Director of Transformation and Innovation Operations

The world’s leading organizations and global players choose Proskauer to represent them when they need it the most. With 800 lawyers in key financial centers around the world, we are known for our pragmatic and business-savvy approach.

Proskauer is the place to turn when a matter is complex, innovative and game-changing. We work seamlessly across practices, industries and jurisdictions with asset managers, private equity and venture capital firms, Fortune 500 and FTSE companies, major sports leagues, entertainment industry legends and other industry-redefining companies.

Job Summary:

The Director of Transformation and Innovation Operations is a key leader responsible for driving organizational efficiency, operational resilience, and business transformation and innovation. This role collaborates with senior leadership to align business strategies, optimize workflows, and execute high-impact initiatives that enhance the Firm’s technology, legal service delivery, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have experience in operational strategy, financial oversight, technology-driven innovation, and governance.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, ensuring data transformation and innovation operations align with the Firm’s strategic plan, transformation and innovation goals, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Support the development and implementation of firm-wide transformation and innovation initiatives, including workflow modernization, automation, and AI-driven process enhancements.
• Oversee annual strategic planning, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation, delivering metric based reporting around ROI, adoption, and delivery
• Drive adoption of data-driven decision-making and process optimization to improve agility and cross-functional collaboration across the Firm.
• Establish and refine governance structures, workflows, and project management frameworks to drive operational effectiveness, streamline decision-making, and improve cross-functional collaboration.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of transformation and innovation initiatives, ensuring the successful implementation of scalable, technology-driven solutions that enhance operational efficiency and legal service delivery.
• Manage timelines, resources, and stakeholder expectations to drive firm-wide adoption of new tools and digital processes.
• Ability to oversee a multi-million-dollar budget, aligning financial strategies with transformational investments and operational improvements. Lead financial forecasting, budget planning, and cost optimization efforts to maximize return on investment (ROI) and ensure long-term sustainability.
• Supervise and mentor cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of high performance, innovation, and strategic execution. Oversee workforce planning, leadership training, and career growth initiatives to build long-term organizational strength and expertise.
• Partner with legal and business services leadership to drive technology adoption, manage change initiatives, and ensure seamless execution of transformation and innovation efforts.
• Develop and deliver executive-level reports and presentations that communicate the impact of operational improvements and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 10 years of experience in operations management, strategy, or technology leadership roles.
• Strong expertise in strategic business operations, risk management, and organizational transformation and innovation.
• Experience managing large-scale budgets, financial planning, and cost optimization strategies.
• Proven track record in technology and innovation initiatives.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills, with experience advising senior executives and Board members.
• Knowledge of IT governance, security frameworks (NIST, ISO27001), and ability to manage third party audits.

Preferred Skills:

• Ability to drive adoption of new technologies and processes, ensuring smooth transitions through structured change management strategies and stakeholder collaboration.
• Strong experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with a focus on agile methodologies, resource allocation, and risk mitigation.
• Ability to understand emerging technologies, automation, AI, and legal tech solutions, with a strategic mindset for improving business operations and service delivery.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to senior leadership, partners, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience in budget planning, financial forecasting, and cost optimization, ensuring alignment between operational investments and business goals.

This position will require physical presence in Proskauer’s offices on a regular basis (at least 3x per week, or more, if it becomes the policy of the Firm or as business needs require). The anticipated compensation range for this position is $250,000 - $350,000. The actual salary offered will be based on a number of factors including but not limited to the qualifications of the applicant, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

Proskauer is committed to providing a work environment that includes equal opportunity without regard to race, color, gender, age, creed, sex, religion, national origin, disability (physical or mental), marital status, citizenship, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, or any other legally protected status.