Technology Innovation Manager

ROLE OVERVIEW //

We are recruiting for an experienced Technology Innovation Manager to join our Technology Team. This role will lead our efforts to leverage emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and high- to enhance operational excellence within legal services.

Working closely with the Head of Innovation and the broader technology leadership team, the successful candidate will bring a strong background in technology Solution architecture, with the ability to quickly identify value through innovation and understand the upstream and downstream impacts of technology decisions. Experience working in complex, regulated environments is essential, along with a deep understanding of security frameworks and agile delivery models.

The Technology Innovation Manager will manage a small matrix team comprising innovation specialists, product management, and solution architecture, supporting firm-wide technology improvements and AI initiatives. The role currently reports to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) but this may be subject to change, with strategic direction from the Head of Innovation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES //

The key responsibilities of this role are set out below, though others may arise as needed. You may occasionally be required to work outside the normal hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership

• Lead engagement with senior leadership (Head of Innovation, CIO, COO, CCO, and Partners) to ensure technology innovation initiatives are aligned with the firm’s strategic goals.
• Translate complex technical concepts into business value, securing buy-in for new initiatives.
• Foster a culture of agile delivery, encouraging rapid prototyping and experimentation with emerging technologies.

Team Oversight and Mentoring

• Mentor and support team members, enabling ownership of day-to-day activity while overseeing major projects and key deliverables.
• Guide the team in identifying, designing, and prototyping AI and architectural solutions to streamline legal processes and enhance service delivery.

Technology Innovation and Architecture

• Oversee the adoption of AI and emerging technologies across the firm, providing strategic input and ensuring smooth delivery.
• Apply architectural thinking to assess and implement AI and Innovation solutions, ensuring alignment with business needs and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate the impact of new technologies on legal operations, productivity, and client service, with a clear understanding of upstream/downstream dependencies.

Practical innovation delivery

• lead short innovation trials and technical prototypes, with a fail fast mentality.
• Translate experimental results into actionable technical recommendations and oversee transition planning and support models for adoption by delivery teams.
• Direct vendor‑led proof‑of‑concepts and structured evaluations of third‑party tools/platforms, ensuring alignment with architecture, security, and supportability standards.
• Shape and prioritise the innovation backlog in with the Head Of Innovation Architect and Innovation Engineers, establishing repeatable patterns and processes for innovation.

Compliance and Standards

• Ensure all innovation activity aligns with regulatory and industry standards, including ISO/IEC 42001:2023 and ISO 27001.
• Promote responsible and ethical use of AI and other technologies, in line with the firm’s governance framework and data principles.

Collaboration and Process Improvement

• Work closely with Business Services Directors, Practice Management, and Technology teams to drive innovation initiatives forward.
• Lead training and communication activities to support the adoption and effective use of new tools by legal and business services teams.
• Partner with technology leadership to ensure governance requirements are met while enabling fast-paced, agile delivery that supports future strategy and roadmap planning.

Horizon Scanning and Technology Awareness

• Continuously scan the technology landscape to identify emerging tools and trends with potential benefit to the firm.
• Make informed recommendations on the adoption of new technologies, particularly those relevant to the legal sector.

CANDIDATE PROFILE //

Candidates for this position must have:

• In depth knowledge of current AI trends including Generative AI, NLP, ML, and legal-specific AI applications (e.g. document automation, legal research, contract analysis).
• Experience in solution architecture , data science, machine learning, and agile methodologies.
• Ability to evaluate and implement AI tools in a safe, ethical, and compliant way, including understanding regulatory and data protection risks.
• Proven experience in delivering technology solutions in regulated, complex business environments, with a clear understanding of security frameworks and governance models.
• Ability to identify and realise value quickly through technology, understanding both upstream and downstream impacts.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Copilot, LLM integrations, and automation platforms.
• Experience in stakeholder management and communication at the executive level.
• Demonstrated leadership in technology or innovation roles, preferably in a regulated industry, with the ability to mentor and develop team members.
• Ability to oversee and manage multiple projects concurrently, delivering outcomes that align with business priorities.