Director Of Innovation Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Director of Innovation roles attract H-1B visa and O-1A sponsorship from technology companies, healthcare systems, and large enterprises building R&D functions. Most employers require a graduate degree and demonstrated track record of leading transformational initiatives at scale. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout Kirkland & Ellis
At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 23 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.
What You’ll Do
Our Litigation and Practice Technology (“LPT”) team sits at the forefront of legal technology innovation, building and deploying custom data science and AI solutions that advance how we deliver services to attorneys and clients. This role is an opportunity for someone who is energized by emerging technology, thrives at the intersection of technical and operational work, and wants to play a meaningful part in shaping how cutting-edge solutions are developed, communicated, and adopted. If you are passionate about translating complex technical capabilities into real-world impact, we would love to hear from you.
Impact. You will report to the Director of LPT and serve a dual function within the team. First, you will act as a dedicated project management and documentation resource to LPT’s data science and AI engineering functions, coordinating the development and release of custom-built solutions. Second, you will serve as the team’s primary steward of LPT’s broader solutions and technology portfolio. You will work in close partnership with leadership in Innovation and IT to ensure alignment across both dimensions.
Data Science & AI Solutions Project Management. You will serve as the dedicated project management partner to LPT’s data science and AI engineering leadership, overseeing the planning, tracking, and delivery of custom-built solutions across the full development lifecycle, including Relativity customizations, LLM-based tools, data pipelines, and visualization dashboards. You will maintain clear visibility into priorities, dependencies, risks, and release timelines; coordinate closely with technical teams to document requirements, milestones, testing outcomes, and release readiness; and facilitate effective collaboration across contributing teams, including Innovation Engineering and IT. You will also manage stakeholder communications by drafting updates, preparing release summaries, and coordinating solution rollouts in partnership with the Associate Director of Team & Knowledge Development and other LPT functions.
Solutions Documentation & Capability Communication. You will develop and maintain a comprehensive, end-to-end view of LPT’s solutions portfolio including custom AI and analytics tools, eDiscovery platforms, and other firm-offered capabilities, in close coordination with Innovation Product Leads and aligned with IT and product roadmaps. You will create clear, accessible documentation that explains what each solution does, how and when it should be used, its limitations, and its optimal workflow context for both technical and non-technical audiences. Serving as a trusted resource for attorneys, paralegals, clients, and internal teams, you will communicate LPT’s capabilities through presentations, briefings, and training sessions, while partnering with other Associate Directors to ensure new and evolving solutions are reflected in training programs, onboarding materials, and quality and workflow standards.
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 7 or more years of experience in litigation support, ediscovery, or legal technology service delivery at a law firm, legal service provider, or corporate legal department.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional projects involving technical teams, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Proven ability to document complex technical solutions and workflows in clear, accessible language.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience developing and delivering presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences. Skilled in PowerPoint and other presentation tools.
- Working familiarity with AI, machine learning, and data science concepts and workflows. You do not need to be an engineer or data scientist but should be comfortable engaging with technical teams.
- Experience maintaining inventories, registries, or knowledge bases of tools, platforms, or capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across technical, operational, and legal stakeholder groups.
- Exceptional organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to independently drive initiatives forward.
- Working familiarity with generative AI tools and platforms including OpenAI, Microsoft Azure OpenAI, LangChain, LangFlow, Hugging Face, and vector databases is preferred. Familiarity with prompt engineering techniques and agentic workflow concepts is also a plus.
- Familiarity with Relativity and RelativityOne, case management platforms, or other litigation support tools is preferred; experience with custom Relativity development is beneficial.
- Experience collaborating with data science or AI engineering teams is preferred, including an understanding of agile development practices, sprint planning, and tools like Git or JIRA.
- Working knowledge of data visualization tools such as Plotly, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI is a plus.
- Experience supporting the rollout and adoption of new tools or capabilities within a professional services environment is preferred.
Compensation
The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in each of the below locations. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.
Compensation Range:
- Chicago: $233,000 - $291,000
- New York City: $233,000 - $321,000
- Los Angeles: $233,000 - $321,000
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."
Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Firm will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records and criminal histories consistent with local laws.
All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
LI-Remote #LI-LC1
About Kirkland & Ellis
At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 23 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.
What You’ll Do
Our Litigation and Practice Technology (“LPT”) team sits at the forefront of legal technology innovation, building and deploying custom data science and AI solutions that advance how we deliver services to attorneys and clients. This role is an opportunity for someone who is energized by emerging technology, thrives at the intersection of technical and operational work, and wants to play a meaningful part in shaping how cutting-edge solutions are developed, communicated, and adopted. If you are passionate about translating complex technical capabilities into real-world impact, we would love to hear from you.
Impact. You will report to the Director of LPT and serve a dual function within the team. First, you will act as a dedicated project management and documentation resource to LPT’s data science and AI engineering functions, coordinating the development and release of custom-built solutions. Second, you will serve as the team’s primary steward of LPT’s broader solutions and technology portfolio. You will work in close partnership with leadership in Innovation and IT to ensure alignment across both dimensions.
Data Science & AI Solutions Project Management. You will serve as the dedicated project management partner to LPT’s data science and AI engineering leadership, overseeing the planning, tracking, and delivery of custom-built solutions across the full development lifecycle, including Relativity customizations, LLM-based tools, data pipelines, and visualization dashboards. You will maintain clear visibility into priorities, dependencies, risks, and release timelines; coordinate closely with technical teams to document requirements, milestones, testing outcomes, and release readiness; and facilitate effective collaboration across contributing teams, including Innovation Engineering and IT. You will also manage stakeholder communications by drafting updates, preparing release summaries, and coordinating solution rollouts in partnership with the Associate Director of Team & Knowledge Development and other LPT functions.
Solutions Documentation & Capability Communication. You will develop and maintain a comprehensive, end-to-end view of LPT’s solutions portfolio including custom AI and analytics tools, eDiscovery platforms, and other firm-offered capabilities, in close coordination with Innovation Product Leads and aligned with IT and product roadmaps. You will create clear, accessible documentation that explains what each solution does, how and when it should be used, its limitations, and its optimal workflow context for both technical and non-technical audiences. Serving as a trusted resource for attorneys, paralegals, clients, and internal teams, you will communicate LPT’s capabilities through presentations, briefings, and training sessions, while partnering with other Associate Directors to ensure new and evolving solutions are reflected in training programs, onboarding materials, and quality and workflow standards.
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 7 or more years of experience in litigation support, ediscovery, or legal technology service delivery at a law firm, legal service provider, or corporate legal department.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional projects involving technical teams, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Proven ability to document complex technical solutions and workflows in clear, accessible language.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience developing and delivering presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences. Skilled in PowerPoint and other presentation tools.
- Working familiarity with AI, machine learning, and data science concepts and workflows. You do not need to be an engineer or data scientist but should be comfortable engaging with technical teams.
- Experience maintaining inventories, registries, or knowledge bases of tools, platforms, or capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across technical, operational, and legal stakeholder groups.
- Exceptional organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to independently drive initiatives forward.
- Working familiarity with generative AI tools and platforms including OpenAI, Microsoft Azure OpenAI, LangChain, LangFlow, Hugging Face, and vector databases is preferred. Familiarity with prompt engineering techniques and agentic workflow concepts is also a plus.
- Familiarity with Relativity and RelativityOne, case management platforms, or other litigation support tools is preferred; experience with custom Relativity development is beneficial.
- Experience collaborating with data science or AI engineering teams is preferred, including an understanding of agile development practices, sprint planning, and tools like Git or JIRA.
- Working knowledge of data visualization tools such as Plotly, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI is a plus.
- Experience supporting the rollout and adoption of new tools or capabilities within a professional services environment is preferred.
Compensation
The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in each of the below locations. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.
Compensation Range:
- Chicago: $233,000 - $291,000
- New York City: $233,000 - $321,000
- Los Angeles: $233,000 - $321,000
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."
Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Firm will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records and criminal histories consistent with local laws.
All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
LI-Remote #LI-LC1
See all 38+ Director Of Innovation jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Director Of Innovation roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Director Of Innovation Jobs
Target large enterprises and R&D-intensive companies
Companies with dedicated innovation labs, Fortune 500 firms, and healthcare systems file the most Director of Innovation sponsorships. These employers have established immigration infrastructure and legal teams experienced with senior-level H-1B and O-1A petitions.
Position your role as a specialty occupation clearly
USCIS scrutinizes Director-level roles for specialty occupation status. Your offer letter and petition should specify that a graduate degree in a directly related field is required, not merely preferred, to strengthen the H-1B classification argument significantly.
Build a strong O-1A case alongside your H-1B
If you have published research, patents, awards, or industry recognition, the O-1A is a compelling alternative that bypasses the lottery entirely. Innovation leaders often meet multiple O-1A criteria through speaking engagements, publications, and high-salary evidence.
Document your organizational impact quantitatively
Sponsoring employers need to demonstrate your role's complexity. Prepare evidence of initiatives you led, revenue or efficiency outcomes you drove, and teams you managed. Specific metrics make the USCIS petition substantially stronger than qualitative descriptions alone.
Engage employers early on immigration timelines
H-1B cap registration opens in March with an October 1 start date. Raise sponsorship expectations during final interview rounds so the employer can plan accordingly. Late conversations create gaps, especially if you're transitioning out of OPT or another visa status.
Pursue cap-exempt employers to avoid the lottery
Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government-affiliated organizations are cap-exempt and can file H-1B petitions year-round without lottery selection. Director of Innovation roles at these institutions offer a reliable sponsorship path that isn't subject to annual cap constraints.
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Find Director Of Innovation JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can a Director of Innovation role qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, but the petition needs to establish specialty occupation status clearly. USCIS expects the position to require at minimum a bachelor's degree, and ideally a master's degree, in a specific field such as engineering, computer science, or business strategy. Roles described as requiring broad leadership experience without a degree-specific requirement are more likely to face a Request for Evidence. Employers should document the theoretical and technical nature of the work.
What degree do I need for Director of Innovation visa sponsorship?
Most sponsoring employers require a master's degree in a field directly related to the innovation function, such as engineering, technology management, or business administration. A bachelor's degree combined with substantial progressive experience can qualify, but graduate credentials strengthen the H-1B specialty occupation argument considerably. Some roles in highly technical domains, such as biotech or advanced manufacturing, expect a PhD or equivalent research background.
Is the O-1A visa a realistic option for Director of Innovation candidates?
For many innovation leaders, yes. The O-1A requires extraordinary ability demonstrated through at least three of ten criteria, and Directors of Innovation frequently qualify through published work, patents, critical roles in distinguished organizations, high relative compensation, or judging others in the field. Unlike the H-1B, the O-1A has no annual cap or lottery, making it a strong alternative for candidates with a documented track record of industry recognition.
How hard is it to find employers who sponsor Director of Innovation roles?
Sponsorship at the Director level is more common than at entry level because employers are investing in senior talent and have more legal resources to support immigration. Technology companies, health systems, and large manufacturers are the most active sponsors for this title. Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for visa-sponsoring employers, so you can browse Director of Innovation openings without sorting through roles that won't consider international candidates.
What happens if USCIS issues a Request for Evidence on a Director of Innovation H-1B?
RFEs on Director-level H-1Bs typically challenge whether the position genuinely requires a specific degree, or whether duties are too broad to constitute a specialty occupation. Your employer's immigration attorney should respond with industry surveys confirming degree requirements for similar roles, a detailed breakdown of day-to-day duties tied to specialized knowledge, and internal job descriptions. Approval rates after RFE response for well-documented senior roles remain reasonably strong when handled by experienced counsel.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Director Of Innovation jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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