Deputy Chief Information Officer

barnes; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 240,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnes in Indianapolis seeks a Deputy Chief Information Officer to lead day-to-day technology operations, partner with the CIO on strategy, and guide digital transformation for a large, geographically distributed IT environment.

The ideal candidate has extensive leadership in legal technology, multi-site operations, and a proven ability to manage budgets, vendor relationships, security, and staff development in a fast-paced, confidential services firm.

Qualifications

• 20+ years IT leadership; 5+ years in senior director or deputy CIO roles.
• Experience in AmLaw 100/200 or similarly complex professional services firms.
• Hands-on familiarity with legal tech platforms such as iManage and Elite 3E.
• Proven multi-site, enterprise-scale IT operations management (25+ locations).
• Experience leading directors or senior managers across tech disciplines.
• Strong financial acumen with experience owning multi-million budgets.

Responsibilities

• Exercise authority over IT operations across all 26 offices for ~1,800 users.
• Act as acting CIO in the CIO's absence and maintain continuity.
• Set and enforce standards, SLAs, and performance metrics for four director-led teams.
• Lead IT incident response, business continuity planning, and DR globally.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to four directors (Software, Systems, End User Support, PMO).
• Foster a high-performance IT culture aligned with service expectations and standards.
• Partner with HR on workforce planning and talent acquisition across IT.
• Oversee legal technology ecosystem (iManage, Elite 3E) and integrations.
• Manage budget development, forecasting, cost management, and variance reporting.
• Engage in vendor selection, contract negotiation, and vendor relationship management.
• Identify cost optimization opportunities while maintaining security posture.
• Coordinate with Information Security on data privacy and client security requirements.
• Serve as IT liaison to firm administration and cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with Knowledge Management & AI to integrate AI tools into operations.
• Communicate IT performance and risk posture to leadership in clear terms.
• Represent IT at management meetings, partner retreats, and industry forums.

Skills

IT leadership

Executive leadership

Team management

Financial acumen

Vendor management

Security & risk awareness

Cross-functional collaboration

Operational excellence

Education

AmLaw or large firm experience

Experience with legal tech platforms

Tools

iManage

Elite 3E

Job description

Summary:

The Deputy Chief Information Officer (Deputy CIO) serves as the operational anchor of the firm's Information Technology organization. Working in close partnership with the Chief Information Officer, this leader assumes responsibility over day-to-day technology operations, enabling the CIO to focus on artificial intelligence, technology strategy, knowledge management, innovation, and firm-wide digital transformation.

This is an externally visible, high-accountability role for a seasoned technology executive who brings both the operational discipline to run a complex, geographically distributed IT environment and the strategic acumen to position the firm for continued growth. The Deputy CIO directly leads the day-to-day operations of the firm and serves as the CIO's principal delegate across vendor relationships, budgeting, compliance, and staff development.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in legal technology environments and is energized by the unique operational demands of a top-tier AmLaw 100 firm - where speed, confidentiality, and service excellence are not optional.

Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Execution

• Exercise independent authority over IT operations across all 26 firm offices, ensuring consistent, reliable, and secure technology services for approximately 1,800 users.
• Serve as acting CIO in the CIO's absence, maintaining decision-making continuity across all IT functions.
• Establish and enforce operational standards, SLAs, and performance metrics across all four director-led teams.
• Drive IT incident response, business continuity planning, and disaster recovery across the firm's global footprint.

People & Director Leadership

• Provide direct leadership, mentorship, and performance management to four directors:
• Director, Software Services - enterprise application portfolio including practice management, billing, and legal-specific platforms
• Director, Systems - infrastructure, systems architecture, and integration services
• Director, End User Support - helpdesk and deskside support across all offices
• Director, Project Management Office - portfolio governance, project delivery, and resource planning
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative IT culture aligned with the firm's service expectations and professional standards.
• Partner with HR on workforce planning, succession planning, and talent acquisition across the IT organization.

Legal Technology Stewardship

• Oversee the firm's legal technology ecosystem, including but not limited to iManage (document management), Elite 3E (financial management), and related integration layers.
• Partner with Software Services and Systems Directors to manage platform lifecycles, upgrades, and vendor relationships for core legal systems.
• Evaluate emerging legal technology tools in coordination with the CIO and the Knowledge Management & AI group to ensure operational readiness precedes deployment.
• Maintain working knowledge key functions and solutions to inform prioritization and investment decisions.

Budget, Vendor & Contract Management

• Support IT operational budget development and management, including forecasting, cost management, and variance reporting in coordination with firm Finance leadership.
• Participate in vendor selection, contract negotiation, and ongoing relationship management for major technology providers.
• Identify cost optimization opportunities without compromising service quality or security posture.

Security, Risk & Compliance

• Coordinate with the firm's Information Security function, ensuring alignment with client security requirements and applicable data privacy regulations related to IT operational tasks.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Communication

• Act as the primary IT operational liaison to firm administration, including Finance, Human Resources, Client Growth, Integration and other operational teams
• Collaborate with the Knowledge Management & AI group to ensure that AI-powered tools integrate seamlessly into the operational technology stack.
• Communicate IT performance, project status, and risk posture to firm leadership in clear, non-technical terms.
• Represent IT at firm management meetings, partner retreats, and relevant industry forums as directed by the CIO.

Qualifications:

• 20+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a senior director, deputy CIO, or equivalent operational leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience in an AmLaw 100 or 200 law firm, or a large professional services firm with comparable technology complexity.
• Hands-on familiarity with core legal technology platforms, including iManage or comparable DMS, Elite 3E or similar financial management systems, and supporting integrations.
• Proven track record managing multi-site, enterprise-scale IT operations (25+ locations preferred).
• Experience directly managing a team of directors or senior managers across heterogeneous technology disciplines.
• Strong financial acumen with experience owning multi-million