The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Senior Document Management Specialist / Lead Information Architect
5-8 years of experience in these roles.Skills to master
- Deep expertise in information architecture design, hands-on experience with ECM/DMS platforms, strong project leadership, and informal team mentoring.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led 2-3 significant information management projects (e.g., system migrations, taxonomy redesigns) from start to finish.
- Consistently sought out for advice on complex technical problems by junior colleagues.
- Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
- Developed and delivered effective training programmes for end-users.
- 2
IT Manager (with Information Management focus)
10-12 years in IT roles, with a strong focus on data or content management.Skills to master
- System administration of ECM/DMS platforms, understanding of IT infrastructure, data security principles, and managing technical teams.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed a team of IT specialists responsible for a significant enterprise application.
- Successfully overseen the deployment and maintenance of a major content management system.
- Proven ability to bridge the gap between technical IT requirements and business user needs.
- Strong understanding of data governance from an infrastructure perspective.
- 3
Legal Operations Manager (with Records focus)
10-12 years in legal ops or paralegal roles, with heavy exposure to eDiscovery and records.Skills to master
- In-depth knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements for records retention, eDiscovery processes, and legal hold management.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed multiple complex eDiscovery cases from the operational side.
- Played a key role in developing and implementing legal hold procedures.
- Strong understanding of data privacy regulations and their impact on information management.
- Demonstrated ability to work closely with legal counsel and external auditors.