Senior Manager, Competitive Intelligence & Strategic Projects

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP • New York, NY

1d • $230,000 - $260,000

About The Position

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (including its associated entities) is an elite global law firm with world-class practices across the board. Clients know they can rely on Davis Polk for their most challenging legal and business matters. From offices in the world's key financial centers and political capitals, our more than 1,000 lawyers collaborate seamlessly to deliver exceptional service, sophisticated advice and creative, practical solutions. Visit davispolk.com. Position Summary The Business Intelligence team supports the firm across a broad spectrum of activities in support of new business and client relationship-building and strategic management decision making. The Business Intelligence team’s functions include detailed client and market intelligence; strategic analysis of industry, market and geopolitical trends; predictive analytics to identify new business opportunities; and competitive intelligence. The Senior Manager, Competitive Intelligence & Strategic Projects leads high-impact research, competitive intelligence, and cross-functional strategic initiatives that shape firm growth, client strategy, market positioning, and strategic business planning. Combining advanced research and analytics with strong program leadership, the Senior Manager delivers executive-ready insights and scalable, repeatable outputs that strengthen decision-making, support strategic business planning, and elevate the Business Intelligence function’s strategic impact.

Requirements

• Strategic, analytical, and research leadership, with the ability to synthesize complex, multi-source information into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience leading competitive intelligence, strategic, and/or process-automation initiatives in a law firm, including setting scope, managing priorities, and driving high-quality execution through others.
• Fluency with core research databases and tools (e.g., S&P Capital IQ, Bloomberg, PitchBook, MergerMarket, Lex Machina, and other business, financial, and legal research platforms), with strong judgment on source quality, triangulation, and defensible conclusions.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to guide the development of executive-ready dashboards and materials, manage timelines and workflows, and partner on automation efforts (including translating business needs into scalable requirements).
• Strong working knowledge of transactional practices (including M&A, private equity, capital markets, and finance) and how market, regulatory, and industry developments translate into client opportunities and firm strategy.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence, with a proven ability to produce polished written and visual deliverables and present insights credibly and persuasively to partner-level and firm leadership audiences.
• Strong program and project management skills, with a track record of leading multiple concurrent initiatives, prioritizing effectively, and delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines while maintaining clear stakeholder alignment.
• Collaborative, proactive, and intellectually curious leadership style, with sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and a strong sense of ownership and accountability for outcomes.
• Commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of all firm and client information.
• Advanced degree (MSc, MLIS, MBA, JD) preferred
• 8-10 years of experience in business intelligence or other comparable law firm or professional services experience

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee complex competitive intelligence engagements, setting project direction and synthesizing in-depth research on companies, industries, and market trends into actionable, executive-ready insights that inform business development and firm strategy.
• Advise firm management and practice group leadership on strategic business planning, using market intelligence, client developments, competitive dynamics, and internal performance data to inform growth priorities, investment decisions, and practice strategy.
• Drive high-priority strategic and special projects, including the modernization and automation of business intelligence dashboards, process-improvement initiatives, and data-driven monitoring systems that support firm leadership and practice groups.
• Oversee end-to-end production and quality control of competitive intelligence projects, establishing standards and ensuring deliverables are accurate, consistent, and aligned with stakeholder needs while appropriately delegating research execution and managing timelines.
• Manage workflow and operational efficiency initiatives across the BI function (e.g., workflows for ongoing strategic initiatives, macroeconomic studies, competitive intelligence projects), identifying opportunities to streamline execution and improve service delivery.
• Lead automation and recurring monitoring programs (e.g., lateral updates), ensuring reporting is timely, accurate, scalable, and continuously improved through disciplined governance and feedback loops.
• Conduct and direct “big-picture” and bespoke research to close intelligence gaps, monitor regulatory, litigation, and geopolitical developments, and anticipate market shifts affecting key clients and industries.
• Partner cross-functionally with Business Development, Knowledge Management, Finance, and the Center of Excellence to integrate data, analytics, and insights into broader strategic initiatives and decision-making.
• Present findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively—verbally and visually—to attorneys, BD leadership, and firm management, tailoring messaging to senior stakeholders and driving alignment on next steps.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level