Senior Director, Head of Legal Operations
About The Position
The Senior Director, Head of Legal Operations develops and leads the Legal Operations function in partnership with the EVP, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and the global Legal Leadership Team. The role drives strategic and operational effectiveness across the Legal Department, supervises two current Operations employees, updates and executes the department’s strategic roadmap, champions continuous improvement, and oversees day-to-day operations including budgeting, staffing, technology, vendor management, and reporting. The position reports to the CLO. The role also serves as Chief of Staff to the EVP, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, supporting department communications, preparing board and leadership materials, coordinating Legal Leadership Team meetings and agendas, tracking key priorities and action items, and acting as a liaison with internal and external stakeholders. The position may also take on special projects at the CLO’s direction.
Requirements
- B.A. or B.S. required.
- 15 or more years of experience in legal operations or related fields.
- 8 or more years of people-management experience.
- Progressive history in corporate legal department or law firm management.
- Proven track record building and leading diverse teams.
- Strong financial management, budgeting, and analytical skills.
- Proficiency in legal technology and software, including AI tools.
- Excellent written, oral, and negotiation skills.
- Strategic thinking and a continuous-improvement mindset.
- Ability to be trusted with highly confidential and privileged information.
- Positive, dynamic, self-motivated, and highly organized.
Nice To Haves
- M.B.A. or J.D.
- Knowledge of healthcare and life sciences industries.
- Experience working at or managing outside counsel on a global basis.
- Active participation in industry organizations and trade associations.
Responsibilities
- Develop annual and mid-term goals and initiatives to improve Legal Department effectiveness; track performance metrics, arrange employee development opportunities, and conduct third-party benchmarking.
- Administer law firm and vendor engagements, track spend, support fee negotiations, lead RFPs, monitor performance, and manage recurring subscriptions.
- Partner with Finance to develop and manage the department budget; oversee purchase requisitions and invoices, handle expense accruals, and lead spend analysis and efficiency initiatives.
- Evaluate and implement AI and other technology solutions, use data analytics to support decision-making, and develop dashboards and reports on billing optimization and financial operations.
- Own the strategy, prioritization, and implementation of legal technology projects, including matter management, e-signing, document management, billing, and ticketing systems, in coordination with IT and PMO.
- Lead onboarding programs; manage policies and trainings; oversee document archiving; publish Legal communications; coordinate notarization services; and manage Legal Summits and major events.
- Form and lead organization-wide working groups and committees on complex global initiatives, projects, and integrations.
- Serve as Chief of Staff and strategic partner to the EVP, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer by managing department communications, preparing board and leadership materials, coordinating Legal Leadership Team meetings and agendas, tracking and driving follow-through on priorities and action items, and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
- Execute additional projects and responsibilities at the direction of the EVP, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer.
Benefits
- Market-competitive compensation package including base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
