Operations Program Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

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Summary

The Marketing Operations Program Specialist, working in collaboration with and in support of the firm's strategic initiatives, is a versatile member of the Marketing Business Development (MBD) team, responsible for supporting a broad range of marketing operations projects while also serving as the team's internal resource for identifying and advancing practical AI opportunities.

This role is equal parts doer and coordinator - stepping in on high-priority initiatives, managing ad hoc project requests, and ensuring cross-functional work stays on track. Alongside that operational foundation, the Specialist brings working knowledge of AI tools and a curiosity for how they can be applied to improve MBD's everyday workflows, reporting, and content processes.

Critically, this is a business-side role. The Specialist does not own AI infrastructure, build technical systems, or operate independently of the firm's IT and Innovation functions. Instead, they serve as MBD's informed liaison - identifying opportunities, scoping use cases, supporting pilots in partnership with the appropriate technical teams, and ensuring successful adoption across the MBD team.

Location
This position can sit in our Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Northern Virginia, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh, San Diego, Seattle, Short Hills, Washington DC, or Wilmington and offers a hybrid work schedule.
Responsibilities

Marketing Operations & Project Support

• Provide hands-on support across a range of MBD marketing operations projects, including ad hoc requests from senior stakeholders and cross-functional initiatives spanning multiple teams.

• Act as a reliable operational resource during periods of high demand, stepping in to manage workstreams, track deliverables, and keep projects moving.

• Coordinate across MBD sub-teams to maintain alignment on shared priorities, dependencies, and timelines.

• Develop and maintain project documentation, status reports, and process guides to support consistency and institutional knowledge.
  

Program Coordination & Governance

• Support the design and upkeep of program governance structures across MBD's project portfolio, including intake processes, prioritization frameworks, and escalation paths.

• Manage tracking systems for milestones, owners, and outcomes across active initiatives, providing regular visibility to leadership.

• Help leadership assess competing priorities and resource constraints, recommending sequencing and trade-offs using structured frameworks.
  

AI Opportunity Identification & Enablement

• Serve as MBD's point of contact for AI-related use case ideas, and process improvement opportunities - connecting the team's needs with the firm's broader AI capabilities.

• Identify practical AI applications within MBD workflows (e.g., research, reporting, directory submissions) and develop structured proposals for piloting and evaluating them.

• Partner with IT, Innovation, and other technical stakeholders to scope and support AI pilots, ensuring MBD's business requirements are clearly communicated and addressed.

• Track progress and outcomes of AI initiatives within MBD, translating results into plain-language summaries and recommendations for leadership.
  

Training, Adoption & Documentation

• Develop training materials, job aids, and reference documentation to support adoption of new tools, processes, and AI-assisted workflows across the MBD team.

• Facilitate working sessions and informal coaching to build team confidence and consistency in using approved AI tools.

• Curate and share best practices, prompt libraries, and usage guidance to enable compliant and effective AI use across teams with varying levels of familiarity.
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships across MBD sub-teams, as well as with IT, Innovation, Communications, and other key partners.

• Facilitate collaboration across distributed teams with different priorities and working styles, creating alignment and momentum on shared work.

Desired Skills

The ideal candidate brings 6+ years of experience in project management, program coordination, or marketing operations, with a proven track record of driving accountability across complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. They are skilled at building governance structures and influencing without direct authority - comfortable operating in ambiguous environments and creating clarity where it doesn't yet exist. They consistently prioritize competing requests using structured frameworks (e.g., impact/effort, urgency, risk, and dependencies) and communicate clear trade-offs to stakeholders.

They have strong working knowledge of AI tools and technologies, including generative AI platforms, automation tools, and data analytics solutions.

Strong communication and facilitation skills are essential, as this role requires consistent alignment across teams with different priorities and working styles. Proficiency with project tracking, collaboration, and reporting tools is expected, along with experience developing and measuring KPI and ROI frameworks.

Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and the enterprise AI landscape is a plus, as is experience within a business development or marketing organization. Candidates with a background in change management, business transformation, or agile delivery methodologies will be well-positioned to succeed in this role.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Artificial Intelligence or related field.
  

Minimum Years of Experience

• 6 years' experience in marketing or business development in a professional services environment.

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties.

• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner.

• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.

• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required.

• Foster positive work relationships.

• Comply with all firm policies and practices.

• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.

• Perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned.
  

Our employees are expected to embrace and uphold our firm values as a part of our DLA Piper culture. We are committed to excellence in how we represent our clients and develop our people.
Physical Demands

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Work Environment

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor and may be modified in the firm's discretion in the future.
Disclaimer

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm's discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.

Application Process

Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials via email.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact careers@us.dlapiper.com.

Agency applications will not be considered.

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

The firm's expected hiring range for this position is $71,743 - $109,321 per yeardepending on the candidate's geographic market location.

The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on otherfactors including the candidate's experience, skills, educational andprofessional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensivepackage of benefits, including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

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DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.Job applicant poster viewing center.