Sr Director, Strategic Intelligence (Hybrid Schedule)

Position summary

This position is open in any of our following offices:

• Pittsburgh
• Washington DC
• Philadelphia
• New York
• Princeton
• Global Solutions Pittsburgh
• Chicago
• Houston
• Dallas
• Atlanta

The Senior Director of Strategic Intelligence is a new role for a seasoned intelligence leader to take our data-driven decision making to the next level. This is a chance to shape how one of the world's most forward-leaning law firms turns information into action—helping partners and executives move further beyond reporting and dashboards and into predictive, prescriptive insights powered by AI, modern data science, and emerging AI-native intelligence capabilities.

This is not a traditional data or analytics leadership role. The Senior Director must be a translator, storyteller, and change leader who can guide senior partners and executives in evolving how decisions are made—shifting from intuition alone to a model where experience is enhanced by data and AI-driven insight. The role requires the ability to connect complex intelligence to real business decisions, build trust over time, and drive meaningful adoption across leadership, not simply to produce analysis.

While many law firms remain anchored in accounting-centric views of data, this role will further expand the firm's intelligence capabilities across a broader set of dimensions, including:

• Client behavior
• Market dynamics
• Talent allocation and planning
• Matter value

Ensuring that intelligence reflects how the firm actually operates and competes.

Financial reporting is addressed by the firm's Financial Intelligence Unit and is not part of this role. The Strategic Intelligence team works closely with that group to blend financial and non-financial reporting and analysis.

Job duties and responsibilities

• Lead the firm's enterprise analytics and intelligence strategy, expanding beyond traditional financial reporting to include predictive, forward-looking insights that support strategic and client-facing decision-making
• Evolve and lead a high-impact team spanning:
  • Strategic insights
  • Data integrity
  • Reporting
  • Growth processes and technology
• Integrate these capabilities into a unified operating model with coordinated workflows, shared priorities, and a focus on delivering intelligence efficiently and at scale
• Align intelligence priorities with firmwide strategic initiatives and the Innovation department's role as a strategic incubator and accelerator, partnering with key stakeholders across:
  • Practice Innovation
  • Applied AI
  • Legal Operations
  • Learning & Development
  • IT
  • Marketing/Business Development
  • Finance
  • Strategy
  • Client Value
• Align with the Financial Intelligence team to unify intelligence and reporting for these teams and firm leadership
• Apply and oversee the use of:
  • Language models
  • Machine learning
  • Data science
  • AI-native techniques (including agent-based and retrieval-augmented approaches)
• Partner with Finance and IT to guide the ongoing growth and design of the firm's enterprise data warehouse
• Support the firm's evolution toward AI-enabled delivery models by informing how legal work is:
  • Scoped
  • Staffed
  • Priced
• Monitor competitor activity, legal industry trends, client expectations, and innovation investments to inform strategic planning and maintain a forward-looking view of the firm's competitive position
• Collaborate with Marketing/Business Development and Client Value to enhance the client experience and identify opportunities for new or improved service offerings
• Guide the strategic review and evaluation of data-infused software assets, such as growth tech systems, pricing agents, and next-generation platforms
• Ensure data, tools, and intelligence outputs are integrated into a broader intelligence and decision-making framework
• Act as a bridge between technical innovation and business decision-making, ensuring capabilities translate into measurable operational impact
• Communicate intelligence findings and strategic recommendations to firm leadership, partners, and business stakeholders
• Serve as a senior point of contact for the firm's intelligence and analytics strategy
• Anticipate and adapt to shifting business priorities, emerging trends, and complex challenges
• Exercise authority to make, or provide significant input into, decisions regarding:
  • Hiring
  • Performance management
  • Other key personnel actions
• Define reporting protocols, success metrics, and delivery cadences
• Perform other duties as assigned

Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Data Science, Economics, Business, Law) preferred
• Advanced degree preferred

Experience:

• 10–15 years of experience building and leading advanced intelligence functions within legal, consulting, professional services, or a similarly complex industry
• A record of taking organizations through a data-centric decisioning maturity curve—beyond descriptive into prescriptive and automated decisioning
• Experience applying AI-enabled or data science decision systems in a business context, including familiarity with:
  • Large language models
  • Agent-based workflows
  • Retrieval-augmented architectures
• Proven ability to design and manage lean technical teams that deliver impact at scale

Skills:

• Strong executive presence, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and engage directly with clients
• Ability to translate complex concepts into business-relevant outcomes
• Operational mindset with a focus on execution and building scalable, repeatable systems
• Natural collaborator who builds trust and communicates effectively across business functions
• Forward-thinking and proactive, able to anticipate future needs and strategic opportunities
• Client-centered approach, focused on delivering measurable value beyond internal metrics
• Demonstrated ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity

Other

Supervisory responsibilities: Yes

Equipment to be used:

• Personal computer
• Other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, fax machine, copier, scanner, etc.

Essential job functions:

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and perform tasks requiring prolonged and/or extensive computer use
• Ability to use computers, telecommunications, and digital collaboration tools to perform core job responsibilities
• Ability to engage in effective and professional communication
• Ability to analyze complex information while maintaining attention to detail and managing multiple priorities
• Ability to access, use, and safeguard confidential and sensitive information
• Ability to work extended or adjusted hours as needed, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and early start times
• Ability to travel for meetings, training and conferences as required
• Ability to work in-office as required to meet business or project needs

Working conditions:
You will be required to work in the office at minimum 4 days per week. Occasionally called upon to work hours in excess of your normal daily schedule. The details of your weekly schedule will be discussed further with your direct supervisor.

Pay ranges

This represents the presently-anticipated low and high end of Reed Smith's pay range for this position. Actual pay may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location and experience.

• Pittsburgh, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta: $230,000 - $320,000
• Chicago, Philadelphia: $240,000 - $342,000
• Princeton, Washington, D.C.: $260,000 - $365,000
• New York: $270,000 - $377,000

Employee benefits overview

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Virtual Health Services
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Coverage
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Lyra Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Family Leave (for eligible Exempt and Non-Exempt staff)
• Transportation Benefit
• Back-up Child Care Services
• College Coach Program
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Sick Time (for Exempt staff)
• Paid Time Off (available to all full-time, non-temporary employees)

Reed Smith offers a challenging work environment, business casual dress code and a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, flexible benefits program, tuition assistance, and generous 401(k) plan.

Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Core Values of Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork & Respect, Innovation, and Impact. Reed Smith also provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with law, including in the application and interview process.

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.