Senior Legal Operations Manager

Overview

A global financial technology organization is seeking a Head of Legal Operations to design and scale the operational infrastructure of its global Legal Department. This is the first dedicated legal operations role within the legal team, reporting to the Deputy General Counsel. The role involves assessing the current state, defining a target operating model, and building processes and technology to enable legal, compliance, and policy functions to operate efficiently at scale.

Responsibilities

• Review, modify, and enforce billing guidelines; manage billing and drive cost rigor across external legal spend.
• Audit existing technology tools, identify gaps, and develop a multi-year legal technology roadmap covering matter management, contract lifecycle management (CLM), e-billing, and AI-assisted workflows.
• Lead initiatives to incorporate automation, AI, and data-driven insights into legal work delivery.
• Support the Legal Department's annual planning cycle, including budget and headcount planning.
• Build and maintain a legal operations dashboard tracking matter volume, cycle times, contract turnaround, and outside counsel spend.
• Design, implement, and manage legal systems such as legal intake processes, templates, playbook libraries, and knowledge management systems, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Manage external vendors and consultants to ensure effective partnerships and strong return on investment.
• Organize and manage key programs and events supporting the Legal Team's day-to-day functioning and culture, including all-hands meetings, learning and development resources, new hire onboarding, team offsites, and other initiatives fostering team cohesion and professional growth.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of experience in legal operations.
• Proven track record of building or significantly transforming a legal operations function; ability to create processes and frameworks from scratch.
• Experience leading or supporting AI, automation, or data-driven transformation initiatives within a legal department.
• Strong data and analytics skills.
• Experience managing outside counsel relationships.
• Ability to manage budgets, timelines, and team members with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Highly effective interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across all organizational levels and build trusted relationships.
• Positive, proactive attitude with receptiveness to feedback and a drive for excellence.

Compensation & Benefits

• For positions based in California, the annual base salary range is $176,000 to $210,000 USD. Actual salary may vary based on experience and qualifications.
• Competitive salary, bonuses, and equity opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits covering physical and mental healthcare, retirement plans, family forming and support.
• Employee giving match and mobile phone stipend.
• Generous vacation policy and rest & recharge days.
• Wellness reimbursement and weekly onsite and virtual wellness programming.
• Industry-leading parental leave and family planning benefits.
• Catered lunches, fully stocked kitchens with premium snacks and beverages, and regular team events.

Location

• Positions may be based in California; candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

This employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. They do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.