Legal Knowledge & Research Manager

Harbor is seeking a Legal Knowledge & Research Manager for its Library and Research department.

This role will manage a full-service client relationship for a large law client as the primary responsibility, including management of research quality, stakeholder communications, short-term and long-term goal planning and support, and library operations/ financial management, This full-time, fully remote role offers the opportunity to lead client-facing library services while guiding a high-performing team to deliver the exceptional service using innovative legal technology solutions.  The primary schedule is Monday - Friday.  This

is a remote position that can be worked from anywhere in the United States.

Responsibilities:

• Client Engagement & Outreach
• Build strong relationships with attorneys and Client stakeholders to anticipate research needs and proactively deliver value.
• Lead research outreach initiatives tailored to specific Client practice groups or departments.
• Occasionally deliver direct research findings, competitive intelligence, or market insights to Clients and Client leadership.
• Team Leadership: Supervise and provide guidance to department staff, including training, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, promoting teamwork and professional development.
• Delegate tasks effectively, ensuring efficient workflow and timely completion of projects
• Research Leadership & Team Development
• Lead, mentor, and supervise a team of research professionals, providing direction, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Foster a collaborative, client-centered research culture that emphasizes analytical rigor, responsiveness, and continuous professional growth.
• Promote the adoption of best practices in legal research methodology, knowledge synthesis, and information delivery.
• Oversee and guide complex legal, regulatory, and business research and intelligence activities in support of Client attorneys and practice groups.
• Ensure research deliverables are timely, accurate, practice relevant, and aligned with Client priorities and risk tolerance.
• Digital Research & Knowledge Enablement
• Guide the organization, access, and governance of digital research resources to support efficient information retrieval and reuse.
• Collaborate with knowledge management, practice innovation, and IT teams to align research tools with attorney workflows.
• Ensure compliance with copyright, licensing, and ethical research standards across all research and intelligence activities.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, resources, and platforms to enhance access and usability of digital resources.
• Emerging Technology & Innovation
• Champion the evaluation, rollout, and adoption of AI
• ‑ powered legal research, analytics, and intelligence tools.
• Partner with IT and business services to assess emerging legal technologies that enhance research quality, speed, and insight generation.
• Stay informed on trends in legal technology, generative and agentic AI, data analytics, and information services, advising Clients on implications and opportunities.
• Operations Management
• Provide strategic oversight of the Client’s integrated library system (ILS), related digital platforms, and department technology operations to ensure reliable, efficient service delivery.
• Supervise library resource acquisition and processing functions, including physical and electronic resources, with particular attention to effective electronic-resource management.
• Oversee relationships with vendors and coordinate with IT and other stakeholders to address system needs, resolve escalated issues, and support the ongoing performance and improvement of department systems.
• Budgeting and Reporting
• Manage resource costs within budget and prepare annual budgets aligned with Client expectations.
• Assist with the negotiation of renewals and new contracts, leveraging attorney usage and feedback to drive cost discussions.
• Project & Initiative Management
• Lead and contribute to research centric initiatives, such as research workflow optimization, tool implementations, analytics projects, and service enhancements.
• Develop project plans, timelines, and success metrics to ensure alignment with Client goals.
• Communicate project progress, risks, and outcomes clearly to stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or equivalent, required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience providing legal research, competitive intelligence, or knowledge services in a law firm, professional services, or corporate environment.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience managing or leading a research team or function.
• Deep familiarity with legal research platforms such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, Bloomberg Law, and related analytics tools.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex research into practical, attorney focused insights.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, research budgets, and data driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with emerging legal technologies and trends, including generative or agentic AI applications in legal research (experience using or training on these tools preferred).
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage credibly with attorneys, clients, and senior stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem solving skills and attention to detail.

About Us:

Harbor is the preeminent provider of expert services across strategy, legal technology, operations, and intelligence. Our globally integrated team of 900+ strategists, technologists, and specialists navigate alongside our clients – leading law firms, corporations, and their law departments – to provide essential resources and invaluable insights.

Anchored in a rich heritage of deep knowledge, steadfast relationships, and mutual respect, our unwavering dedication lies in shaping the future of the legal industry and fostering enduring partnerships within our community and ecosystem.