Senior Manager of Innovation & Emerging Technologies

Kahana & Feld LLP•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Innovation & Emerging Technologies leads the firm’s artificial intelligence, emerging technology, and data analytics initiatives, translating legal and business needs into practical, secure, and well-supported solutions. This experienced manager leads a team in evaluating tools, developing use cases, testing solutions, delivering training, supporting users, and producing actionable insights. The role combines the firm’s data analysis and reporting capabilities with its growing AI and innovation program, develops team skills, balances ongoing reporting needs with new initiatives, and works across practice groups and administrative departments to improve how attorneys and business professionals use technology and data. The role works with firm leadership and stakeholders to establish a roadmap for AI adoption, emerging technology, and analytics; leads and develops team members; serves as the primary resource for approved AI and emerging technology tools; and partners with users to identify opportunities and define requirements. It evaluates products, coordinates security and integration reviews, monitors industry developments, and works with Enterprise Applications on tool configuration, testing, implementation, and deployment. It also designs and refines prompts, AI-assisted workflows, and automations; develops training and adoption programs; supports users; and improves adoption based on feedback and usage data. The manager leads the development and maintenance of reports, dashboards, and analyses using authorized firm data. The position defines reporting requirements and measures with stakeholders, oversees quality review, resolves data discrepancies, and identifies reporting automation opportunities. It also partners with leaders on AI and data governance, reinforces responsible use and human oversight, tracks adoption and business value, and reports results and recommended improvements to firm leadership. This is a full-time, exempt position with supervisory responsibilities. Work may be performed in a hybrid or remote setting. The role involves primarily sedentary work in an office environment, use of standard office equipment and keyboards, and up to 10% domestic travel by ground and/or air, depending on firm needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, data analytics, business, instructional design, legal studies, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Experience leading and developing a team, including setting priorities, delegating work, managing competing demands, establishing quality expectations, and remaining actively involved in implementation and delivery.
Practical experience with generative AI, large language models, Microsoft 365 tools, and professional services technology, with the ability to become a power user of new platforms quickly.
Experience delivering reports, dashboards, or analytical solutions and working knowledge of data preparation, data quality, business intelligence, and visualization sufficient to guide and review analysts’ work.
Experience designing and delivering live and virtual technology training, demonstrations, user guides, and learning materials for audiences with varied technical skills.
Understanding of legal workflows, client confidentiality, data protection, information security, responsible AI practices, and human review of AI-generated work.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills, including documenting workflows, testing prompts and outputs, identifying failure modes, organizing pilots, and measuring results.
Excellent written and verbal communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills; an approachable, service-oriented style with sound judgment, discretion, curiosity, and the ability to build trust across the firm.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of relevant experience in a law firm or leading consulting firm, with substantial hands-on experience leading evaluation, implementation, and adoption of AI solutions.

Responsibilities

Work with the COO, CIO, Technology Committee, and firm stakeholders to establish a practical roadmap for AI adoption, emerging technology, and analytics.
Lead, mentor, and develop team members; set goals, priorities, and delivery schedules while balancing reporting commitments and approved innovation initiatives.
Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter resource for approved AI and emerging technology tools, providing hands-on expertise and guiding the team’s delivery.
Partner with practice groups, attorneys, and business professionals to understand workflows, identify opportunities, and translate needs into use cases and requirements.
Evaluate products for business fit, usability, accuracy, cost, and support needs; coordinate security, confidentiality, and integration reviews with technical teams and stakeholders.
Monitor AI developments, vendor roadmaps, legal technology trends, and industry practices; make practical recommendations.
Work with the Enterprise Applications team to configure, test, implement, and deploy innovation tools.
Design, test, and refine prompts, reusable prompt libraries, AI-assisted workflows, and low-code or no-code automations for approved use cases.
Develop and deliver role-based training and adoption programs for approved innovation and emerging technology tools.
Promote approved tools and effective practices through clear communications and help users understand how technology can improve their work.
Collect user feedback and usage data, identify adoption barriers, and improve training, communications, configurations, and workflows.
Provide day-to-day guidance, triage questions, troubleshoot usage issues, and coordinate escalations with vendors and internal technical teams.
Lead the development, delivery, and maintenance of accurate reports, dashboards, and analyses using authorized firm data to support operational, financial, practice, and management decisions.
Partner with stakeholders to define reporting requirements, measures, business definitions, and delivery schedules; explain findings in actionable terms.
Establish and oversee quality review for data preparation, analysis, reports, and visualizations; resolve discrepancies with analysts and data owners.
Identify opportunities to automate recurring reporting.
Partner with firm leaders and stakeholders to implement AI and data governance consistent with firm policies, client confidentiality, data-handling standards, and access requirements.
Reinforce responsible use through training, documentation, output verification, and human oversight; promptly escalate risks and material quality issues.
Track adoption, user satisfaction, reporting reliability, and agreed measures of business value; communicate results and recommend improvements to firm leadership.