Senior Director, Data & Analytics

Perkins Coie LLP; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 190,000 - 379,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashurst Perkins Coie US LLP seeks a Senior Director of Data & Analytics to lead the global data organization, owning the enterprise data strategy and investment roadmap. You will drive data architecture, engineering, governance, analytics, data science, and ML engineering as a connected function with responsibility for security, reliability, and cost efficiency of data platforms.

You will direct ML engineering, establish enterprise standards, and enable trusted data products and AI capabilities

Qualifications

• 10+ years in data eng/analytics with cloud data solutions.
• 5+ years leading multidisciplinary data teams.
• Expertise in data architecture, lakehouse platforms, ETL/ELT, and data warehousing.
• Deep experience with Databricks, Azure, SQL, Python, PySpark.
• Knowledge of ML, MLOps, generative AI, feature stores, model deployment.
• Proven track record delivering business value from data/AI initiatives.
• Strong governance, security, metadata, lineage, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise data strategy, roadmap, and investment priorities.
• Oversee data architecture, engineering, governance, analytics, ML.
• Own Databricks and Azure lakehouse architecture and security.
• Set standards for data integration, modeling, quality, metadata, lineage.
• Direct ML engineering and MLOps for production data products.
• Enable analytics and AI through trusted data products.
• Manage vendor decisions, budget, and tech debt reduction.
• Partner with business leaders to translate priorities into value.
• Lead global data org across regions and time zones.
• Report to executives; foster innovation and collaboration.

Skills

Data strategy

Leadership

Executive communication

Data governance

Analytics & AI

Project management

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Stats

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Databricks

Microsoft Azure

Power BI

SQL

Python

PySpark

MLOps

Unity Catalog

Denodo

Job description

Job Description:

Senior Director of Data & Analytics

Driving Data Operations. Delivering Business Value.

At Ashurst Perkins Coie US LLP, data and analytics are critical to delivering exceptional client service and advancing the firm's strategic goals. The Senior Director of Data & Analytics leads the firm's global data and analytics organization and owns the enterprise data strategy, establishing data as a trusted, governed, and reusable firm asset.

This role sets the multi-year vision, architecture, and investment roadmap for the enterprise data estate and leads data architecture, engineering, governance, analytics, data science, and machine learning engineering as a connected function. The Senior Director is accountable for the security, reliability, scalability, performance, and cost efficiency of the firm's data platforms and for delivering trusted data products, insights, and AI capabilities.

What You'll Do

• Lead the firm's enterprise data and analytics strategy, roadmap, operating model, and investment priorities in partnership with the Chief Digital & Data Officer and firm leadership.
• Oversee data architecture, engineering, governance, analytics, data science, machine learning engineering, and enterprise data platforms.
• Own the architecture, security, reliability, scalability, performance, and cost efficiency of the firm's Databricks and Microsoft Azure lakehouse environment.
• Establish enterprise standards for data integration, modeling, quality, governance, metadata, lineage, access, security, and compliance.
• Direct machine learning engineering and MLOps practices, ensuring models and data products can move reliably from development to production.
• Enable analytics, AI, and self-service capabilities through trusted data products, semantic models, and governed data services.
• Lead build, buy, and partner decisions, including vendor management, technology investments, platform optimization, and technical debt reduction.
• Partner with business and technology leaders to identify opportunities for data, analytics, and AI and translate technical priorities into measurable business value.
• Manage budgets, resources, platform consumption, risks, and executive reporting across the data organization.
• Lead and develop a high-performing global organization across multiple regions and time zones, fostering technical excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring

• 10-plus years of progressive experience in data engineering, analytics, data science, or related technology disciplines, including enterprise cloud and data solutions.
• 5-plus years of senior leadership experience managing multidisciplinary data, analytics, engineering, or technology teams, including people managers.
• Strong expertise in enterprise data architecture, lakehouse platforms, data integration, dimensional and semantic modeling, ETL/ELT, and data warehousing.
• Deep experience with Databricks, Microsoft Azure, SQL, Python, and PySpark.
• Working knowledge of machine learning, MLOps, generative AI, feature stores, model deployment, monitoring, and AI governance.
• Demonstrated experience taking analytics, data science, or AI initiatives from prototype through production and measurable business impact.
• Strong understanding of data quality, governance, security, metadata, lineage, compliance, and data residency requirements.
• Experience managing technology budgets, vendors, platform costs, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience leading distributed or global teams across multiple regions and time zones.
• Excellent executive communication, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, statistics, or a related quantitative discipline; equivalent experience may be considered. Advanced degree preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Elite 3E and related professional services or practice management data structures.
• Experience with Databricks, Unity Catalog, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Denodo, and emerging AI or agentic AI platforms.
• Experience in a law firm or professional services environment, including client confidentiality, matter-level data, data residency, and regulatory requirements.

Why Join Ashurst Perkins Coie?

Join a collaborative, forward-thinking firm where data, analytics, and technology play an essential role in supporting attorneys, clients, and business operations. As Senior Director, Data & Analytics, you'll have the opportunity to shape the firm's enterprise data strategy, modernize data and analytics capabilities, enable responsible AI adoption, and lead a global team delivering trusted data and measurable business value across the firm.

This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, accrued paid time off plan starting at 20 days annually, personal medical and parental leave, up to ten paid holidays, and family care benefits. More information regarding benefits and programs may be found here.

This position may be filled in the following locations. The listed compensation range reflects the typical pay for this role, though it is rare for new hires to receive an offer at the top of the range. Actual compensation may vary depending on experience, skills, market conditions, and internal equity

Colorado compensation range: $190,310 to $333,010 annually

Illinois compensation range: $200,850 to $351,460 annually

Washington state compensation range: $200,750 to $351,280 annually

Washington, D.C. compensation range: $216,810 to $379,380 annually

Applications for this position will be accepted through October 9th, 2026.