Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

K&L Gates is seeking an experienced Manager of Enterprise Applications to lead the strategy, lifecycle management, and operational support of the firm’s portfolio of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) applications. This role will oversee a team responsible for delivering reliable, secure, and scalable application services that support the firm’s legal and business operations.

The ideal candidate brings strong leadership experience, deep familiarity with enterprise platforms commonly used in law firms, and a proven ability to manage application lifecycles from selection through retirement.

Key Responsibilities

Application Portfolio Management

Own the lifecycle management of enterprise COTS applications, including evaluation, implementation, optimization, and retirement

Manage a diverse portfolio including iManage, ServiceNow, CRM platforms, Litigation Support tools, SharePoint, and SaaS solutions such as Box, HighQ, etc

Partner with stakeholders across legal, administrative, and IT functions to align application capabilities with business needs

Drive roadmap planning, vendor strategy, and continuous improvement initiatives

Team Leadership

Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of application analysts/engineers

Establish priorities, manage workloads, and ensure high-quality service delivery

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning

Operations & Service Delivery

Ensure stability, performance, and supportability of enterprise applications

Oversee incident, problem, and change management processes in coordination with IT Service Management (ITSM) practices

Define and monitor SLAs, KPIs, and service metrics

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

Manage relationships with key software vendors and service providers

Negotiate contracts, oversee renewals, and ensure value realization

Act as a liaison between business stakeholders and technical teams

Governance & Compliance

Ensure applications meet security, compliance, and data governance standards

Support audit requirements and risk management initiatives

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Minimum of 5 years of experience in a managerial or leadership role within IT or application services

Experience managing enterprise applications within a law firm or professional services environment

Strong understanding of COTS application lifecycle management and SaaS delivery models

Preferred

Hands-on experience with platforms such as iManage, ServiceNow, CRM systems, SharePoint, litigation support tools, and Box

Familiarity with ITIL or similar service management frameworks

Experience with vendor management and contract negotiations

Key Competencies

Strong leadership and team development skills

Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities

Strategic thinking with a focus on operational execution

Problem-solving mindset with attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Compensation Salary $128,000 - $249,000.

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

Please be advised that this position requires successful completion of a background check. In accordance with the Washington State Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act, and applicable law qualified California and Washington State applicants with criminal history records will be considered. A criminal history will not categorically exclude a candidate from employment, and the Firm will consider relevant factors before making employment decisions based on criminal history information.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

BENEFITS

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com.