IT Business Relationship Manager

Steptoe, a Washington, DC-based Am Law 100 law firm, is seeking an IT Business Relationship Manager responsible for building, sustaining, and continuously deepening strategic partnerships between the Information Technology department and the firm's practice groups and business units. This position plays a hands-on relationship management role in aligning technology capabilities with business priorities, translating stakeholder needs into actionable IT demand, and ensuring that the firm's technology investments deliver measurable value across all areas of the organization.

The IT Business Relationship Manager works directly at the intersection of technology and firm operations - engaging practice group leaders and department heads to understand business objectives, advocating for business unit priorities within IT planning and governance, communicating technology roadmaps and service changes in accessible terms, and developing project proposals (or charters) for solutions to needs. This role would be accountable for delivery of business benefits and outcomes for the internal client. The role collaborates closely with IT leadership, project management, security, and application teams to provide well-governed, responsive platform services that support the firm's legal and administrative functions.

Essential Functions
* Serve as the dedicated IT point of contact for assigned business units, practice groups, and administrative departments across the firm.
* Establish and maintain trusted advisory relationships with department heads, practice group leaders, and other key stakeholders.
* Conduct regular structured meetings and informal check-ins to understand priorities, emerging needs, and pain points.
* Advocate for business unit requirements within IT planning, budgeting, and project prioritization.
* Identify opportunities where technology can improve efficiency, reduce risk, or support revenue generation.
* Capture, document, and prioritize technology requests and project demand in alignment with IT capacity and strategic priorities.
* Translate business requirements and use cases into clear technical requirements for project and development teams.
* Partner with IT leadership to evaluate and scope requests, providing initial feasibility assessments and estimated resource needs.
* Manage and maintain a pipeline of demand items, providing transparent status updates and managing stakeholder expectations.
* Collaborate with IT leadership to incorporate business needs into the annual IT strategic plan, roadmap, and budget cycle.
* Develop proposals, business cases and project charters for approved initiatives incorporating requirements, solution delivery plans, risks and dependencies.
* Support technology initiatives by facilitating communication, change management, adoption activities, and feedback collection.
* Hold themselves accountable for delivery of business benefits and outcomes for the internal client from each initiative.
* Contribute to the development of IT service catalogs, SLAs, and KPIs that reflect business expectations and service standards.
* Communicate upcoming IT changes, upgrades, outages, and deployments to stakeholders in a timely, accessible manner.
* Develop and deliver targeted communications and presentations tailored to non-technical audiences.
* Lead or support change management for implementations, including training coordination and user adoption strategies.
* Collaborate with project managers and vendors during implementations to ensure requirements are met and users are prepared.
* Participate in vendor evaluations, product demonstrations, and contract reviews for business unit impacting technologies.
* Coordinate with legal technology vendors and legal operations teams to support practice facing tools (e.g., DMS, matter management, time & billing, and legal AI platforms).
* Maintain accurate records of engagements, requirements, status, and commitments.

Non-Essential Functions

* Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification

* Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to establish credibility and trust across all levels of the organization, including with stakeholders navigating AI-driven change.
* Strong business acumen and understanding of professional services operations; ability to assess business needs and recommend solutions - including AI and automation opportunities - grounded in measurable value.
* Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively to non-technical audiences (verbal, written, and presentation formats), including translating AI capabilities and limitations into business-relevant terms.
* High organizational agility; ability to manage competing priorities, multiple stakeholder relationships, and shifting demands simultaneously, including the pace of change driven by emerging AI tools and adoption cycles.
* Demonstrated project coordination skills and experience working with cross-functional teams toward shared objectives, including AI tool evaluations, pilots, and rollouts.
* Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including AI-assisted features (Copilot), and familiarity with collaboration, knowledge management, and workflow automation tools.
* Familiarity with ITSM frameworks and platforms (e.g., ServiceNow) and project delivery methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid), including iterative approaches suited to AI implementation.
Education:
Bachelor's degree in a related field, equivalent technical certification, or comparable professional experience.
Experience
* Seven (7)+ years of technology consulting roles, progressive experience in IT, business analysis, with exposure to AI, intelligent automation and legal technologies initiatives a plus.
* Three (3)+ years in a relationship management, IT liaison, or client-facing capacity, ideally including experience supporting AI tool adoption or change management.
* Experience working within a law firm, professional services organization, or similarly complex, client-centric environment preferred.
* Experience with legal technology platforms (e.g., iManage, NetDocuments, matter management, time & billing platforms) and legal AI/analytics tools - including generative AI platforms such as CoCounsel, Harvey, or similar - is advantageous.
Certifications (Preferred):
* Certified Business Relationship Manager (CBRM) or BRM Professional (BRMP).
* ITIL Foundation (or higher).
* Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent.
* AI-related certification or coursework (e.g., Microsoft AI Fundamentals, Coursera AI for Everyone, or equivalent) preferred.
Additional Preferred Knowledge
* Experience with legal AI governance frameworks or legal technology standards bodies (e.g., CLOC, ILTA, EDRM), including familiarity with responsible AI use policies in legal contexts.
* Familiarity with Coda.io, SharePoint, or similar collaborative documentation and workflow platforms, including AI-enhanced features within those ecosystems.

Success Factors

* Strategic partnership: Builds deep, trust based relationships that drive measurable business outcomes.
* Executive communication: Translates technical and operational complexity into clear, actionable executive narratives.
* Business acumen: Understands business models, value drivers, and risk considerations to guide technology decisions.
* Demand management: Captures, prioritizes, and shepherds technology needs from intake through delivery and adoption.
* Influence without authority: Achieves results through collaboration, persuasion, and coalition building.
* Change leadership: Guides stakeholders through technology transitions with empathy, clarity, and a focus on adoption.

Work Environment

* Non-smoking environment
* Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule
* Available to work 9:00 - 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.
* Hybrid work arrangements may be available for this position.
* Extra weekday and weekend hours may be required for special programs or events
* Must be available to work beyond regular hours when necessary
* Must be able to work under tight deadlines and stressful situations
* Must have ability to work independently

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $150,400 - $160,400. The actual base salary offered will be dependent upon the applicant's experience and qualifications, as well as other job-related factors, including but not limited to, relevant skills, education, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, geographic location.
Steptoe offers a full range of benefits for you and your eligible dependents. Benefits currently include: medical, dental, vision, life, disability, dependent care, health care flexible spending accounts, 401K Plan, Profit-Sharing, Paid Time-Off and a robust Wellness Program.
Steptoe LLP is an equal opportunity employer EOE/Disability/Veteran. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or any basis proscribed by applicable statutes.