Legal Data Program Manager
IBM · Posted Nov 8
Hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, quantum computing, and IT consulting services
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About the role
IBM's legal operations team is seeking a Legal Data Program Manager to serve as the primary operational lead for eDiscovery, litigation, investigation, and compliance matters. The role owns matters from intake through closeout, coordinating internal counsel, outside counsel, business stakeholders, IT, security, privacy, and service providers. It combines legal data lifecycle management, case strategy, technology-assisted review, analytics, and process improvement to deliver timely, cost-effective, and defensible outcomes.
What you will do
- Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned matters and own execution from intake, scoping, and planning through preservation, collection, processing, review, production, and matter closeout.
- Translate legal strategy and deadlines into documented project plans, milestones, roles, dependencies, budgets, quality controls, and escalation paths.
- Lead matter kickoff calls and recurring status meetings; coordinate internal counsel, outside counsel, business units, technical teams, and service providers.
- Provide assistance with meet-and-confer preparation, ESI protocols, search-term negotiations, production specifications, and declarations or documentation concerning discovery processes.
- Maintain complete and accurate matter records, including scope decisions, chain-of-custody documentation, data maps, collection logs, exceptions, approvals, productions, and closeout records.
- Track matter health, deadlines, data volumes, review progress, risks, issues, spend, and forecast-to-complete; provide concise reporting and escalate material concerns with recommended actions.
- Conduct post-matter reviews and coordinate secure data disposition, return, or retention in accordance with legal, contractual, and IBM requirements.
- Advise attorneys and case teams on auditable, proportionate, and practical approaches to preservation, collection, search, review, analytics, privilege, and production.
- Assess matter complexity, data sources, jurisdictional requirements, privacy constraints, cost drivers, and technical risks; recommend an appropriate execution strategy.
- Explain technical concepts, platform capabilities, limitations, and tradeoffs to legal and non-technical audiences and convert decisions into clear operational requirements.
- Serve as a trusted advisor during high-risk or high-visibility matters, applying sound judgment and escalating issues promptly.
- Evaluate and apply technology-assisted review, continuous active learning, advanced analytics, AI-assisted review, and other automation where appropriate, with documented objectives, validation methods, quality controls, and defensibility considerations.
- Develop repeatable workflows, templates, playbooks, and quality-assurance standards that improve consistency and scalability across matters.
- Identify operational gaps and recommend process, configuration, integration, or automation improvements based on matter data and lessons learned.
- Support the implementation, governance, adoption, and responsible use of approved eDiscovery technologies.
- Deliver practical training and guidance to attorneys, case teams, and internal partners on eDiscovery processes and tools.
Skills used in this role
What the employer is looking for
- 6+ years of eDiscovery program management experience, gained in-house, at a law firm, consultancy, or eDiscovery service provider.
- Experience managing complex global legal data and eDiscovery matters and programs.
- Deep, hands-on knowledge of the full legal data and eDiscovery lifecycle and workflows, including legal hold, preservation, collection, processing, review, production, and data disposition.
- Experience with global eDiscovery matters spanning multiple jurisdictions, data privacy regimes (e.g., GDPR), and cross-border production challenges.
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent, complex matters with competing deadlines and shifting priorities.
- Significant experience interacting with and advising senior stakeholders, outside counsel, and cross-functional partners.
- Hands-on proficiency with one or more leading eDiscovery platforms such as Relativity, Nuix, Reveal, or Everlaw, or comparable tools
- Experience with TAR/CAL workflows, predictive analytics, and AI-driven document review methodologies.
- Experience explaining and guiding legal teams on search algorithms, Boolean search logic, and analytics tools.
- Familiarity with modern enterprise productivity platforms and cloud-based data sources (e.g., Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Teams).
- Deep understanding of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) and eDiscovery industry best practices.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted review tools and a demonstrated desire to continue learning emerging AI methodologies.
- Strong project and time management skills with the ability to prioritize, solve problems, and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to communicate technical specifics to non-technical audiences.
- Highly organized, with strong judgment and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to quickly learn new processes and systems and apply that knowledge effectively across matters.
- Strong ethical standards and commitment to compliance.
- Ability to support global teams, including occasional flexibility outside standard business hours when needed.
Preferred qualifications
- Project management or eDiscovery accreditations such as PMP, ACEDS, or RCA.
Benefits and support
- Compensation and benefits are detailed in the job posting
About IBM
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company that provides hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and enterprise infrastructure solutions. Operating in over 175 countries, IBM helps businesses across industries modernize operations, secure data, and drive digital transformation through platforms like watsonx and Red Hat OpenShift. Founded over a century ago, the company remains a pioneer in high-performance computing, enterprise automation, and quantum technology.
- Industry
- Information Technology
- Company size
- 260,000+ employees
- Founded
- June 16, 1911
- Location
- Armonk, New York, USA
- Funding stage
- Public Company
Funding
Public Company · $3.5B raised
- ·Post Ipo Debt$150M
Leadership
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Senior Vice President, Software and Chief Commercial Officer
Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications
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