Deputy Chief Information Officer

Barnes & Thornburg LLP•Indianapolis, IN

2d•$285,000 - $300,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Chief Information Officer (Deputy CIO) is the operational anchor of Barnes & Thornburg’s Information Technology organization. In close partnership with the Chief Information Officer, this executive leads day-to-day technology operations across the firm, enabling the CIO to focus on artificial intelligence, technology strategy, knowledge management, innovation, and firm-wide digital transformation. The role is externally visible and high-accountability, combining operational discipline in a complex, geographically distributed IT environment with strategic judgment to support the firm’s growth. The Deputy CIO is the CIO’s principal delegate for operational matters, vendor relationships, budgeting, compliance, and staff development, and serves as acting CIO in the CIO’s absence. The Deputy CIO oversees technology services across 26 firm offices, supporting approximately 1,800 users and leading four directors responsible for Software Services, Systems, End User Support, and the Project Management Office. The position stewards the firm’s legal technology ecosystem, including platforms such as iManage and Elite 3E, and works with technology leaders to manage platform lifecycles, upgrades, integrations, and vendor relationships. The role also supports IT budgeting, security and compliance coordination, cross-functional communication, and operational readiness for emerging technology and AI tools. This role requires 4–5 days in the office. It is explicitly designed as a pathway to the Chief Information Officer position, with exposure to AI strategy, client-facing technology initiatives, executive leadership forums, CIO-level briefings, firmwide strategic planning, and relevant peer networks.

Requirements

20 or more years of progressive IT leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior director, deputy CIO, or equivalent operational leadership role.
Experience in an AmLaw 100 or 200 law firm, or a large professional services firm with comparable technology complexity.
Hands-on familiarity with core legal technology platforms, including iManage or a comparable document management system, Elite 3E or a similar financial management system, and supporting integrations.
A demonstrated track record managing multi-site, enterprise-scale IT operations; 25 or more locations preferred.
Experience directly managing a team of directors or senior managers across different technology disciplines.
Strong financial acumen and experience owning multi-million-dollar technology budgets.
Excellent executive communication skills and the ability to translate technical complexity for attorneys, firm leadership, and non-technical stakeholders.
Deep understanding of cybersecurity principles and legal-industry-specific compliance requirements.
Ability to work in the office 4–5 days per week.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating in an environment with a formal AI or digital transformation initiative underway.
Familiarity with AI-adjacent operational challenges, including data governance, model deployment infrastructure, and AI tool evaluation frameworks.
Relevant certifications such as PMP, ITIL, CISSP, or equivalent.
Experience with iManage Cloud, Intapp, or other leading legal SaaS platforms.
Prior exposure to legal industry groups such as ILTA (International Legal Technology Association).

Responsibilities

Exercise independent authority over IT operations across all 26 firm offices, ensuring consistent, reliable, and secure services for approximately 1,800 users.
Serve as acting CIO in the CIO’s absence and maintain decision-making continuity across IT functions.
Establish and enforce operational standards, service-level agreements, and performance metrics across four director-led teams.
Drive IT incident response, business continuity planning, and disaster recovery across the firm’s global footprint.
Lead, mentor, and manage the performance of the Directors of Software Services, Systems, End User Support, and the Project Management Office.
Foster a high-performance, collaborative IT culture aligned with the firm’s service expectations and professional standards.
Partner with HR on workforce planning, succession planning, and talent acquisition across the IT organization.
Oversee the firm’s legal technology ecosystem, including iManage, Elite 3E, and related integration layers.
Partner with Software Services and Systems Directors to manage core legal systems’ lifecycles, upgrades, and vendor relationships.
Evaluate emerging legal technology tools with the CIO and Knowledge Management & AI group, ensuring operational readiness before deployment.
Maintain working knowledge of key functions and solutions to inform prioritization and investment decisions.
Support development and management of the IT operational budget, including forecasting, cost management, and variance reporting with firm Finance leadership.
Participate in vendor selection, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management for major technology providers.
Identify cost optimization opportunities without compromising service quality or security posture.
Coordinate with the firm’s Information Security function to align IT operational work with client security requirements and applicable data privacy regulations.
Serve as the primary IT operational liaison to firm administration, including Finance, Human Resources, Client Growth, Integration, and other operational teams.
Collaborate with the Knowledge Management & AI group to ensure AI-powered tools integrate into the operational technology stack.
Communicate IT performance, project status, and risk posture to firm leadership in clear, non-technical terms.
Represent IT at firm management meetings, partner retreats, and relevant industry forums as directed by the CIO.
Participate in CIO-level briefings, firmwide strategic planning, and relevant peer networks as part of development toward a future CIO role.