Legal Operations Manager

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

What you will do:

• Help to drive activities to optimize department effectiveness and impact
• Serve as a representative of the Legal department for enterprise-wide initiatives, requiring close collaboration with legal department constituents and the company’s Program Management Office (PMO) as well as other business areas including Finance, IT, Procurement, etc.
• Assist in gathering and preparing information for business cases (resourcing, scope, budget estimates, etc.) and participate in project prioritization and budgeting processes
• With minimal supervision create, maintain and monitor project plans, which will contemplate project tasks, resources, risk mitigation, project meetings and schedules. Undertake project tasks as required
• Lead department efforts to implement new and existing technology tools, including configuration, training, rollout, and enablement
• Implement and maintain systems, processes and procedures that create efficiencies and consistency, including workflow management, document management, and knowledge management
• Perform data analytics and participate in the monthly accruals process with legal operations specialist
• Support departmental initiatives and participate in change management activities as needed (draft communications, training documents, etc.) related to projects impacting the department
• Manage legal operations administrative staff and provide administrative support as needed
• Assist in cultivating a collaborative and high-performing legal team by creating opportunities for team building, knowledge sharing, and professional growth

What you will bring:

• 2+ years’ experience in a legal or law firm environment; legal operations experience is a plus but not required
• Prior experience in project management/oversight, process improvement, technology implementation, or related experience.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills as well as strong communication skills
• Highly detail-oriented and takes initiative to anticipate future needs, identify issues, and propose and implement solutions.
• Experience independently planning, organizing, and prioritizing time and competing deadlines. Ability to handle multiple assignments and manage major projects to successful completion
• Organizationally savvy and diplomatic, understanding culture, and ways of working across an organization; ability to read people and navigate relationships
• Experience supervising people

What will set you apart:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related study preferred
• 2+ years’ experience in a legal or law firm environment; legal operations experience is a plus but not required
• Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of M365 Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. Interest in or familiarity with AI tools like ChatGPT or CoPilot desirable
• Experience with legal technologies such as iManage or other document management system, matter management, e-billing, and/or CLM desirable but not required
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team

***Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.***

What we offer you

We offer an array of diverse and inclusive benefits regardless of where you are in your career. We believe that providing our employees with the means to lead healthy balanced lives results in the best possible work performance.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contrib