Product Management Director in Chicago, Illinois at Sidley Austin LLP

The Product Management Director - Data & AI will serve as a strategic leader within Sidley's Data & AI organization. This senior product leader will partner directly with attorneys and legal professionals to discover high-impact use cases, evaluate emerging AI tools and technologies, and drive the development of both proprietary AI solutions and thoughtful integrations of best-in-class external platforms.
Reporting to the Product Management Senior Director, this role will lead a team and collaborate across the firm to deliver innovative products that drive measurable business impact. The ideal incumbent combines deep product management expertise with exceptional executive presence and influencing skills, bringing a proven track record of excellence delivering data and/or AI-enabled solutions from discovery through execution.

• Define and own the vision, strategy, and roadmap for a defined Data & AI product portfolio, aligned to enterprise data strategy and firm-wide objectives.

• Translate complex business and technical requirements into clear, high-impact product initiatives that deliver measurable value.

• Champion a product-first mindset, shifting from project-based delivery to scalable, sustainable product thinking.

• Partner with attorneys, legal professionals, and business teams to understand workflows, pain points, and opportunities for Data & AI impact.

• Lead rigorous product discovery and validation, applying user research, prioritization frameworks, experimentation, and iterative delivery.

• Manage and continuously refine the product backlog to reflect strategic value, user needs, and technical feasibility.

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team, fostering accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and outcome orientation.

• Evaluate AI tools and platforms, and lead end-to-end lifecycle management of proprietary AI solutions, including build-versus-buy decisions.

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Design, and Data Governance to deliver secure, scalable, high-quality solutions.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to attorneys, practice leaders, and firm leadership, managing expectations and influencing decisions with transparency and strategic insight.

• Drive cross-functional alignment and integration across product teams, navigating complexity and competing priorities effectively.

• Promote product management best practices and translate between technical and business audiences to strengthen product capability across the firm.

Education and/or Experience:
Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering Computer Science or a related field.

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience.

• A minimum of 5 years in product management roles.

• A minimum of 5 years leading teams.

• Proven track record of driving products from discovery to execution, delivering measurable business outcomes in complex, matrixed environments.

• Deep expertise in product management disciplines, including user research, roadmap development, backlog management, prioritization, and iterative delivery methodologies.

• Strong experience collaborating with Engineering, Design, and Data Governance teams to build scalable, high-quality products.

• Exceptional executive presence with polished communication and presentation skills; ability to command a room and influence senior leaders.

• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and build trust across all levels of an organization, from individual contributors to C-suite executives.

• Experience instilling product management culture within an organization, shifting mindsets from project delivery to sustainable product thinking.

• Highly organized, proactive, and self-motivated; able to manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines while maintaining clarity and focus.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with comfort navigating ambiguity and making data-informed decisions.

• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion.

• Demonstrates ownership, accountability, and follow-through.

• Resilient and results-driven, with the ability to navigate complexity and deliver outcomes in fast-paced, evolving environments.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

• Experience evaluating, integrating, and launching AI-enabled tools and solutions.

• Familiarity with modern data platforms, data-as-a-product principles, and enterprise data ecosystems.

• Knowledge of the legal or professional services industry.

• Experience working with geographically dispersed teams and agile delivery methodologies.

Other Skills and Abilities:
The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills

• Strong attention to detail

• Good judgment

• Strong interpersonal communication skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others

• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion

• Able to work under pressure

• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

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The target salary range for this role is:

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.