Vice President Legal Operations, Transformation & Strategy

Overview

A global leader in tools and industrial solutions is seeking a Vice President of Legal Operations, Transformation & Strategy. This senior leadership role will report to the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and will be responsible for driving a multi-year transformation of the Legal function to establish it as a strategic, business-embedded partner. The position involves architecting and executing a modernized legal operating model, enhancing legal operations infrastructure, and leveraging technology and data to improve service delivery and operational rigor.

This role can be based in Towson, Maryland; Charlotte, North Carolina; or New Britain, Connecticut, with remote locations considered. Accessibility to East Coast hub locations is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a multi-year legal transformation roadmap aligned with enterprise strategic priorities.
• Design a target-state legal operating model including structure, roles, governance, and workflows.
• Lead change management initiatives to shift the legal function toward proactive, integrated enterprise leadership.
• Build and implement a global legal operating model emphasizing end-to-end ownership, clear decision rights, accountability, and collaboration with business partners.
• Standardize and optimize core legal processes such as intake, contracting, litigation management, and compliance workflows.
• Establish governance structures and leadership operating cadences.
• Oversee legal operations capabilities including financial management (budgeting, forecasting, spend transparency), outside counsel strategy and panel management, vendor management, sourcing discipline, matter management, and data architecture.
• Enhance visibility into global legal spend, workload, and performance to improve transparency and control.
• Define and execute the legal technology and AI roadmap in partnership with IT and external partners.
• Deploy scalable tools to improve productivity, insights, and quality of legal service delivery.
• Implement a metrics-driven performance framework with KPIs related to speed, quality, cost, and business impact.
• Introduce disciplined operating rhythms such as reviews, dashboards, and leadership cadences.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the General Counsel on strategy, talent, and execution priorities.
• Support organizational design, talent development, and capability building within the legal leadership team.
• Lead or coordinate cross-functional initiatives to enhance the legal function's enterprise impact.

Requirements

• Minimum 12 years of experience in legal operations, consulting, or senior transformation roles within law firms, corporate legal departments, or advisory firms.
• Proven success leading enterprise-scale transformations, preferably within legal or related functions such as Finance, Operations, or Procurement.
• Extensive experience building or scaling legal operations capabilities including spend management, outside counsel optimization, and technology platform implementation.
• Bachelor's degree required; Juris Doctor (JD) degree is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
• Data-driven approach with experience using insights to guide strategy and measure impact.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and develop high-performing teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, matrixed global environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $219,400 to $340,100 annually, varying by job level, location, qualifications, and experience.
• Eligibility for annual merit increases.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life, vision, disability insurance, 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off (vacation, holidays, personal days), and tuition reimbursement.
• Discounts on tools and partner programs.

Location

• Primary locations: Towson, Maryland; Charlotte, North Carolina; New Britain, Connecticut.
• Remote work options available with required accessibility to East Coast hubs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.