Head of Law Department Innovation

Guardian Life Insurance•New York, NY

About The Position

The Head of Law Department Innovation is responsible for helping to shape and execute the Guardian’s Law Department innovation and transformation strategy. This role will report to the Head of Law Department Strategy, Operations and Technology and partner with Law Department Executive Leadership on the development of an AI strategy. Core responsibilities include identification and implementation of transformative initiatives within the Law Department, driving operational improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and value delivery. While artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are core focus areas, the role also oversees broader transformation initiatives—including process redesign, operating model improvements, and adoption of modern service delivery approaches—that may or may not involve AI. This leader partners closely with Law Department leadership, IT, and relevant stakeholders to modernize and embed innovation into the department’s culture and deliver measurable improvements in how legal services are delivered.

Requirements

10+ years of experience, preferably in financial services in Law Department operations, technology, or project management roles.
Excellent project management skills.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing legal technology roadmaps or AI strategies.
Proven ability to build strong relationships across department and enterprise.
Experience working within corporate law departments.
Familiarity with legal and compliance AI tools.
Background in legal operations, process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
Experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving legal, IT, compliance, and business stakeholders.
Strategic thinking and innovation leadership
Change management and organizational transformation
Technology fluency and AI literacy
Stakeholder influence and executive communication
Data-driven decision-making
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a comprehensive AI strategy for the Law Department aligned with enterprise technology strategy and governance frameworks.
Identify high-value AI use cases across the Law Department functions (e.g., contract lifecycle management, regulatory analysis, litigation support, knowledge management, and workflow automation).
Establish and Law Department AI Center of Excellence.
Lead pilot programs, proofs of concept, and scaled deployments of AI-enabled solutions.
Partner with relevant stakeholders to ensure responsible use of AI, adherence with governance standards.
Evaluate emerging legal technologies and vendors to determine strategic fit and value.
Identify and lead transformative initiatives that improve the efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness of the Law Department, including those not reliant on AI.
Redesign legal processes, operating models, and service delivery approaches to optimize performance and cost management.
Drive adoption of innovative tools and practices that enhance collaboration, transparency, and service delivery.
Partner with Law Department leadership and IT to define and prioritize the legal department’s innovation roadmap.
Build a culture of innovation within the legal function by promoting experimentation, continuous improvement, and change adoption.
Establish metrics and reporting frameworks to measure the impact of innovation initiatives.
Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of transformation projects from ideation through implementation and scaling.
Manage project governance, stakeholder engagement, and change management strategies.
Ensure effective communication and training to support adoption of new tools and processes.
Develop repeatable frameworks for identifying and delivering future innovation opportunities.
Assess, select, and manage relationships with legal technology providers, consultants, and innovation partners.
Collaborate with enterprise IT to ensure solutions meet security, integration, and compliance requirements.
Monitor industry trends in legal technology, AI, and service delivery models.
Continuously refine the innovation roadmap based on outcomes, feedback, and evolving business needs.