AI Vendor Evaluations & Management Associate Director

Sidley Austin LLP; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP seeks an Associate Director to lead the evaluation, selection, and ongoing governance of AI tools and platforms across the firm. You will partner with IT, Information Security, Risk, General Counsel, Procurement, and practice groups to align technology decisions with business needs and risk considerations.

The role focuses on developing structured assessment frameworks, monitoring vendor performance, and guiding deployment of AI solutions while maintaining compliance and data

Qualifications

• 8+ years in product management, technology evaluation, or similar roles.
• Experience evaluating, piloting, or procuring AI/enterprise software.
• Experience managing enterprise software platforms and license governance.
• Familiarity with legal AI tools and general-purpose platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead evaluation and selection of legal and general-purpose AI tools with frameworks and scoring.
• Oversee AI vendor relationships, performance, roadmaps, and contractual obligations.
• Manage rollout and governance of AI platforms in partnership with IT and stakeholders.
• Provide recommendations on AI products based on requirements, market trends, and risk.
• Coordinate procurement, security review, data protection, and deployment requirements.

Skills

Vendor management

AI tools evaluation

Product management

Stakeholder communication

Leadership

Team mentoring

Negotiations

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

The AI Vendor Evaluations & Management Associate Director leads the evaluation, selection, and ongoing management of AI tools and platforms supporting the Firm's legal and business needs. The role develops structured approaches for assessing AI products, provides recommendations regarding technology investments, oversees relationships with AI vendors, and leads the operational management and governance of general-purpose AI platforms in partnership with IT and other Firm stakeholders. Serving as a subject matter expert on the evolving legal AI market, the Associate Director works across practice groups, IT, Information Security, Risk, General Counsel, and Procurement to support informed technology decisions, effective deployment, and sustainable use of AI solutions across the Firm.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the evaluation and selection process for legal and general-purpose AI tools, developing evaluation frameworks, scoring criteria, and methodologies that support clear, evidence-based recommendations.

• Oversee relationships with AI and technology vendors, including performance, escalations, product roadmaps, service commitments, and coordination of contractual obligations.

• Lead the rollout and ongoing operational management of general-purpose AI platforms in partnership with IT, including governance, licensing, access, usage monitoring, platform configuration, and support processes.

• Develop recommendations regarding AI products and platforms based on Firm requirements, product capabilities, user feedback, market developments, risk considerations, and total value.

• Partner with Procurement, Information Security, Risk, General Counsel, IT, and other stakeholders to coordinate vendor procurement, security assessment, data protection, compliance review, and deployment requirements.

• Monitor and assess developments in the legal AI market, including emerging products, capabilities, pricing models, and market trends, and provide relevant insights and recommendations to Firm and practice leadership.

• Establish and improve processes, standards, documentation, and operating practices for AI tool evaluation, vendor management, platform governance, and ongoing performance assessment.

• Collaborate with practice groups and business functions to identify requirements, translate business needs into technology and vendor criteria, and communicate technical and operational considerations to stakeholders.

• Manage, coach, and develop team members, establish priorities and performance expectations, and build team capabilities as the Firm's AI program evolves.

• Provide leadership on complex vendor and platform issues, coordinating appropriate resources and stakeholders to resolve escalations and support effective adoption and use of Firm-approved AI tools.

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in product management, technology evaluation, vendor management, or a similar role.

• Demonstrated experience evaluating, piloting, or procuring AI or enterprise software tools; able to design and run rigorous competitive assessments and translate findings into actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders.

• Experience managing and administering enterprise software platforms, including user management, license governance, usage reporting, and vendor support coordination.

• Broad familiarity with the current landscape of AI tools relevant to legal work including general-purpose platforms and legal-specific products, with the curiosity and discipline to stay current as the market evolves rapidly.

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team; experience managing direct reports in a fast-moving, cross-functional environment. Demonstrated success managing external vendor relationships, including negotiations, escalations, and joint delivery.

• Excellent communication and facilitation skills; able to bridge vendors, IT, and non-technical senior stakeholders including partners and firm leadership, and to build consensus around technology decisions.

Preferred:

• Experience in a regulated professional-services environment such as a law firm, financial services, healthcare, or consulting organization.

• Hands-on experience with a broad range of legal AI tools across research, drafting, contract analysis, e-discovery, and tax/regulatory categories; familiarity with document management systems is a plus.

• Experience with enterprise identity, data governance, and security review processes.

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills

• Strong attention to detail

• Good judgment

• Strong interpersonal communication skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others

• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion

• Able to work under pressure

• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

#LI-OE1

#LI-Hybrid

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or in the future

The target salary range for this role is:

$200,000 - $264,000 if located in Illinois.

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email [e-mail] (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.