Senior Manager, Legal Operations

Cerence•Boston, MA

13h

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Legal Operations is responsible for leading and optimizing the operational, financial, and administrative infrastructure of the global Legal function. This role ensures efficient delivery of legal services across the organization while supporting key areas including intellectual property (patents and trademarks), contract management, governance, compliance, legal risk management and public company obligations. The position partners closely with Legal leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to drive process excellence, cost efficiency, and scalability of legal services in a global environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; legal or business-related field preferred
7+ years of experience in legal operations, paralegal, or corporate legal environment
Experience working for a publicly traded company, SEC filing and supporting Board of Directors
Demonstrated experience supporting intellectual property programs, including patents and trademarks
Strong knowledge of legal processes, contract management, and compliance frameworks
Experience managing legal budgets, outside counsel, and vendor relationships
Proven ability to drive process improvements and operational efficiencies
Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills
Operational excellence and attention to detail
Strategic mindset with strong execution capability
Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders globally
High level of professionalism and confidentiality
Continuous improvement and innovation mindset
Basic knowledge of information security and data privacy requirements (e.g., how to protect data & how to be handling this data).
Demonstrative knowledge of information security through internal training programs.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end legal operations function, including process optimization, tooling, and service delivery models
Drive budget forecasting, cost management, and outside counsel oversight to ensure efficient allocation of legal spend
Develop and implement scalable workflows supporting global legal activities across business units
Establish KPIs and reporting to improve legal function performance and transparency
Support the management and protection of intellectual property assets, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights
Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external counsel on patent filings, trademark registrations, and prosecution activities
Assist in execution of IP strategy, enforcement initiatives, and portfolio optimization
Maintain IP records, tracking systems, and ensure compliance with global IP regulations
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Product, and Commercial teams related to IP matters
Support public company reporting obligations, including coordination of materials for SEC filings (e.g., 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, proxy statements) in partnership with Legal and Finance
Coordinate Board of Directors and Committee activities, including: Compiling Board and Committee materials, Managing meeting logistics, agendas, and documentation, Maintaining official corporate records and governance documentation
Support corporate governance processes, including charters, policies, and compliance with listing standards and regulatory requirements
Design and maintain legal processes, policies, and operational frameworks supporting internal legal consulting and compliance
Support corporate governance processes, including documentation, reporting, and board-related activities
Ensure alignment with regulatory and legal requirements across jurisdictions
Partner with teams supporting: Contract lifecycle management, Litigation and dispute resolution coordination, Data privacy and compliance programs
Act as a key liaison between Legal and functions such as Finance, HR, Product, and Sales
Lead global legal initiatives, including: Legal entity rationalization, Compliance program rollouts, Legal system implementations
Manage timelines, stakeholders, and execution of strategic legal projects