Senior Manager: AI Transformation (Program Lead)

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Information Technology department in our New York office, as a Senior Manager: AI Transformation.

Accountable for leading and running the firm’s Generative AI (GenAI) Transformation Program, ensuring coordinated execution, strong governance, and measurable business impact. This role is responsible for aligning legal practice and business services workstreams to a single, integrated AI transformation roadmap with clear ownership, sequencing, and decision‑making.

The AI Transformation Lead partners closely with firm leadership, practice groups, and business services leaders to drive adoption, embed GenAI into day‑to‑day work, and continuously evolve the firm’s GenAI strategy. The role balances strategic direction with disciplined program execution, focusing on value realization, risk management, and sustained organizational change.

Essential Functions:

GenAI Transformation Leadership & Execution

• Provide end‑to‑end leadership of the GenAI Transformation Program across planning, governance, execution, adoption, and value realization
• Define and operate an integrated transformation roadmap across legal and business services workstreams, ensuring coordinated delivery and effective sequencing
• Establish clear ownership, decision rights, and accountability for program‑level outcomes

Program Governance, Risk & Delivery Discipline

• Own program‑level risk, issue, dependency, and change management, including impact analysis and escalation
• Facilitate executive governance forums and SteerCo discussions to review progress, risks, and required decisions
• Ensure delivery remains aligned with scope, timelines, budget, and strategic objectives

 Strategic Partnership & Use‑Case Prioritization

• Partner with senior leadership to continuously refine and advance the firm’s GenAI strategy based on program insights
• Facilitate firmwide identification, evaluation, and prioritization of GenAI use cases using structured decision frameworks
• Ensure use‑case decisions account for business value, architecture, operating model readiness, and change impact

 Stakeholder Alignment & Change Enablement

• Build and maintain strong alignment across program workstreams, including practice groups, business services, and technology teams
• Proactively manage expectations, secure buy‑in at key decision points, and resolve cross‑workstream conflicts
• Champion the firm’s GenAI transformation vision and ensure consistent messaging throughout the program lifecycle

 Program Artifacts, Communication & Standards

• Develop and maintain core program artifacts, including roadmaps, documentation, status reporting, and executive briefings
• Define and promote standard program management tools, reporting, and ways of working to ensure transparency and consistency
• Translate complex GenAI concepts into clear, actionable insights for executive and stakeholder audiences

  Performance Traits

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; equivalent experience may be considered
• Program or project management certifications (e.g., PMP, Agile, PRINCE2) preferred

Experience & Competencies:

• At least 8 years of experience leading large, complex, cross‑functional programs from inception through completion
• Demonstrated experience leading AI‑driven, digital, or technology transformation initiatives
• Strong understanding of Generative AI technologies, trends, and enterprise use cases
• Experience in legal services or professional services environments strongly preferred

Technical & Professional Skills:

• Strong program and portfolio management capability, including dependency, risk, and change management
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and M365; working familiarity with GenAI platforms and tools
• Ability to translate complex technical and AI concepts into practical business strategies
• Exceptional written, verbal, and executive communication skills
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving abilities
• High degree of discretion, judgment, and confidentiality
• Proven ability to work effectively under pressure with shifting priorities

The typical pay scale for this position is between $195,000 and $258,000, although the actual wage or salary could be lower or higher if the candidate’s education, experience, skills and internal pay alignment are different from those specified. 

This description is not exhaustive, and the Firm may modify it at any time at its sole discretion; nothing herein creates an employment contract or alters the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request an accommodation related to the application process or interview, please email uslateralrecruiting@mayerbrown.com. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Mayer Brown works with select external search firms that have been vetted against our standards. Firms without a contract or agreement with Mayer Brown are not authorized to represent that they are working with the Firm, nor are they entitled to placement fees. Mayer Brown does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruiters. Submission of an unsolicited CV to Mayer Brown or any of its Partners or employees will not establish any right of priority for the submitting agency.

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