Manager, Strategic Partnerships (Bar Association Program)

About Smokeball

Join an award-winning legal tech company that’s transforming how law firms work by boosting their organization, productivity, and profitability with software they actually love. Smokeball is a global, community-driven company united by a love for the law and a mission to help small and midsize firms thrive. We’re passionate about what we do and our clients know it! If you’re looking for a company that truly cares about its clients and its people, you’re in the right place.

Who we are

Smokeball helps law firms bill more without their clients paying more. Intriguing, right? We were founded by technology leaders with more than 20 years of experience in delivering impactful legal technology products. Our leadership continually strives to develop a company, culture, and team that share a profound love for the law and is compelled to help small law firms find success. Our mission isn’t simple, but it is straightforward: help small law firms be successful businesses so that they can better serve our communities.

The Role

We’re seeking a partnerships leader to scale and manage our Bar Association Partnership Program at Smokeball, which includes multiple programs of work and relationships across 30 (and growing) state and local bar associations. This role will help lead a small but growing team, own partnership performance and operations, and help expand how we work with our bar partners nationwide. We have an amazing and nimble team and are seeking someone that can help strengthen our strategic partnerships with bar associations through creativity and a structured growth approach.

Open to remote candidates, or candidates in the Chicagoland area. Our headquarters is located in Chicago, IL and for candidates in the Chicagoland area, the role will be hybrid with 2 days a week in office.

Responsibilities:

• Program Strategy: Work with the Partnerships team to develop and evolve our partner program strategy and areas of focus.
• Team Leadership: Lead the strategic partnerships team, helping scale and support our bar association partners and team members
• Contract Review & Negotiation: Lead negotiations and creation of terms with key partners, reviewing and approving contracts, redlines, and setting commercial terms.
• Business Development Lead: Identify new growth opportunities across existing and prospective partners, and create and present proposals to bar associations, boards, and internal leadership.
• Program Operations & Growth: Oversee end-to-end operations of the bar partnership program, including building scalable processes, managing budgets, and ensuring effective use and implementation of tools to drive performance.
• KPI Reporting: Establish and track KPIs, revenue targets, and program performance.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, product, sales and leadership teams to embed Smokeball’s bar partnerships program and initiatives into the organization.

What You Bring

• 5+ years' experience running LegalTech bar association programs, or experience working at a U.S. Bar Association managing relationships with legal technology vendors
• Deep understanding of the legal technology and Legal AI space
• Strong familiarity with commercial contracts and contract negotiation. JD or legal experience is a plus.
• Proven ability to run a scaling partnerships team or a history of building and scaling partnerships programs
• Experience managing or mentoring team members

Life at Smokeball

• Great Culture: We’ve been named a 'Best Place to Work' five years in a row. For us, caring is not optional and we have an ongoing commitment to building a workplace where our people feel valued and collaboration flourishes.
• Work-Life Balance: 20 vacation days, 7 sick days, 3 reboot days, 11 paid holidays, birthday off, volunteer time, and more!
• Career Growth: Smokeball believes in investing in our own people and promoting from within. Our own President started at Smokeball as an Account Manager!
• Benefits: Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage. 401(k) match, monthly wellness stipend, generous parental leave.
• The Office: The kitchen is stocked with breakfast items, snacks, and beverages, and we have plenty of games to help you relax (ping-pong, billiards, pinball). We also offer weekly catered lunch and free monthly massages provided by a licensed massage therapist!

Want to Know More?

Why do we do what we do? Where did the name ‘Smokeball’ come from? What are our values? Learn more here!

Smokeball values diversity & inclusion and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Smokeball considers all individuals seeking employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you’re excited about this role, we encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn’t check every box.