employer.