POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Information Technology leads the firm's IT function at the operational level, overseeing infrastructure, security, applications, and support services across all offices and practice groups. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires equal strength in three areas: building trusted relationships with partners, practice group leaders, and staff; leading and developing a high-performing IT team; and managing the IT budget and vendor relationships with financial discipline. The successful candidate will be a visible, approachable presence within the firm who translates technical priorities into business terms and builds the firm-wide buy-in needed to execute them.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Relationship Building & Leadership- Serve as a trusted advisor to partners, practice group leaders, and administrative staff, building strong working relationships across the firm to understand business needs and translate them into technology solutions.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the IT team, fostering a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
- Act as a visible, approachable point of contact for technology matters; regularly meet with attorneys and department heads to gather feedback and anticipate needs.
- Partner closely with the CIO, Executive Committee, and other firm leadership to align IT strategy with overall firm strategy and growth plans.
- Champion change management efforts, communicating the rationale and benefits of new systems or processes in ways that drive adoption across all levels of the firm.
- Represent IT effectively in firm-wide meetings and committees, building credibility and influence outside the IT department.
Financial Management- Develop, manage, and monitor the annual IT operating and capital spending plans, ensuring spend is aligned with firm priorities and delivers measurable value.
- Analyze and report on IT spending trends, identifying cost-saving opportunities without compromising service quality or security.
- Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with software vendors, hardware suppliers, and outsourced service providers to ensure favorable terms and accountability for performance.
- Build and present business cases (ROI, total cost of ownership) for major technology investments to firm leadership.
- Track and forecast departmental expenses, providing regular financial reporting to the CIO and Executive Committee.
- Evaluate build-vs-buy and cloud-vs-on-premise decisions through a financial and risk lens.
Technology Strategy & Operations- Oversee day-to-day IT operations, including network infrastructure, help desk/support services, applications, and telecommunications.
- Direct the selection, implementation, and maintenance of legal-specific systems, including document management, practice management, e-discovery, and time/billing platforms.
- Develop and execute a multi-year technology roadmap that supports attorney productivity, client service, and firm growth.
- Own business continuity and disaster recovery planning to protect firm and client data.
Information Security & Risk Management- Maintain and continuously improve the firm's cybersecurity posture, including data privacy practices required to protect confidential client information.
- Ensure IT policies, procedures, and controls comply with client security requirements, outside counsel guidelines, and applicable regulations.
- Oversee vendor security assessments and manage the firm's response to client security audits and questionnaires.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
EXPERIENCE/REQUIREMENTS:Required- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
- 8+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, including at least 3 years managing an IT team, ideally within a law firm or other professional services environment.
- Demonstrated success building relationships and credibility with attorneys, partners, or other senior professionals in a client-service organization.
- Proven experience managing an IT budget of comparable scope, including vendor negotiation and contract management.
- Strong knowledge of law firm technology systems (document management, practice management, e-billing, e-discovery) or a comparable regulated, client-facing industry.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
Preferred- Experience in a law firm or other professional services firm of similar size.
- Relevant certifications such as PMP, ITIL, or a security credential (e.g., CISSP, CISM).
- Experience leading firm-wide technology change initiatives (e.g., cloud migration, DMS implementation).
CORE COMPETENCIES- Relationship Building - Builds genuine trust and rapport with partners, staff, and vendors; is seen as approachable and responsive.
- Leadership & Team Development - Motivates, coaches, and grows a technical team; delegates effectively while remaining accountable for outcomes.
- Financial Acumen - Manages budgets with discipline; makes and defends data-driven, cost-conscious decisions.
- Business Partnership - Understands the firm's business and client-service priorities and connects technology decisions to them.
- Communication & Influence - Communicates clearly across technical and non-technical audiences; builds buy-in for change.
- Judgment Under Pressure - Makes sound decisions during outages, security incidents, or competing priorities.
FIRM BENEFITSThe Firm offers a competitive benefits package for our full-time employees and their families. Here is a summary of our benefits (the list is not all-inclusive):
- Competitive Wage
- Paid Time Off, Holiday, Bereavement, and Sick Time
- 401K Retirement Savings Plan with Firm match
- Group Medical/Dental/Vision Plans
- Employer-Covered Supplemental Benefits
- Voluntary Supplemental Benefits
- Annual Performance Reviews
