Deputy CIO — Legal Tech Operations Leader

Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 285,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnes & Thornburg LLP is seeking a Deputy Chief Information Officer to anchor the firm’s IT operations and partner with the CIO on strategy, AI initiatives, and digital transformation. This externally visible role requires seasoned leadership across a globally distributed IT environment and strong vendor, budgeting, and staff development skills.

Based in a high-demand AmLaw 100 setting, the Deputy CIO will directly oversee day-to-day IT operations, risk management, security, and collaboration

Qualifications

• 20+ years of progressive IT leadership experience.
• AmLaw 100 or 200 law firm experience or similar complexity.
• Hands-on familiarity with core legal technology platforms (iManage, Elite 3E) and integrations.
• Proven track record managing multi-site, enterprise IT operations (25+ locations).
• Experience managing directors/senior managers across tech disciplines.
• Strong financial acumen with multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Excellent executive communication for lawyers and leaders.
• Understanding of cybersecurity and compliance for the legal sector.
• Role requires 4–5 days in office.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership over IT across 26 offices and ~1,800 users.
• Act as acting CIO in CIO's absence and ensure continuity.
• Set operational standards, SLAs, and metrics for four director-led teams.
• Drive incident response, business continuity, and disaster recovery.
• Lead budgeting, vendor negotiations, and cost management.
• Oversee legal technology ecosystem (iManage, Elite 3E) and integrations.
• Collaborate with AI/Digital Transformation groups to deploy tools.
• Communicate IT performance and risk to firm leadership.

Skills

IT Leadership

Executive communication

Cybersecurity

Vendor management

Budget management

Staff development

Cross-functional leadership

Tools

iManage

Elite 3E

Intapp

Legal SaaS

Job description

Barnes & Thornburg LLP is seeking a Deputy Chief Information Officer to anchor the firm’s IT operations and partner with the CIO on strategy, AI initiatives, and digital transformation. This externally visible role requires seasoned leadership across a globally distributed IT environment and strong vendor, budgeting, and staff development skills.

Based in a high-demand AmLaw 100 setting, the Deputy CIO will directly oversee day-to-day IT operations, risk management, security, and collaboration