Chief Innovation Officer

A highly respected organization is creating a net-new Chief Innovation & AI Officer role to lead enterprise-wide innovation initiatives, with a primary focus on artificial intelligence, legal technology, and operational transformation.

This role is designed for a senior leader who has successfully led technology and AI implementations within a law firm environment and understands the unique risk, governance, and cultural considerations of legal services. You will partner closely with the Founder and an internal AI leader to define strategy, evaluate emerging technologies, and drive responsible adoption across the business.

• Own the organization’s AI strategy and execution, including policy development, governance, and responsible use frameworks
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and rollout of AI tools and platforms across legal, operational, and administrative teams
• Partner closely with internal AI leadership to align experimentation with scalable, production-ready solutions
• Serve as the senior point of contact for AI-related decision-making, risk evaluation, and vendor engagement
• Develop and maintain an innovation roadmap aligned to business outcomes, attorney productivity, and client value
• Identify and implement technologies spanning automation, knowledge management, document intelligence, analytics, and workflow optimization
• Provide hands‑on leadership for end‑to‑end implementations, from pilot through firm‑wide adoption
• Ensure innovation initiatives integrate cleanly with existing systems and workflows

• Drive adoption through education, training, and communication, tailoring messaging for attorneys, leadership, and staff
• Build frameworks to measure ROI, adoption, and operational impact of innovation initiatives
• Act as a cultural champion for innovation while balancing risk management and regulatory requirements
• Own relationships with AI and legal technology vendors, including evaluation, contracting, implementation, and performance oversight
• Lead due diligence around vendor security, data handling, and compliance requirements
• Stay current on the legal tech and AI vendor landscape to inform strategic decisions

• 7+ years of experience in innovation, technology leadership, or legal operations, with direct law firm experience required
• Demonstrated success leading technology and AI implementations within a law firm (not advisory only)
• Deep understanding of AI policy development, governance, and vendor management in regulated professional services environments
• Strong executive presence with the ability to partner directly with founders and senior leadership
• Proven ability to translate emerging technology into practical, scalable business solutions
• Strategic thinker who is also hands‑on and execution‑oriented

• Experience with AI platforms used in legal environments (e.g., generative AI, copilots, legal research and drafting tools)
• Background in privacy, cybersecurity, or compliance as it relates to technology adoption
• JD, MBA, or technology‑focused graduate degree
• Industry thought leadership (speaking, writing, or participation in legal innovation communities)