The VP of Legal Operations will serve as the operational backbone of the legal department by driving efficiency, cost discipline, and innovation through systems and technology. Key duties include managing the legal tech stack, championing AI integration, and overseeing outside counsel relationships and departmental budgets.
About This Role
The Legal Operations Specialist will serve as the operational backbone of the Legal & Compliance Department, driving efficiency, cost discipline, and innovation across the function. This role is the bridge between legal strategy and business execution—owning the systems, processes, technology, and vendor relationships that enable lawyers to focus on high-value legal work. You will own efficiency, cost discipline, and innovation across the Legal & Compliance Department, and you will have real latitude to shape the strategy by which the ultimate goals are achieved.
A core part of the job is championing artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies within the legal function, ensuring lawyers and staff are equipped to leverage these tools to enhance productivity, quality, and speed.
Design and implement a scalable legal operations framework aligned with Annaly's business-first legal model
Translate Legal leadership priorities into practical processes, tools, and workflows that improve execution
Partner with Legal and Compliance professionals to codify playbooks, templates, and decision frameworks
Technology, AI & Process Optimization
Own the legal technology stack—evaluate, implement, optimize, and maintain platforms such as e-billing, matter management, contract lifecycle management (CLM) and knowledge management systems
Serve as the department's AI champion: identify, pilot, and deploy AI-powered tools (e.g., generative AI for drafting, contract review, legal research, document analysis, and presentations) to augment lawyer workflows and reduce manual effort
Develop training programs, prompt-engineering guides, and best-practice playbooks to help attorneys, legal staff, and governance professionals adopt AI tools effectively, responsibly, and in compliance with ethical and data-governance standards
Develop practical methods to measure and communicate the value delivered by AI tools and related process improvements
Outside Counsel Management & Cost Discipline
Design and oversee a comprehensive outside counsel management program, including panel selection, engagement guidelines, and performance tracking
Enhance billing discipline, alternative fee arrangements, and rate negotiations to optimize spend
Develop, manage, and report on the annual legal department budget, including spend forecasting and variance analysis
Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor’s degree; relevant professional certification (e.g., CLOC) preferred
At least 5 years of experience in legal operations, corporate governance support or a related operational role within a corporate legal department, corporate secretary's office, or law firm; we will also consider equivalent experience translating between business needs and technology in another function, such as consulting, product, or business operations
Demonstrated experience building or scaling legal operations functions, including systems, workflows, and metrics
Proficiency across the legal technology landscape, including hands-on experience implementing or managing several of the following: CLM, e-billing, matter management, and knowledge management systems, as well as hands-on experience with AI tools in a legal or professional services context (e.g., prompt engineering, workflow automation, responsible AI governance)
Strong understanding of outside counsel management, legal spend optimization, and budgeting frameworks
Analytical mindset with proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and dashboarding tools
Strong project management skills with the ability to execute across multiple initiatives and departments simultaneously
Excellent communication skills, and the ability to translate between stakeholders who might have different work styles, communication styles, and levels of technological expertise
Self-motivated, proactive, intellectually curious, creative, and resourceful; takes initiative and ownership of responsibilities; enjoys helping others; embraces cross-functional, enterprise-wide goals
Eligibility Requirements
Based in New York, NY preferred; exceptional remote candidates authorized to work in the United States will be considered
Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States
Must be willing to submit to a background investigation
Must be willing to work additional hours as needed to complete deadline driven projects
Compensation and Benefits
Annaly is committed to offering a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package. The salary range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $160,000 and $250,000/year; however, base salary offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and/or discretionary awards, in addition to robust health and wellness benefits, retirement savings, paid time off, tuition and learning reimbursement, back up childcare, paid parental leave and more. Additional details about total compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process.
Annaly is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact our Human Resources department.
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