Cleary Gottlieb is a pioneer in globalizing the legal profession. We have 16 offices in major financial centers around the world, but we operate as a single, integrated global partnership and not as a U.S. firm with a network of overseas locations. The firm employs approximately 1,100 lawyers from more than 50 countries.

Since 1946 our lawyers and staff have worked across practices, industries, jurisdictions, and continents to provide clients with simple, actionable approaches to their most complex legal and business challenges, whether domestic or international. We support every client relationship with intellectual agility, commercial acumen, and a human touch.

The Innovation Specialist is a core member of Cleary’s Practice Innovation team, responsible for advancing the firm’s AI and legal technology strategy through thoughtful execution, analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. This role blends project management, business analysis, and operational insight to help embed new technologies and processes into legal workflows.

The Innovation Specialist will own critical workstreams that drive pilots forward, translate user feedback into product improvements, and ensure that our innovation initiatives deliver measurable impact. This role is pivotal to scaling Cleary’s innovation capacity as the connective tissue between strategy and execution, ensuring that ideas translate into measurable impact, pilots mature into production tools, and the firm’s AI initiatives move forward with both speed and discipline.

The ideal candidate is curious, analytical, and comfortable operating in a complex environment and is someone who combines attention to detail with the ability to see patterns, connect stakeholders, and drive outcomes.

• Lead innovation pilots and projects from intake through implementation, coordinating stakeholders and ensuring all requirements are met.
• Translate user feedback and testing outcomes into structured insights and recommendations for tool refinement or broader rollout.
• Assess vendor capabilities and technical requirements, identifying dependencies and potential integration issues early.
• Maintain and improve systems for tracking project milestones, technical requirements, and compliance documentation.
• Develop and refine repeatable processes for onboarding new tools, including intake, security review, and rollout frameworks.
• Support the firm’s AI governance and compliance operations by managing training records, monitoring completion rates, and preparing summaries.
• Contribute to internal reporting and leadership materials that highlight performance metrics, adoption progress, and operational improvements.
• Prepare high-quality deliverables, including executive summaries, presentations, and training materials, that clearly communicate innovation progress to internal audiences.
• Partner with other Cleary teams to coordinate training initiatives and promote adoption.
• Serve as a knowledgeable, professional Innovation point of contact for practice groups and administrative teams.

• Bachelor’s degree required; JD or equivalent professional interest in law, technology, or business strategy preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in innovation, legal operations, business analysis, or project management within a professional services, law firm, or tech environment.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to synthesize information and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, anticipate challenges, and design pragmatic solutions.
• Proficiency in collaboration and data tools (e.g., Power BI, Monday.com, or equivalent).
• Deep curiosity about the role of AI and technology in transforming professional work, and a commitment to staying current with developments in the field.
• Professional maturity, initiative, and intellectual agility — a self-starter who contributes ideas and takes ownership of outcomes.

The estimated base salary range for this position is $115,000 to $135,000 at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including skills, education, training, credentials, experience, scope and complexity of role responsibilities, geographic location, and performance. This role is non-exempt meaning it is overtime pay eligible.

Cleary provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health care benefits. More information can be found here: Benefits

We are an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with these goals, the firm prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on any category protected by law. Cleary provides reasonable accommodations to enable otherwise qualified employees to perform the essential functions of their position, provided the accommodation does not pose an undue hardship to the Firm.