Director of Applications

Company: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff
Location: Cleveland
Posted on: May 3, 2025

Job Description:

Who We Are
At Benesch we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and building trust not only with our clients but with our employees - Benesch's #1 asset. Committed to providing not only the highest level of legal service to our clients, Benesch also aspires to create a positive work environment for our employees. Our Firm continues to earn placement on Chicago and Cleveland's Top Workplaces list, along with Cleveland's NorthCoast 99 Top Workplaces rankings. We also continue to advance on the AmLaw 150 list, placing us among the top 150 law firms in the country.
Benesch is proud to be recognized for being a Firm that attracts and retains top talent - making Benesch a great place to work. We offer a hybrid schedule, career development and growth, transparent and visible leadership teams, and a place where diversity, equity and inclusion is celebrated. In addition, the Firm offers a full array of benefits which can be viewed at .
Working with Us - Come and "Be Benesch!"
We are one of the fastest growing firms in the nation, and have offices in Chicago, Columbus, San Francisco, New York City, and Wilmington. We continue to expand our geographic footprint and value the talent that comprises each of our locations. If you are someone who champions a First in Service approach and are ready to be part of an exciting and growing Firm, we would invite you to apply to join our team.
Benesch is proud to announce the opening for a Director of Applications in our Cleveland office! This position is hybrid and has work from home flexibility.
Position Summary:
Are you searching for an opportunity to lead the strategic vision, development, implementation, and management of one of the nation's fastest growing law firm's business-critical software and data solutions? Do you have law firm IT leadership in addition to experience with managing applications and data portfolios, teams and projects? Then our opening for a Director of Applications is the opportunity for you. This role is for the individual who wants to oversee the applications and data platforms from implementation through retirement.
The Director of Applications ensures seamless technology integration into business processes, improves operational efficiency and enhances service delivery to internal and external stakeholders. In addition to overseeing applications, the Director will manage the Firm's data architecture, data integration, analytics, and AI initiatives, driving a strategy to leverage structured and unstructured data for business insights and operational excellence. The role demands expertise in legal industry technologies, data management, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, alongside strong leadership, project management, and vendor management skills.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversees the implementation, upgrade, maintenance, and retirement of all Firm applications and data platforms, ensuring they meet operational and security standards.
  
• Maintains and evolves documentation for the application and data landscapes, including data flows, interfaces, workflows, and dependencies.
  
• Develops a multi-year application and data roadmap that integrates analytics, AI, and advanced reporting capabilities to support the Firm's strategic initiatives.
  
• Acts as a liaison between IT and business units, ensuring alignment of application and data strategies with Firm goals.
  
• Partners with Practice Group and Administrative Leaders to assess and define business challenges and identify technical and data-driven solutions.
  
• Advocates for leveraging data insights to address business challenges and enhance decision-making.
  
• Leads the development and implementation of a data strategy that focuses on data integration, quality, governance, and analytics across the Firm.
  
• Manages and optimizes the Firm's structured and unstructured data repositories, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and accessibility.
  
• Oversees the selection and implementation of data visualization and analytics tools to enhance reporting and business insights.
  
• Drives initiatives to apply AI and machine learning to improve efficiency, client service, and decision-making.
  
• Oversees the IT department's change management framework, ensuring minimal disruption during application and data platform deployments.
  
• Identifies and implements process improvements to increase operational efficiency and productivity, leveraging data insights where applicable.
  
• Negotiates, manages, and evaluates vendor relationships and contracts to maximize value and performance.
  
• Works closely with vendors to ensure timely delivery of updates, fixes, and new features in applications and data platforms.
  
• Develops team skill sets to align with current and future business and technological needs.
  
• Fosters a collaborative, innovative, and data-driven team culture to achieve high performance.
  
• Provides direction, mentorship, and performance management to the Applications and Data teams, including data architects and data analysis roles.
  
• Researches and recommends emerging technologies, including AI and advanced data platforms, to improve operations, support business innovation, and address Firm needs.
  
• Proactively evaluates industry trends and bring innovative solutions to the Firm to maintain a competitive edge.
  
• Defines and executes a long-term vision for the Firm's application and data ecosystems.
  
• Partners with stakeholders to align IT initiatives with business strategies and data-driven decision-making.
  
• Establishes KPIs for application and data platform support, ensuring regular performance reporting and actionable insights.
  
• Optimizes workflows, processes, and data utilization for improved system performance and user satisfaction.
  
• Oversees security and compliance efforts for all applications and data platforms, ensuring adherence to industry standards and client requirements.
  
• Implements policies to address risk mitigation, data governance, and cybersecurity best practices.
  
  KEY COMPETENCIES
  

• 
  
• Deep understanding of legal industry-specific technologies and vendors.
  
• Strong knowledge of data architecture, integration, analytics, and unstructured data management.
  
• Proficiency in managing application lifecycles, from requirements gathering to implementation and support.
  
• Proficiency in data visualization tools, integration platforms, and data governance frameworks.
  
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills with the ability to mentor and grow talent.
  
• Proven track record of leveraging emerging technologies to drive business value.
  
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and timelines effectively.
  
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills to engage with non-technical audiences.
  
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
  
• Knowledge of IT security best practices, compliance requirements (e.g., client confidentiality, data privacy), and risk management.
  
  QUALIFICATIONS
  The Director of Applications should have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or related field; or 10+ years of equivalent work experience. 7-10 years of experience managing applications and data portfolios, teams and projects is required. 5-10 years of leadership experience in IT, in a law firm or the legal industry is essential. Must have experience with data integration, analytics, and AI tools, as well as legal technology solutions such as Document Management Systems, Time and Billing Systems, and Practice Management Systems.
  Benesch is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (where applicant is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations), medical condition, protected veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
  Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require special assistance or an accommodation during the process due to a disability should contact the Benesch Human Resources Department by phone at 216-363-4578 or email at
  Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
  #J-18808-Ljbffr

Keywords: Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, Detroit , Director of Applications, Executive , Cleveland, Michigan