Chief Information Officer (Pretoria) needed at Adams & Adams

• The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is a strategic leader responsible for the firm’s technology and digital strategy, ensuring the business is secure, efficient and future ready. The CIO is responsible for the design and execution of a technology roadmap that enhances legal service delivery, uplifts operational performance and strengthens cyber resilience, in order to enable the firm to remain sustainably competitive and profitable.
• The CIO is a strategic advisor to leaders, ensuring the firm leverages digital capabilities, automation, data insights, and innovation to compete in a fast-changing legal landscape. Reliance on several core business systems including MS Office 365, Patricia, Aderant, SAGE and NetDocs which need to evolve towards an optimal enabling and integrated technology ERP and Business Intelligence Platform.

Requirements
Technology & Digital Strategy

• Develop and drive the IT and digital transformation strategy aligned to the firm’s strategy and vision, for modernisation of legacy systems, ensuring infrastructure that supports growth
• Evaluate emerging technologies and legal technology trends to provide solutions to improve operational efficiency and client value

Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance (ISO 27001)

• Implement world class cyber security and data protection standards, ensuring the firm meets global best practices and regulatory requirements
• Implement robust governance, security controls, disaster recovery and business continuity
• Manage data protection policies aligned to POPIA and industry standards
• Complete ISO 27001 implementation journey

IT Operations & Service Delivery

• Ensure stable, reliable, and high performing IT operations across all 4 offices in South Africa
• Lead IT service management, vendor relationships, contract negotiations and SLA performance
• Embed a strong client-centric service culture within the IT team, focused on responsiveness and user experience

Legal Technology, Innovation & Cloud Infrastructure

• Select, implement and optimise return on investment of practice management systems, document management systems, and work flow automation platforms
• Partner with legal and business support teams to digitise processes, simplify workflows, improve knowledge management, decision making information and reporting
• Develop a cloud strategy aimed at infrastructure consolidation and cost optimisation
• Champion innovation and drive option of AI, automation, and data-driven legal tech solutions
• Innovative project management practices

Data & Business Intelligence

• Establish firmwide data governance and architecture
• Build sustainable reporting frameworks that deliver accurate, real-time insights for leadership
• Lead implementation of analytical tools that support financial performance, client insights and operational decision making

Strategic Leadership

• Lead and develop a high performing IT team with strong technical and service capabilities
• Build a culture of excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Partner with HR and leadership to drive digital literacy and tech adoption across the firm

Budgeting & Cost Optimisation

• Oversee the IT budget, cost management, investment planning and return on investment
• Drive value focused vendor selection, contract negotiation, and technology procurement
• Ensure technology investments deliver measurable business improvement outcomes and return on investment vs best-in-class benchmarks

Executive & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a trusted advisor to the firm’s Partners and leaders
• Effective communication of technology plans, risks, and performance findings to senior leadership and users
• Influence firmwide decisions through data, insights, and a strong understanding of legal operations

Education

• Bachelors Degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering or related field
• Postgraduate qualification (MBA or similar) advantageous

Experience

• Proven track record of leading digital transformation and modernising legacy systems
• Experience within a legal, professional services, or similarly regulated systems
• Strong understanding of law or professional services firm operations, practice systems and legal workflows preferred
• Deep understanding of legal or professional services firm technology platforms
• Strong knowledge and experience of cybersecurity, data privacy and compliance standard