The posting
IBM is seeking an experienced Legal Data Program Manager to serve as the primary operational lead for assigned eDiscovery, litigation, investigation, and compliance matters. Reporting to the Global eDiscovery Senior Manager, this role owns matters from intake through closeout and coordinates internal counsel, outside counsel, business stakeholders, IT, security, privacy, and service providers to deliver timely, cost-effective, and defensible outcomes.
The ideal candidate combines hands-on command of the full legal data and eDiscovery lifecycle with disciplined case management, strong judgment, and clear communication. The successful candidate will anticipate risk, maintain accurate matter records, translate legal strategy into executable workflows, and use data, technology, and vendor partnerships to improve quality, speed, transparency, and cost control across a global portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
End-to-End Matter Management
- 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.
Stakeholder Advisory and Case Strategy
- 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.
Technology, Analytics, and Process Improvement
- 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.
- 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.
Technical Skills
- 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.
- Project management or eDiscovery accreditations such as PMP, ACEDS, or RCA.
- 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.
- Ability to support global teams, including occasional flexibility outside standard business hours when needed.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted review tools and a demonstrated desire to continue learning emerging AI methodologies.
- Strong ethical standards and commitment to compliance.
