AI Platform Manager

Job Summary & Objectives

The AI Platform Manager will serve as the primary business owner and strategic lead for assigned enterprise GenAI platforms (e.g., Claude, Harvey). This role is responsible for the product roadmap and strategy, vendor relationship, governance and risk coordination, platform administration, feature evaluation and release management, license management and utilization, business value realization, and ROI.

The position will work closely with lawyers, practice groups, Knowledge Management, Information Technology, Information Governance, the Office of the General Counsel, Client Development and Engagement and other business functions to ensure AI platforms are deployed responsibly, securely and effectively. The role serves as the bridge between business needs and technology capabilities, translating legal and business professional use cases into practical workflows, scalable solutions and product priorities.

AI platforms are evolving rapidly, with vendors regularly introducing new capabilities, integrations, governance controls, agents, workflows and security-related features. The AI Platform Manager will continuously evaluate these developments and provide dedicated ownership across product strategy, vendor management, roadmap planning, feature evaluation, governance coordination, release readiness, user engagement and adoption.

The role will independently lead product initiatives and cross-functional workstreams while coordinating the governance, risk, security, compliance, client confidentiality, training, communications and operational activities required to successfully deploy and scale AI solutions across the Firm. Strategic recommendations and key decisions will be escalated to the Associate Director of AI Enablement + Adoption and other Firm leadership, as appropriate.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary product owner and business lead for assigned enterprise AI platforms, responsible for strategy, roadmap development, release management, governance, adoption and overall platform success.

• Maintain deep subject matter expertise in assigned platforms, configurations, integrations, workflows and best practices, while continuously assessing new capabilities, agents, governance controls and security features for business value, strategically fit and operational readiness.

• Establish and lead a structured release-management process for evaluating, testing and deploying new capabilities, while coordinating the governance, operational, training and adoption activities required to support frequent vendor releases and platform updates.

• Partner with Information Technology, Information Security, Information Governance, the Office of the General Counsel and other stakeholders to evaluate risk, security, compliance and confidentiality considerations, and develop governance frameworks, guardrails and deployment standards that support responsible AI use.

• Manage strategic vendor relationships, including roadmap discussions, service reviews, issue escalation, feature requests, renewal planning and advocacy for Firm priorities.

• Coordinate with project managers, data scientists, software developers, data engineers, knowledge management lawyers, practice solutions professionals and other teams to translate product concepts into scalable solutions.

• Establish structured feedback mechanisms and engage directly with lawyers, business professionals and advanced users to identify opportunities, prioritize enhancements and improve overall platform value and user experience.

• Collaborate with AI Enablement + Adoption leadership and peer stakeholders to promote consistent product management practices, governance standards and adoption approaches across the Firm's AI ecosystem.

• Drive the Firm’s AI enablement and adoption strategy for assigned platforms through targeted communications, onboarding, training, office hours, practical guidance and change-management initiatives.

• Partner with lawyers, practice groups and business professionals to identify high-value use cases and translate them into practical AI-enabled workflows and solutions.

• Establish, track and analyze key performance indicators related to adoption, engagement, utilization, user satisfaction, business impact, platform value and return on investment.

• Prepare concise executive-level updates and recommendations regarding product performance, roadmap decisions, vendor developments, governance considerations, adoption trends and investment priorities.

• Monitor developments in generative AI, natural language processing, information retrieval and the legal technology market to identify relevant risks, trends and opportunities for the Firm.

• Provide functional escalation support for complex product questions and issues, coordinating resolution with internal technical teams and external vendors as appropriate.

• Serve as the Firm's designated business owner for assigned AI platforms, ensuring product strategy, governance, vendor roadmaps, user needs and Firm priorities remain aligned as technologies evolve.

• Handle projects on request under the direction of the Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer, the Director of Applied Analytics + AI, the Associate Director of AI Enablement + Adoption and other executive staff.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in business, computer science, information systems, data science, engineering, finance or a related field.

• Prior coursework or certifications in product management, product ownership, artificial intelligence, project management (PMP), change management, information security or related disciplines are a significant plus.

Skills and Experience

• 7+ years of overall professional experience required.

• 5+ years of experience in product management, product ownership, legal technology, knowledge management, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, digital transformation, or related disciplines.

• Experience serving as a product manager, product owner, platform owner or business lead for enterprise technology platforms, including responsibility for product strategy, roadmap development, release management, vendor coordination and cross-functional delivery.

• Strong working knowledge of generative AI and its application within the legal industry. Direct experience implementing, administering, governing or driving adoption of Claude, Harvey or similar legal AI platforms is strongly preferred.

• Experience in the legal industry is strongly preferred, along with an understanding of the workflows, terminology, confidentiality obligations and challenges faced by lawyers and legal support professionals.

• Experience evaluating, implementing and governing AI-enabled technologies within a regulated or professional services environment, including considerations related to privacy, confidentiality, information security, compliance, ethics and responsible AI usage.

• Experience managing external technology vendors, including roadmap planning, feature evaluation, service reviews, issue escalation and renewal support.

• Strong project and program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple products and workstreams, prioritize effectively and adapt quickly to shifting priorities.

• Strong analytical, product-thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize user feedback, business requirements, usage data and technology trends into practical product decisions and recommendations.

• Strong stakeholder management, communication and change-management skills, with experience building alignment across lawyers, business professionals, technical teams, Firm leadership and external vendors while driving product adoption and user engagement.

• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts, product limitations, risk considerations and recommendations clearly to non-technical and executive audiences.

• Experience defining and interpreting product and adoption metrics, preparing executive reporting and using data to guide product priorities and investment decisions.

• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a proactive, collaborative, adaptable and solution-oriented approach.

• Experience mentoring, coaching or guiding analysts or other team members, including providing constructive feedback and supporting professional development.

• Comfortable working closely with both technical resources and lawyers and quickly switching between strategic, operational and user-facing responsibilities.

• Demonstrated curiosity and ability to quickly develop expertise in emerging AI technologies, vendor ecosystems and evolving legal technology trends.

Salary Information

Simpson Thacher will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

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