Senior Information Governance Manager

The Senior Information Governance Manager (hereinafter the “Manager”) is responsible for leading the development, hands-on buildout, implementation, and ongoing management of the Firm’s Information Governance program. This role creates and operationalizes new information governance procedures and controls to ensure that client, matter, and administrative information is managed in accordance with legal, regulatory, ethical, and business requirements throughout the information lifecycle, and in alignment with information governance best practices. Reporting to the Director of New Business Intake & Records, the Manager works with Records, Technology & Data Services, Risk, Compliance, and administrative and practice groups to design, pilot, implement, and continuously improve IG policies, procedures, and controls. The Manager establishes standards that promote defensible information management, mitigate risk, support regulatory compliance, and enable efficient business operations across the Firm. Duties and Responsibilities Information Governance Strategy and Program Management Lead and champion the Firm’s information governance framework, driving adoption of IG principles, policies, and best practices across all offices. Partner with stakeholders to align information governance strategy with business objectives, client requirements, and regulatory obligations. Build and implement new information governance procedures and operational controls (e.g., intake/triage, classification, retention labeling, legal hold triggers, defensible disposition workflows), ensuring alignment with IG best practices and Firm risk/compliance requirements. Review and resolve information governance issues by balancing legal risk, business needs, and technical feasibility. Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments affecting law firm information governance, recommending enhancements as appropriate. Define team goals, priorities, and workplans for the Information Governance function to ensure timely and effective execution of the Firm’s IG strategy as the program and department scale. Records and Information Governance Lifecycle Management Develop, document, and maintain firmwide information governance policies, standards, and hands-on procedures/SOPs covering records management, data classification, retention, disposition, privacy, and information lifecycle management (including roles, workflows, and control checkpoints). Partner with the Records Management team to implement records and information lifecycle management programs, including retention schedules, defensible disposition, and legal holds; document workflows, test controls, and coordinate execution to ensure practices meet legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. Ensure consistent classification and handling of client, matter, and administrative information across structured and unstructured systems. Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management Collaborate with Privacy, Security, and Risk Management teams to assess information-related risks and implement mitigating controls. Serve as a subject matter expert on information governance considerations for audits, regulatory inquiries, client security assessments, and internal reviews. Create and maintain IG playbooks, process maps, templates, and control documentation; establish monitoring, metrics, and periodic control reviews to demonstrate ongoing compliance and continuous improvement. Technology Enablement Partner with Technology & Data Services to translate IG requirements into implementable technical designs for document management systems, collaboration platforms, matter management systems, and other enterprise information repositories; support hands-on configuration, testing, and rollout where appropriate. Own the process to embed information governance requirements into system implementations, cloud migrations, application development, and business transformation initiatives, including defining requirements, reviewing designs, supporting testing, and validating controls at go-live. Stakeholder Engagement and Training Act as a primary point of contact for information governance inquiries, providing guidance to attorneys, administrative staff, and leadership on proper information handling and usage. Drive firmwide information governance awareness and training programs, including records management, retention, privacy, and acceptable use of information. Develop educational materials and deliver training sessions tailored to attorneys, business professionals, and support staff. Leadership and Program Support Partner cross-functionally with Records, Technology & Data Services, Privacy, Security, Risk, Compliance, and business stakeholders to ensure coordinated IG program execution. Provide hands-on support during pilots, implementations, and operationalization of new information governance controls and procedures. Supervisory Responsibilities This position has direct supervisory responsibility for one of more Information Governance professionals and is expected to build and lead a growing IG function. Minimum Qualification Education Bachelor’s degree in Information Management, Library Science, Business Administration, Information Technology, or a related discipline. Experience 5+ years of experience in information governance, records management, data governance, compliance, or a related discipline. Experience in a large law firm, professional services firm, or similarly regulated environment. Special Knowledge Strong understanding of information governance principles, including records management, retention, defensible disposition, data classification, and information lifecycle management. Familiarity with legal industry practices, client confidentiality obligations, and regulatory requirements impacting law firm information. Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and influence stakeholders at all levels without direct authority. Strong analytical, facilitation, and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance risk and business needs. Experience with project management methodologies and change management initiatives, including hands-on procedure development, implementation planning, and adoption/controls validation. Technical Skills Familiarity with document and records management systems, and information governance technologies. Experience with Microsoft 365, collaboration platforms, and cloud-based information environments. Experience in information governance and records management tools (e.g., retention management, data classification, information mapping), including the ability to partner on configuration/implementation and translate policy into system-enforced controls. Experience implementing and administering retention/disposition and classification capabilities in Microsoft 365 (or equivalent platforms), in partnership with IT and Security. Experience with reporting, metrics, and governance assessments preferred. Attributes Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex concepts clearly to legal and business audiences. High degree of discretion and professionalism with demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Proven judgment, initiative, and ability to operate effectively under pressure. Experience supervising and coaching Information Governance professionals, with the ability to build and scale a developing IG function. Qualifications Relevant professional certifications such as IGP (Information Governance Professional), CRM, CIPM/CIPP, CDMP, or similar preferred. Working Conditions Position is primarily performed in a professional office environment. Periodic extended hours may be required to support business needs, projects, or critical initiatives. The full time base annual salary for this position in the New York and Washington D.C. market is expected to range between $135,159.72 - $232,896.19. Please note that the actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education and/or skill level. The posted salary is the range Vinson & Elkins in good faith believes to be the possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in New York and Washington D.C. and may be modified in the future. Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and skills required of personnel so classified. The firm reserves the right to revise or modify this job description at any time. #J-18808-Ljbffr