Senior Director, Legal Operations and Chief of Staff to CLO

Mass General Brigham•Somerville, MA

9d•$161,658 - $235,154•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief of Staff to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and Senior Director, Legal Operations serves as a strategic advisor and operational leader for the legal department. The role partners with the CLO to translate priorities into action, oversee legal operations, manage key initiatives, and improve the efficiency, transparency, and scalability of legal services. Responsibilities include financial oversight, outside counsel and vendor management, workflow optimization, technology implementation, reporting, resource planning, and support for governance and executive-facing priorities. The role also serves as a liaison between Legal and senior leadership and helps strengthen the department’s operational foundation so the CLO can focus on strategic, advisory, and enterprise leadership responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
8 to 10+ years of progressive experience in a legal operations leadership role in corporate legal departments or law firms.
5-7 years of experience working directly with executive leadership or board-level stakeholders in a complex corporate environment
Core Competencies: Strong project management, financial acumen, executive communication, collaboration and change management skills.

Nice To Haves

a JD, MBA, or similar advanced degree is highly preferred.
Experience working in healthcare or academia preferred
Experience with document management systems, like iManage, and e-billing systems, like Legal Tracker, a plus.
Deep understanding of healthcare systems, strategic planning, and executive operations.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Proficient interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with a high degree of professionalism.
Demonstrated discretion, sound judgment, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
Ability to influence and build relationships across all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

Oversees financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and tracking for the Legal Department.
Manages legal spend, including outside counsel costs, and identifies opportunities to optimize efficiency and value.
Partners with the CLO to align financial resources with legal priorities and organizational objectives.
Serves as a strategic advisor and operational partner to the CLO, supporting development and execution of Legal Department priorities.
Translates strategic initiatives into actionable plans, monitors progress, and drives accountability across the legal leadership team.
Develops and delivers reporting, insights, and performance metrics to inform decision-making and enhance departmental effectiveness.
Leads evaluation, implementation, and optimization of legal technologies, including matter management, document management, and e-billing systems.
Drives innovation and continuous improvement through the use of automation, AI-enabled tools, and scalable solutions that enhance legal service delivery.
Oversees outside counsel strategy, including engagement, performance management, and adherence to billing guidelines.
Manages vendor relationships and contracts, ensuring service quality, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with departmental needs.
Establishes standards and processes to drive consistency and accountability across all external partnerships.
Designs and implements streamlined legal workflows (e.g., contract intake, NDAs, matter management) to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
Establishes and maintains internal controls, policies, and standardized operating procedures across the Legal Department.
Drives cross-functional collaboration to improve integration between Legal and business teams.
Defines and monitors key performance indicators to assess legal department performance, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Utilizes data, benchmarking, and industry insights to identify trends, improve operations, and inform strategic direction.
Provides operational leadership for the in-house legal department, overseeing day-to-day activities, priorities, and performance.
Brings deep experience in legal department management, applying best practices in resource planning, service delivery models, and workflow design.
Leads, develops, and manages legal operations, administrative, and support staff to ensure a high-performing and scalable function.
Partners with Legal leadership and Human Resources to support organizational design, talent strategy, and capability development.
Acts as a key liaison between the CLO and senior leadership, ensuring alignment, clear communication, and execution of legal priorities.
Represents the CLO in designated meetings, forums, and cross-functional initiatives to support continuity and execution.
May support Board of Directors and executive committee engagement on legal, governance, and risk-related matters, including preparation and follow-through.
Manages the flow of information within the Office of the CLO, maintaining a high level of discretion, judgment, and confidentiality.