Specialist, Strategy, Planning & Infrastructure

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP • New York, NY

7d • $100,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Specialist, Strategy, Planning & Infrastructure supports the planning, coordination, and execution of strategic initiatives that strengthen how the Client Development & Engagement function operates. Working closely with the Senior Manager, this role helps manage cross-functional workstreams, maintain project governance and documentation, support technology and AI-related initiatives, and drive follow-through on high-priority operational projects. This position is ideal for a highly organized, proactive professional who can balance detail-oriented execution with broader operational awareness. The Specialist serves as a key operational partner to CDE leadership, helping ensure strategic initiatives remain organized, visible, on schedule, and positioned for successful delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum 4+ years of relevant experience in business development, operations, project coordination, executive support, professional services, or a law firm environment
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across levels and functions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, synthesize information, support data-driven decision-making, and advance continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience coordinating concurrent cross-functional initiatives, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Experience preparing executive presentations, dashboards, status reports, meeting materials, and operational documentation.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools, such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, Asana, Lupl, or similar platforms.
• Strong organizational, analytical, project coordination, and documentation skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Highly organized, proactive, self-directed, and accountable, with the ability to work independently and drive deliverables to completion.
• Adaptable, resourceful, and comfortable navigating ambiguity in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative team player with a strong customer-service mindset and commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and innovation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting strategic planning, operational excellence, PMO, business transformation, or professional services initiatives.
• Familiarity with CRM, Power BI or other analytics tools, and AI-enabled productivity platforms such as Microsoft Copilot, Harvey, Claude, DeepJudge, or similar technologies.

Responsibilities

• Maintain project plans, timelines, trackers, dashboards, status updates, and documentation for CDE strategic initiatives.
• Track milestones, deliverables, dependencies, risks, action items, and key decision points to ensure timely progress and appropriate escalation.
• Prepare briefing materials, meeting summaries, project updates, and other materials that support CDE leadership decision-making and visibility.
• Help create scalable templates, processes, and documentation to support consistent planning and execution across initiatives.
• Coordinate internal operations that support the Client Development & Engagement function, including budget tracking, candidate pipeline support, vendor coordination, event logistics, and document preparation as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve internal workflows, templates, operating rhythms, and team processes in support of scalability and cross-functional visibility.
• Support the development and rollout of new processes, systems, and tools that help CDE manage work more consistently and efficiently.
• Draft, coordinate, and maintain internal communications, including team updates, meeting summaries, project briefs, and process documentation.
• Support technology, AI, and infrastructure-related initiatives by helping organize requirements, track implementation tasks, document decisions, and coordinate stakeholder input.
• Support the evaluation, planning, testing, documentation, and rollout of new technologies that improve operational efficiency.
• Coordinate AI adoption initiatives within CDE for Firm-approved technologies, involving including Microsoft Copilot, Harvey, DeepJudge, and other emerging AI solutions.
• Develop and maintain implementation documentation, training resources, user guides, and adoption materials supporting technology rollouts.
• Coordinate stakeholder feedback, issue tracking, testing activities, and project documentation during technology pilots and implementations.
• Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders across CDE, IT, Knowledge & Innovation, HR, Finance, and other Firm functions.
• Coordinate project updates, timelines, deliverables, and communications across multiple workstreams.
• Support change management activities associated with new technologies, operational processes, and strategic initiatives.
• Contribute to special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned by the Senior Manager, Strategy, Planning & Infrastructure.

Benefits

• The Firm prohibits discrimination or harassment upon which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level