Assistant Director: M365 Product Management

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Information Technology department in our Chicago office, as an Assistant Director: M365 Product Management.

The Assistant Director: M365 Product Management will lead the M365 Center of Excellence (CoE) within the Desktop Architecture and Design Group. The primary purpose of the M365 CoE is to ensure the alignment of design, security, use, and access standards within the Microsoft ecosystem, and to establish a unified, transparent approach to decisions regarding Microsoft platforms across the organization. The Assistant Director: M365 Product Management will work closely with the IT Leadership Group and other Microsoft product and service owners to ensure all decisions about Microsoft 365 solutions are consistent, secure, and collectively understood.

This role will have responsibility for the Enterprise Collaboration team.  The Enterprise Collaboration team is responsible for but not limited to:

• M365 Copilot:  Administration, Agent Management & Deployment
• Microsoft Teams:  Meetings, Events, Team Creation, App Deployment, Policy Management and creation
• SharePoint Online: Site Creation, Platform Administration including lifecycle management and policy creation and management
• Zoom &  Webex Meetings
• Video Conference Devices
• Audio Visual planning and guidance

Essential Functions: 

• Lead the M365 CoE to establish and maintain design, security, usage, and access standards across the Microsoft ecosystem
• Develop and maintain the M365 product vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with the firm’s overall technology objectives and governance policies
• Serve as the technical authority for M365 configurations, integrations, and architecture decisions, ensuring they adhere to firmwide standards
• Collaborate with the IT Leadership Group and product owners of other Microsoft platforms to promote transparency and consistency in decision-making across the Microsoft suite
• Coordinate with security and compliance teams to enforce data protection, privacy, and governance requirements within M365 implementations
• Evaluate and plan the implementation of new M365 features and updates, ensuring they align with established standards and firm priorities
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of Microsoft’s roadmap and assess its implications for the firm’s technology strategy
• Monitoring Microsoft’s release schedule and proactively managing the impact of upcoming changes (e.g., application retirements, protocol deprecations) on the organization
• Performs other duties as assigned or required to meet Firm goals and objectives

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field; equivalent experience considered
• Relevant certifications (e.g., Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert) preferred

Professional Experience:

• 8+ years of experience managing or administering M365 environments, focusing on technical design, security, and governance
• Experience collaborating with IT leadership and cross-functional technical teams to drive alignment and standards

Professional Experience:

• 8+ years of experience managing or administering M365 environments, focusing on technical design, security, and governance
• Experience collaborating with IT leadership and cross-functional technical teams to drive alignment and standards

Performance Traits:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment (for exempt roles, when applicable)
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strategic and architectural mindset, with the ability to design and maintain cohesive, secure Microsoft 365 solutions
• Strong organizational and coordination skills for working with multiple product owners and technical stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills to document and share decisions, standards, and guidelines transparently
• Commitment to fostering a collaborative, consistent, and secure Microsoft ecosystem across the organization

Management Accountabilities:

• Manages processes for direct reports in regards to performance appraisals, annual compensation, goal setting and performance counselling
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience
• Operational budget analysis and recommendations
• Conducts analysis of staffing levels and participation in the recruitment process
• Able to determine and implement change processes to improve workflow efficiencies
• Process- and service-oriented with strong leadership and project management skills
• Able to set priorities and delegate in an efficient manner

Physical Requirements:

• May require travel to other offices as needed

The typical pay scale for this position is between $190,000 and $255,000, although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate’s education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified. 

The above is a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

The Firm may modify and amend this job description at any time at its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

Thank you for your interest in Mayer Brown. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request a reasonable accommodation related to the application process and/or job interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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