Research Manager

Holland & Knight LLP•Tampa, FL

About The Position

We are a Firm where people truly believe in what they do and strive to achieve the highest standards of performance and success. This position can be based in our global operations center in Tampa, FL, or at one of the Firm's offices: Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Jacksonville, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Richmond, Stamford, Tallahassee, Tysons, Washington, D.C., or West Palm Beach. General Description: We are seeking a Research Manager to join our team. The Research Manager leads a national team of Research Supervisors, Senior Research Analysts and Research Analysts, creates strategic research processes and best practices while ensuring consistent quality control over all substantive research deliverables. The Research Manager provides leadership and oversight to the Research Team, including guiding and supporting Research Supervisors, improving workflow efficiency through the strategic use of technology and AI, and providing direct research support as needed. As a member of the Research Services Leadership team, the Research Manager contributes to strategic planning and initiatives that support departmental and firmwide objectives.

Requirements

Deep understanding of legal systems, industry trends, and research methodologies.
Advanced proficiency with major legal and business research platforms (e.g., Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Pitchbook, PACER, HeinOnline) and familiarity with APIs and data visualization tools.
Ability to scope and anticipate attorney research needs, conduct reference interviews, design research plans, and deliver high‑value, cost‑effective results.
Strong critical evaluation skills, including assessing authority, credibility, and currency of information, and clearly articulating research processes and findings.
Demonstrated ability to train attorneys and staff on legal and corporate research tools and strategies.
Skilled at representing and promoting Research Services across practice groups and industry teams.
Commitment to mentorship, team development, and knowledge sharing.
Experience supervising teams, fostering leadership, building relationships, and promoting collaboration.
Proven ability to manage resources, prioritize workloads, meet deadlines, and support team performance.
Hiring and recruitment experience, including interviewing and talent evaluation.
Experience with benchmarking, data analysis, and using data to identify opportunities and inform decisions.
Strong critical thinking, sound judgment, and strategic problem‑solving abilities.
Future‑focused mindset with the ability to surface challenges and opportunities proactively.
Exceptional communication skills, including clear writing, professional speaking, active listening, emotional intelligence, and cultural sensitivity.
Strong presentation abilities with persuasive, confident delivery.
Demonstrated commitment to high service standards, discretion, accountability, and independent problem solving.
Effective stress management, workload prioritization, and adaptability.
Self‑aware, committed to continuous learning, and team‑minded.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365.
Basic troubleshooting skills for database access and online research tools.
Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited school or equivalent degree.
Bachelor's Degree with more than 15 years of relevant experience may be substituted in exceptional circumstances.
Minimum of 10 years legal, corporate, or industry research experience required; preferably in a law firm setting or equivalent.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of 3 years management or leadership experience preferred, as demonstrated through leadership or project management roles or outcomes.

Responsibilities

Manage national Research team while emphasizing collaborative team values and culture.
Serve as part of the Research Services leadership team, working to align research team goals, projects, and initiatives with firm strategy and objectives.
Define and oversee quality control standards to ensure research product accuracy, consistency, and high-quality.
Lead the development and execution of strategic research processes and best practices, maintaining effective team structure and appropriately delegating responsibilities.
Provide oversight and guidance to Research Supervisors, contributing directly as needed while ensuring they are equipped to mentor, coach, and develop team research capabilities through effective training and upskilling.
Drive continuous improvements in research workflow efficiency and output through the strategic use of technology including AI tools, standardized research templates, knowledge creation, and other solutions that enhance quality, consistency, and speed.
Support Research Services leadership in developing and maintaining best practices for AI use within research workflows, aligned with firmwide guidance, policies, and ethical standards.
Define and execute the Research Services content and knowledge management strategy across the intranet, knowledge base(s), ERM, and DMS platforms.
Partner with the Digital Solutions Manager to support system integrations, APIs, and automations that enable and enhance these platforms.
Serve as a working manager, providing support and stepping in as needed to assist with research requests and team coverage.
Support Research Services leadership in leading practice aligned research engagement, helping ensure proactive research and information support across firm practices, industries, and teams.
Provide ongoing ownership and refinement of assessment metrics for research requests and services, developed in collaboration with the Digital Solutions Team, and report monthly metrics to KM & Research leadership.
Stay abreast of and advise on the information needs, workflow, and preferences of users and stakeholders to improve ease of access to information and best-in-class research service.
Assess and report on resource or technology needs, as well as collection strengths and weaknesses, through conversations with firm lawyers and other key stakeholders.
Prepare for and lead research team meetings, including drafting agenda and follow-up communication.
Review and assess individual researcher work product output according to quantitative and qualitative best practice metrics.
Plan and implement regular research training, legal vendor training, knowledge sharing sessions, and other continuing education toward maintaining highest quality service output.
Maintain and support updates to Research Services training materials, including show sheets and training manuals, ensuring accuracy and consistency of instructional content.
Oversee and support updates to request management systems, ensuring the collection of valuable metrics and researcher adherence to established Research leadership policies and guidelines.
Manage audits of all Research Services alerting.
Act as steward of the firm's information resources; complying with all information security, privacy, confidentiality and licensing requirements while enforcing researchers’ adherence to the same.
Expected to maintain a regular and predictable work schedule and full attention to and engagement in work activities on behalf of the firm during business hours unless otherwise approved or required by applicable law.
Special projects and duties as assigned.

Benefits

comprehensive medical (PPO and HDHPs), dental and vision plans including coverage for domestic partners
life and AD&D insurance
short and long term disability insurance
tax-advantaged accounts for health care expenses, including FSAs and HSAs
FSAs for dependent care
health advocacy services
behavioral health and counseling resources for all family members
401(k)
profit sharing
backup dependent care
senior care planning support
resources for individuals with development disabilities and their caregivers
paid holidays and other paid time off, including paid leave for new parents