Legal Operations Manager

Sundt Construction • Tempe, AZ

3d

About The Position

Sundt is creating its first Legal Operations Manager role as its Legal Department grows alongside the business. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, this role will build and run the business side of the department, including how legal work is received and completed, how knowledge is captured and shared, how outside counsel spending is managed, and how technology supports the work. The manager will build the legal operations function from the ground up, establishing durable systems and processes while earning the trust of attorneys and business partners.

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 and ability to lead multiple initiatives at once.
• Ability to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
• Ability to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry, or feel objects frequently; lift, push, or pull objects up to 50 pounds occasionally; and sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift or workday.
• Ability to use a telephone, computer system, email, and other electronic devices frequently to communicate with internal and external customers or vendors.

Responsibilities

• Administer the construction contract-review platform, currently Document Crunch, 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 for 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 operating-group procurement teams as they develop procurement processes to build 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 the 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 in 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 the Licensing and Registration function 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level