Legal Operations Manager

Sundt•Tempe, AZ

14h

About The Position

Sundt is creating its first Legal Operations Manager role as its business expands into new markets, lines of work, and larger projects. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, this professional will build and run the operational side of the Legal Department, establishing systems and processes that help lawyers focus on substantive legal work. The role will develop the legal operations function from the ground up, with responsibility for how work is received and completed, how knowledge is captured and shared, how outside counsel spending is managed, and how technology supports the department. The manager will administer and improve legal technology and related processes; maintain the department's knowledge base, matter inventory, dashboards, and performance metrics; manage budgeting, accruals, and spend reporting; and coordinate with partners across Legal, IT, Finance, Risk Management, procurement, and Licensing and Registration. The role also manages legal technology vendors and service providers, supports outside counsel billing and selection practices, and prepares reporting for the General Counsel.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in legal operations, business operations, project controls, finance, or a related field, including at least 2 years in an in-house legal department.
Bachelor's degree in business, finance, information systems, or a related field.
Experience helping build or expand a legal operations function.
Experience in construction, engineering, or another project-based industry.
Experience managing a budget and accruals, analyzing outside counsel or vendor spend data, and producing financial or management reporting for leadership.
Familiarity with AI-enabled legal tools.
Familiarity with CLOC or similar legal operations professional frameworks.
Hands-on experience implementing technology or other process changes from selection through adoption.
JD or paralegal certification.
Sound judgment in handling confidential and privileged information.
Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to build credibility with attorneys and business leaders.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives at once.
Ability to comply with all safety standards and procedures.

Responsibilities

Administer the construction contract-review platform, including user adoption, playbook maintenance with counsel, usage tracking, and vendor management; provide process support for Origami RMIS in partnership with Risk Management.
Build and maintain a department knowledge base of standard positions, templates, playbooks, and institutional guidance.
Build and maintain dashboards and budget reporting covering matters and outside counsel expenses.
Coordinate with Risk & Insurance on shared systems and data to avoid duplication.
Define and track a focused set of department performance metrics.
Design and maintain Legal Department operating processes and procedures, including matter intake, assignment, approval authorities, and escalation paths.
Develop and administer outside counsel guidelines, billing controls, rate management, and law firm selection processes.
Engage with procurement teams in operating groups as they develop procurement processes, building cohesion across groups.
Establish and maintain a complete inventory of open legal matters across all practice groups.
Evaluate and recommend AI-enabled legal tools in partnership with IT and counsel.
Lead assessment, selection, implementation, and adoption of legal technology, including matter management, e-billing, and document and contract management tools, in partnership with IT.
Manage relationships with legal technology vendors and other legal service providers.
Organize and maintain the Legal Department intranet (SharePoint).
Oversee outside counsel invoice review for compliance with billing guidelines and approved rates, coordinating substantive review and approval with the responsible in-house attorney.
Own the Legal Department budget process, accruals, and spend reporting in partnership with Finance.
Partner with Licensing and Registration to strengthen license tracking systems and documentation.
Prepare reporting and data for the General Counsel.
Serve as the department's primary point of contact with IT on systems, security, and data.