Chief Information Officer

Salary Range: $170,000.00 To $250,000.00 Annually

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Harter Secrest & Emery is a full-service law firm founded in 1894, with offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, Corning, and New York City. With over 125 lawyers, we offer the depth and breadth of legal talent and experience necessary to achieve exceptional results for our local, regional, and national clients.

General Statement of Duties:

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is a senior-level professional responsible for leading the firm’s technology strategy, governance, innovation, operations, and overall technology portfolio. The CIO aligns technology investments with business objectives; ensures secure, reliable, cost-effective, and innovative technology solutions that support attorneys, staff, and clients. The CIO oversees the infrastructure, systems, and services that will provide the firm with a reliable computing environment. The CIO also develops and executes all approved information technology policies and procedures, provides executive leadership for the Information Technology and Information Services departments, and advises firm leadership on technology opportunities, risks, investments, and emerging trends.

Leadership Relationships:

Reports to the Managing Partner; work assignments are self-identified and performed independently with occasional guidance and review.

The CIO leads information technology and information services team. The incumbent oversees the network engineering manager, senior information security manager, information services manager, senior system administrator, system administrator, applications and eDiscovery specialist, and the helpdesk manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a technology strategy aligned with the firm's strategic goals and growth initiatives
• Serve as a trusted advisor to firm leadership on technology investments, innovation, risk, and emerging technologies
• Identify opportunities to improve legal service delivery, operational efficiency, and client experience through automation, artificial intelligence, and other technology solutions

Technology Operations

• Direct enterprise technology operations, including infrastructure, networks, cloud services, telecommunications, cybersecurity oversight, enterprise applications, data management, and end-user support
• Ensure the performance, reliability, scalability, and availability of firm technology systems
• Establish service standards, performance metrics, and continuous improvement practices
• Lead major technology implementations, upgrades, integrations, and modernization initiatives

Security, Governance, and Resilience

• Provide executive oversight of the firm's information security, privacy, and risk management programs
• Ensure compliance with client security requirements, regulatory obligations, and industry standards
• Establish technology governance, policies, and standards supporting the secure management of firm information assets
• Direct business continuity and disaster recovery planning to ensure organizational resilience

Legal Technology, Innovation, and Practice Support

• Oversee the firm's legal and business technology portfolio, including document management, practice management, financial systems, eDiscovery, knowledge management, client collaboration, and AI-enabled solutions
• Partner with attorneys and administrative departments to identify, implement, and optimize technology solutions that enhance productivity, service delivery, and client outcomes
• Evaluate and recommend innovative technologies that support the firm's strategic objectives

Data Governance and Analytics

• Establish and maintain data governance standards, information lifecycle policies, and controls
• Promote data-driven decision-making through reporting, analytics, business intelligence, and performance metrics

Financial and Vendor Management

• Develop and manage IT operating and capital budgets
• Evaluate technology investments and business cases
• Negotiate and manage vendor relationships, software licensing, service agreements, and strategic partnerships

Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing technology organization
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and client service
• Oversee workforce planning, succession planning, talent acquisition, performance management, and professional development

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of AI governance, AI-enabled productivity tools, and responsible AI practices
• Experience with cloud platforms and hybrid infrastructure environments
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks, security operations, and risk management
• Experience leading digital transformation and enterprise technology modernization initiatives
• Ability to communicate technology strategy and business value to executive and nontechnical audiences
• Experience with legal technology platforms, including document management, financial systems, eDiscovery, knowledge management, and practice management solutions
• Strong experience managing vendors, contracts, and technology procurement
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft-based information systems, related components, and procedures
• Strong knowledge of information technology standards and federal compliance requirements
• Ability to stay current on specialized software, hardware options, and technology updates for practice groups and administrative departments
• Advanced organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and client-service skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with partners, attorneys, paralegals, administrative and support staff, vendors, and the information technology team

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, computer engineering, or related field of study
• Ten years of experience in information technology with prior leadership responsibilities
• Project Management experience from concept to implementation
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement organization-wide technology strategies
• Exceptional interpersonal skills including teamwork, facilitation, and contract negotiations. Written and oral communication skills in addition to planning and strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, manage competing priorities, and implement projects in a busy work environment
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Salary Range: $170,000 - $250,000 salary commensurate upon professional experience
• Excellent benefits package

This description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for performance in this position. It is not to be interpreted as an exhaustive description of essential functions, responsibilities, and requirements.