Director Contracts and Legal Operations

Overview

A growing professional services organization is seeking a Director of Contracts and Legal Operations to serve as the senior contracts professional reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer. This role primarily supports commercial legal work, including contract management, risk management, compliance, and legal operations. The position involves partnering with internal leadership and outside counsel to manage contractual matters and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.

Responsibilities

Contract Management & Legal Operations

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of commercial agreements such as Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), engagement letters, enterprise client contracts, vendor contracts, partnership agreements, and NDAs.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, standards, and approval workflows.
• Advise business leaders on contractual obligations, risk allocation, and commercial terms.
• Support compliance with contractual commitments including off-limits, non-solicitation, exclusivity, and confidentiality provisions.
• Lead contract lifecycle management processes including intake, approvals, repository administration, reporting, and governance.
• Develop training, reporting, and scalable contracting processes to improve organizational efficiency and risk management.

Legal Affairs & Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary internal resource for contractual, legal, compliance, and risk-related matters.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on business, operational, and strategic initiatives.
• Engage early in client engagements, strategic partnerships, and new business initiatives to identify risks and support decision-making.
• Support leadership in evaluating and mitigating legal exposure.
• Coordinate with outside counsel on specialized legal matters.
• Provide guidance on legal and contractual implications of new business models, services, technologies, and strategic initiatives.

Compliance & Corporate Governance

• Support the firm's compliance program, including contractual compliance and adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
• Maintain corporate governance records and support entity management activities.
• Develop and maintain legal, compliance, and operational policies and procedures.
• Coordinate compliance training and support regulatory inquiries, audits, and reviews.

Risk Management

• Partner with leadership to identify, assess, and mitigate contractual, operational, legal, and regulatory risks.
• Coordinate disputes, claims, litigation, and other legal matters with outside counsel.
• Advise leadership on conflicts of interest, restrictive covenants, candidate ownership, and other risks unique to executive search and leadership advisory services.
• Protect and support enforcement of intellectual property and proprietary assets.
• Support insurance, claims management, and organizational risk reporting.

Employment & Workforce Support

• Collaborate with Human Resources on employment-related matters including employee and independent contractor arrangements.
• Review employment agreements, policies, separation agreements, and related documentation.
• Support compliance with employment laws and regulations in coordination with outside counsel.
• Assist with employment-related risk assessments, policy development, and workplace compliance initiatives.

External Counsel Management

• Manage relationships with outside counsel and specialized legal service providers.
• Oversee legal budgets and external legal spend.
• Coordinate specialized support for litigation, employment matters, regulatory inquiries, intellectual property, and international legal issues.
• Evaluate external resources to ensure effective and cost-efficient support.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in commercial contracts, compliance, risk management, legal operations, paralegal leadership, or related legal support functions.
• Proven experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and administering commercial agreements.
• Experience supporting compliance, governance, risk management, or related business functions.
• Strong business judgment with the ability to balance legal, operational, and commercial considerations.
• Excellent written, verbal, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in-house or supporting professional services, executive search, consulting, leadership advisory, staffing, technology, financial services, or other knowledge-based organizations.
• Experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets.
• Experience handling sensitive client, candidate, employee, or customer information.
• Familiarity with fee-for-service, retainer-based, or project-based commercial models and contract structures.
• Knowledge of AI governance, emerging technology issues, and data management practices.
• Experience building or scaling legal operations and contracting processes within a growing organization.
• Experience working closely with CFOs and executive leadership teams.
• Exposure to multi-jurisdictional employment law and international business operations.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) platforms and legal operations technology.

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Strong commercial judgment and practical problem-solving skills.
• Proactive risk identification and mitigation.
• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Strong contract drafting, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Collaborative and service-oriented approach.
• Ability to make decisions and provide guidance with incomplete information.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• High discretion with confidential information.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $130,000 - $160,000 per year.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) match.
• Flexible remote work environment.
• Paid parental leave.
• Office setup stipend to support work-from-home needs.

Location

• Remote within the United States.