Director, AI & Innovation (San Francisco)

Job Description

The Director, AI and Innovation is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing, driving, and executing the firm's artificial intelligence strategy across all practice groups and professional staff functions. This individual will serve as the central leader bridging the firm's technology infrastructure, innovation agenda, and business operations to ensure AI is adopted responsibly, effectively, and in alignment with the firm's strategic plan. A remote work arrangement is available for this position. A hybrid work arrangement is available where Nixon Peabody offices are located.

The Director will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Department Heads, Practice Group Leaders (PGLs), and Professional Staff Leaders. The successful candidate will build and lead a multidisciplinary team spanning operations, staff attorneys, and service-delivery functions.

Location

• Boston, MA
• Chicago, IL
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York City, NY
• Rochester, NY
• San Francisco, CA
• Washington, DC

AI Strategy Development & Execution

• Design and own the firm's multi-year AI roadmap, aligning with the firm's strategic plan, revenue objectives, and client service standards.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize AI use cases across practice groups and professional staff departments, sequencing rollouts for maximum adoption and impact.
• Collaborate with practice group leaders, the innovation team, the General Counsel’s office, and IT leadership to translate attorney and staff needs into actionable AI initiatives.
• Establish success metrics and ROI frameworks for all AI initiatives; report progress to firm leadership on a monthly cadence.
• Oversee the Department’s portfolio of innovation projects—including existing platform projects, custom and billable client‑facing projects, and internal initiatives—and manage delivery against ROI and realization targets.

Governance, Risk & Ethics

• Develop and maintain the firm's Responsible AI policy framework, addressing data privacy, confidentiality, bias, ethical use, and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the firm's subject matter expert on the intersection of AI and legal ethics, including bar association guidance and evolving case law on AI in legal practice.
• Partner with the General Counsel's office and risk management on AI vendor diligence, data handling agreements, and client‑facing AI disclosures.

Change Management & Adoption

• Lead firmwide AI change management efforts, including communication plans, training programs, and phased rollout schedules.
• Build trust and enthusiasm among attorneys and professional staff by demonstrating practical value and maintaining transparency about AI capabilities and limitations.
• Design and deliver training curricula tailored to different audiences (partners, associates, paralegals, professional staff), building on the firm's existing AI literacy foundation.

Team Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and lead a multidisciplinary team.
• Foster a collaborative, learning‑oriented team culture and ensure team members develop cross‑functional relationships throughout the firm.

Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Serve as a visible, credible ambassador for AI across the firm, including at partner meetings, practice group sessions, and professional staff forums.
• Maintain productive working relationships across the CINO and CIO organizations, as well as with Department Heads, Practice Group Leaders, and the Solution Development Services team, navigating the matrixed reporting structure with professionalism and transparency.
• Monitor the external AI landscape, including competitor adoption, vendor developments, legal technology trends, and regulatory changes, and brief leadership accordingly.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential job responsibility listed above, satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. Nixon Peabody retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position. The requirements listed below are representative of the skills and abilities required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field, J.D. from an accredited law school strongly preferred. Experience of 5+ years working directly with attorneys in law firm environment will be considered in lieu of J.D.
• 8-10 years of combined professional experience with at least two of the following: legal practice, legal technology/innovation, legal operations, IT leadership experience within a professional environment.
• Strong preference for candidates who have practiced law, or significant experience in the industry as credibility with attorneys, an understanding of legal workflows, and sensitivity to ethical obligations and client service will be essential to success in this role.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years as a practicing attorney at mid‑size or large law firm.
• PMP, Agile, or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience with legal‑specific AI tools (e.g., contract analysis, document review, legal research platforms, practice management AI).
• Familiarity with AI governance frameworks and legal ethics guidance on AI use in practice.
• Experience operating within a matrixed or dual‑reporting organizational structure.
• Experience overseeing service delivery or a billable project portfolio, including managing technical and legal delivery teams to defined targets.
• Experience delivering legal technology products whether within a law firm or as an outside company.
• Demonstrated understanding of AI/ML concepts, large language models, and their practical application.
• Be able to evaluate technical approaches, engage credibly with engineers and vendors and translate technical concepts for non‑technical audiences.
• Project management skills with experience leading cross‑functional initiative from concept through implementation.
• Experience managing and building a team.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, ability to present to senior leadership, large attorney groups, and technical teams.

Salary Range

• Rochester, NY: $178,500 to $275,000
• Boston, MA: $196,500 to $302,500
• Chicago, IL: $196,500 to $302,500
• Los Angeles, CA: $196,500 to $302,500
• Washington, DC: $196,500 to $302,500
• New York, NY: $216,000 to $332,750
• San Francisco, CA: $216,000 to $332,750

In addition to a standard benefits package, this role may be eligible for additional contingent compensation based on an array of factors, including but not limited to: work performance, geographic location, work experience, education, and qualifications. Because such contingent compensation is not yet calculable or may be zero ($0) in some circumstances, the above‑listed salary range(s) are Nixon Peabody’s good faith estimate of the annual salary(ies) it reasonably expects to pay for the position at the time of this posting.

Nixon Peabody LLP is an Equal Opportunity / Aff...

To comply with Federal law, Nixon Peabody participates in E-Verify. All newly hired employees are verified through this electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to confirm their identity and employment eligibility. Please refer to the Notice of E-Verify Participation and the Right to Work posters on the Nixon Peabody Careers page for more information.