Associate Director of Technology Collaboration & AI Services

Associate Director of Technology Collaboration & AI Services
Cooley is seeking an Associate Director of Technology Collaboration & Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) Services to join the Technology Platforms and Applications team.
About Cooley: Cooley is a global law firm with an expansive practice and more than 3,000 employees and partners worldwide. We value and celebrate diverse perspectives and strive to create a workplace where every individual can thrive. At the core of Cooley’s success is the exceptional talent and unwavering spirit of our people. We embrace individuality while fostering a ‘one-firm’ culture where collaboration and creativity thrive. Our people are the foundation of our success and the driving force behind everything we do.
Hybrid Schedule: As part of the Cooley culture, we recognize and appreciate the value of being together, in person, to build comradery with others in the office and to be a contributing member of the Cooley office. However, we also appreciate the benefits and flexibility that come from remote working. As such, the default assumption for employees and partners is a hybrid schedule: some in-office presence and some work from home days absent certain essential in-office roles that require five (5) days/week in-office.
Position summary:
Cooley Technology embraces a culture of customer-service excellence, and all members of the department are expected to advance this commitment. The Associate Director of Technology Collaboration & AI Services will provide strategic and operational leadership for two enterprise service areas: Digital Workplace Collaboration and Enterprise AI.
Through two direct reports, one leading each area, the Associate Director sets strategy, establishes priorities, develops talent, and ensures coordinated delivery across the portfolio. The role is accountable for the implementation, adoption, governance, optimization, and lifecycle management of the firm’s general-purpose enterprise AI platforms and digital workplace collaboration ecosystem. This includes, but is not limited to, Microsoft 365, Outlook and Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Power Platform, the firm’s intranet, enterprise search, workflow solutions, and core productivity applications. Working across Technology and the Firm, the Associate Director ensures these platforms deliver secure, reliable, and intuitive experiences; improve how work is performed; and maximize the value of the firm’s technology investments. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Position responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Management:
Own the enterprise AI portfolio from strategy and platform selection through configuration, governance, launch, adoption, support, and continuous improvement
Lead M365 strategy, adoption, and optimization across Exchange Online, Teams, Power Platform, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, core productivity applications, and the firm's intranet to reduce friction and improve digital work experience
Drive workflow automation and low-code/no-code initiatives to automate and improve
Build and lead high-performing teams focused on user experience, change enablement, and continuous improvement
Establish and maintain operating models, playbooks, and decision frameworks for enterprise AI, Power Platform, Teams/SharePoint provisioning, intranet content and workflow solutions
Evaluate and guide the controlled introduction of emerging enterprise AI capabilities, e.g., agents, connectors and plugins, early-access models, and AI-enabled workflows
Collaborate with Practice Innovation, Legal Education and Technology Learning & Adoption to ensure cohesive organizational change management planning and execution to drive adoption and build our users’ digital dexterity leveraging AI through compelling learning experiences
Product Management & Operations:
Oversee product roadmaps, service strategy, lifecycle management, and ongoing support for enterprise AI, M365, Exchange Online, Power Platform, SharePoint, intranet, and related collaboration applications
Maintain portfolio-level priorities, roadmaps, status reporting, playbooks, and decision records across concurrent initiatives
Use analytics and insights (site analytics, heatmaps, engagement metrics) to measure adoption, platform health, intranet engagement, and business outcomes
Oversee licensing, budgeting, vendor relationships, procurement coordination, contracts, and renewals for M365, enterprise AI, workflow, survey, and related collaboration tools and services.
Ensure compliant use of platforms and AI capabilities in partnership with Information Governance, Security, Legal, and Procurement stakeholders, including review of data handling, retention, monitoring, and client-use requirements
Set expectations for reliable, accountable service delivery, including clear ownership, effective documentation, testing and validation, transparent communication, and collaborative resolution of issues affecting attorneys, paralegals, and business professionals
Team Leadership & Development:
Serve as direct supervisor and mentor to direct reports
Provide day-to-day supervision of direct reports, ensure compliance with assigned work hours and monitor for compliance with all firm and department policies. Manage staffing coverage, review and process time logs/time off requests
Support business professional development and continued educational opportunities
In collaboration with immediate supervisor and central HR, participate in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination, and other employee lifecycle events
User Engagement & Change Enablement:
Champion a human-centered, persona-based approach to the design, configuration, delivery, and support of technology products and services
Establish an integrated adoption and change-enablement strategy for enterprise AI and collaboration technologies
Partner with Practice Innovation, Client Services, Learning and Development, Legal Education, and other stakeholders to coordinate organizational-change efforts
Oversee firmwide onboarding, learning, communication, adoption, and ongoing-enablement programs, including resource centers, champions networks, communities of practice, office hours, and department-specific campaigns
Build the firm’s digital dexterity by helping users understand how to apply AI, collaboration tools, and workflow capabilities securely and effectively
Maintain feedback mechanisms that identify user needs, adoption barriers, service gaps, and opportunities for improvement
Communicate strategies, decisions, progress, risks, and outcomes clearly to audiences ranging from technical teams to firm leadership
Develop and oversee firm-wide onboarding, training, adoption, and ongoing enablement programs for AI and collaboration technologies, including resource centers, champions, communities of practice, and department-specific campaigns in partnership with Learning & Development and Legal Education
Advocate for the user with a human-centric and persona-focused approach to tool and service configuration and delivery
All other duties as assigned or required
Skills & experience:
Required:
After orientation at Cooley LLP, proficiency in the use of the AI, the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
Ability to travel, as required
Bachelor’s Degree
8+ years of applicable experience (e.g., technology leadership, enterprise platforms, workflow automation, or legal technology product management) with 4+ years management experience (some at a senior level preferred)
Deep knowledge of enterprise AI platforms (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) and Microsoft 365, productivity and collaboration tools
Experience managing external development teams and vendors
Preferred:
Supervisory Experience
Experience working in a law firm or other professional services organization
Experience leading the secure, responsible deployment and adoption of enterprise AI solutions to improve business processes
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Competencies:
Entrepreneurial by nature
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with ability to facilitate and solve problems
Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines
Ability to drive projects to completion and achieve goals
Strong judgment
Team-player with collaborative spiritUnwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects,and client data
Ability to lead through influence and develop talent
Proactive, analytical mindset
Effective presentation skills
Highly collaborative, transparent, and agile; able to reprioritize quickly in a fast-paced environment
Exceptional verbal a