Office Team Leader- Staff Legal

The Hartford•Hartford, CT

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join the leadership team of The Hartford's Connecticut Staff Legal Office as the Office Team Leader (OTL). This role combines people leadership, operational management, technology innovation, and strategic project leadership in support of a high-performing legal organization. The OTL serves as a trusted partner to attorneys, support staff, and office leadership by developing talent, improving operational effectiveness, driving technology adoption, and ensuring the delivery of exceptional service to our internal and external business partners.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in a legal department, law firm, insurance defense environment, or comparable professional services organization.
Prior supervisory, coaching, mentoring, project leadership, or team leadership experience.
Demonstrated success developing employees and leading change.
Strong technology aptitude, including experience with Microsoft Office, collaboration platforms, reporting tools, legal database management tools or platforms, and AI-enabled productivity solutions.
Proven ability to analyze data and use metrics to improve performance.
Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
College degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading process improvement or operational excellence initiatives preferred.
The ability to travel to the Connecticut Staff Legal office in Hartford, CT on an ad hoc basis to assist with in-office tasks, training and office or company related functions.

Responsibilities

Lead and Develop Talent: Directly supervise and coach legal support staff. Conduct regular performance and development discussions. Identify training opportunities and create development plans for staff. Support onboarding, cross-training, mentoring, and career growth initiatives. Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance work environment. Recognize and celebrate employee accomplishments and contributions.
Drive Operational Excellence: Monitor workflow distribution, staffing needs, productivity, and service levels. Analyze operational metrics to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Ensure timely and accurate completion of administrative and legal support functions. Lead process improvement and workflow optimization initiatives. Resolve operational challenges and implement sustainable solutions.
Champion Technology and Innovation: Promote effective use of AI tools, including Copilot and other approved technologies. Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency through automation, templates, reporting, and technology solutions. Train and support team members in adopting new tools and processes. Partner with enterprise stakeholders on innovation initiatives and pilot programs.
Lead Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives: Participate in and lead office, regional, and enterprise workgroups. Manage operational projects related to reporting, workflow improvements, technology implementation, and office effectiveness. Coordinate office initiatives that support business objectives and employee engagement. Assist in planning and execution of office events, conferences, and team-building activities.
Support Data, Reporting and Business Operations: Maintain operational reports and dashboards. Monitor staffing metrics, productivity measures, and office performance indicators. Support leadership reporting requirements and audit requests. Ensure accuracy of data maintained within enterprise systems and reporting tools. Provide insights and recommendations based on operational data.
Manage Compliance and Administrative Functions: Ensure compliance with company policies, legal requirements, and jurisdictional obligations. Approve payroll, PTO, expenses, and other personnel-related transactions. Support recruiting, onboarding, and offboarding activities. Assist with attorney licensing, CLE tracking, and other regulatory requirements. Coordinate vendor, equipment, and office administration activities.
Collaborate Across the Organization: Partner closely with attorneys, leadership, and operational partners to support office goals. Facilitate communication between support staff, attorneys, and management. Contribute as an active member of the office leadership team. Support culture, engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives.