Senior Manager, Legal Operations

Overview

Who we are

Collaborative. Respectful. A place to dream and do. These are just a few words that describe what life is like at Toyota. As one of the world’s most admired brands, Toyota is growing and leading the future of mobility through innovative, high-quality solutions designed to enhance lives and delight those we serve. We’re looking for talented team members who want to Dream. Do. Grow. with us.

To save time applying, Toyota does not offer sponsorship of job applicants for employment-based visas or any other work authorization for this position at this time.

Who we’re looking for

Toyota’s Legal Department, Toyota Legal One (TL1), is looking for a passionate and highly motivated Senior Manager, Legal Operations.

This role is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of key aspects of TL1’s operations including TL1’s finance and budget management, legal technology, eDiscovery and litigation support, outside counsel and vendor management, legal compliance, General Counsel and Leadership Team support, knowledge management, and department communications and administration.  This role will have seven non-attorney professional direct reports and will report to the Assistant General Counsel.     

The successful candidate will be an accomplished professional with a distinguished record of legal operational excellence and have strong customer focus and interpersonal skills.

This position is based in Plano, Texas. The selected candidate will be expected to reside within commutable distance of this location.

What you’ll be doing

The Senior Manager of Legal Operations will be responsible for leading TL1’s Legal Operations function.  The role will bring the leadership, knowledge, and expertise necessary to drive peak operational Legal Department performance.  The role will require a deep understanding of the legal industry and mobility business, expert knowledge of best practices and enabling technologies, team development skills, and core competencies in implementing and executing processes and technologies to increase value to the company while driving efficiency, effectiveness, and fostering a globally connected enterprise culture.

Overseeing a team of seven direct reports, the Senior Manager of Legal Operations will lead the Legal Operations group in providing best in class service to TL1, our business clients, and outside partners across a range of critical functions, including:

Strategic Planning and Execution 

• Lead the development and implementation of TL1’s operational strategy, aligning with overall business goals 

• Provide comprehensive, strategic leadership of the Legal Operations group focused on collaboration and optimizing TL1’s performance and efficiency

• Develop and execute strategies to improve processes, technology, and resource allocation, ultimately driving cost-effectiveness and enhancing the legal team's ability to support the business

• Stay knowledgeable and current on relevant business, judicial, statutory, and regulatory developments and trends that impact TL1’s operations

Outside Counsel and Legal Vendor Management

• Identify and develop cutting-edge strategies for increasing value and driving efficient relationships with outside counsel while maintaining a high quality of legal representation and optimizing engagement practices with outside law firms

• Oversee and coordinate TL1’s relationship with outside counsel and service providers, including partnering program, rates, fee arrangements, guidelines and retention agreements, and establishment of budgets and tracking tools, billing, and compliance with TL1 policies

• Participate in planning and implementation of strategic outside counsel initiatives and support active law firm management, including oversight of outside counsel use of technologies and AI

• Create and track financial and performance metrics tools to assess outside counsel and service providers

• Manage external spend through financial analysis, benchmarking, and vendor alternatives, as well as negotiating agreements and alternative fee agreements

Legal Information Technology

• Provide strategic direction regarding developments and trends in the use of new technologies to manage internal and external legal services and create service efficiencies

• Identify, implement, and manage legal department technology solutions, with focus on supporting the legal teams by anticipating new challenges and driving solutions

• Partner closely with other business groups, including IT, to optimize integration of T