Director of Applications

Akkodis is seeking a Director of Applications for a Direct-Hire job with a client located in Cleveland/Columbus, OH, or Chicago, IL (Hybrid).

Pay Range: $181k-$230k; The salary may be negotiable based on experience, education, geographic location, and other factors.

Must have: Law firm experience, Heavy data analytics, AI, innovative cutting edge, heavy interactions with stakeholders (attorneys, c-suites), legal technology solutions such as Document Management Systems, Time and Billing Systems, and Practice Management Systems.

Job Description:

The Director of Applications ensures seamless technology integration into business processes, improves operational efficiency, and enhances service delivery to internal and external stakeholders. In addition to overseeing applications, the Director will manage the Firm's data architecture, data integration, analytics, and AI initiatives, driving a strategy to leverage structured and unstructured data for business insights and operational excellence. The role demands expertise in legal industry technologies, data management, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, alongside strong leadership, project management, and vendor management skills.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversees the implementation, upgrade, maintenance, and retirement of all Firm applications and data platforms, ensuring they meet operational and security standards.
• Maintains and evolves documentation for the application and data landscapes, including data flows, interfaces, workflows, and dependencies.
• Develops a multi-year application and data roadmap that integrates analytics, AI, and advanced reporting capabilities to support the Firm's strategic initiatives.
• Acts as a liaison between IT and business units, ensuring alignment of application and data strategies with Firm goals.
• Partners with Practice Groups and Administrative Leaders to assess and define business challenges and identify technical and data-driven solutions.
• Advocates for leveraging data insights to address business challenges and enhance decision-making.
• Leads the development and implementation of a data strategy that focuses on data integration, quality, governance, and analytics across the Firm.
• Manages and optimizes the Firm's structured and unstructured data repositories, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and accessibility.
• Oversees the selection and implementation of data visualization and analytics tools to enhance reporting and business insights.
• Drives initiatives to apply AI and machine learning to improve efficiency, client service, and decision-making.
• Oversees the IT department's change management framework, ensuring minimal disruption during application and data platform deployments.
• Identifies and implements process improvements to increase operational efficiency and productivity, leveraging data insights where applicable.
• Negotiates, manages, and evaluates vendor relationships and contracts to maximize value and performance.
• Works closely with vendors to ensure timely delivery of updates, fixes, and new features in applications and data platforms.
• Develops team skill sets to align with current and future business and technological needs.
• Fosters a collaborative, innovative, and data-driven team culture to achieve high performance.
• Provides direction, mentorship, and performance management to the Applications and Data teams, including data architects and data analysis roles.
• Researches and recommends emerging technologies, including AI and advanced data platforms, to improve operations, support business innovation, and address Firm needs.
• Proactively evaluates industry trends and brings innovative solutions to the Firm to maintain a competitive edge.
• Defines and executes a long-term vision for the Firm's application and data ecosystems.
• Partners with stakeholders to align IT initiatives with business strategies and data-driven decision-making.
• Establishes KPIs for application and data platform support, ensuring regular performance reporting and actionable insights.
• Optimizes workflows, processes, and data utilization for improved system performance and user satisfaction.
• Oversee security and compliance efforts for all applications and data platforms, ensuring adherence to industry standards and client requirements.
• Implements policies to address risk mitigation, data governance, and cybersecurity best practices.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Deep understanding of legal industry-specific technologies and vendors.
• Strong knowledge of data architecture, integration, analytics, and unstructured data management.
• Proficiency in managing application lifecycles, from requirements gathering to implementation and support.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools, integration platforms, and data governance frameworks.
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills with the ability to mentor and grow talent.
• Proven track record of leveraging emerging technologies to drive business value.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and timelines effectively.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills to engage with non-technical audiences.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
• Knowledge of IT security best practices, compliance requirements (e.g., client confidentiality, data privacy), and risk management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• The Director of Applications should have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or related field; or 10 years of equivalent work experience.
• 7-10 years of experience managing applications and data portfolios, teams, and projects is required.
• 5-10 years of leadership experience in IT, in a law firm, or in the legal industry is essential.
• Must have experience with data integration, analytics, and AI tools, as well as legal technology solutions such as Document Management Systems, Time and Billing Systems, and Practice Management Systems.

If you are interested in this role, then please click APPLY NOW. For other opportunities available at Akkodis, or any questions, please contact Anirudh Srivastava at 610-227-6773 or anirudh.srivastava@akkodisgroup.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Benefits offerings include but are not limited to:

· 401(k) with match

· Medical insurance

· Dental Insurance

· Vision assistance

· Paid Holidays Off

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit https://www.akkodis.com/en/privacy-policy.