Legal Operations Manager

Responsibilities

• Drive the Legal & Compliance team’s operational strategy, understand operational challenges, identify opportunities to improve systems and workflows.
• Maintain and optimize a best-in-class AI-driven tech stack. Partner cross-functionally with AI and Contract Operations to identify technologies, negotiate with vendors, and drive implementation.
• Partner closely with Finance and Legal leadership to manage budget, forecasting, accruals, and track spend.
• Working closely with leadership, own planning cycles, OKRs, and data reporting and metrics.
• Manage outside counsel relationships, including new engagements, billing guidelines, invoicing, and e-billing. Drive outside counsel management strategy with a focus on cost discipline and operational accountability.
• Build and maintain knowledge management platforms and learning and development programs that keep the team current and operating effectively.
• Run the day-to-day operations of the Legal & Compliance team, driving efficiencies that enable the team to perform its best work (e.g. manage vendors, attorney memberships, internal practice guidelines, expenses, team meetings).
• Represent Gusto within the Legal Operations community, staying current on emerging technologies and best practices.

Requirements

• 5+ years of legal operations experience at a high-growth technology company.
• Hands-on expertise with legal tooling selection, implementation, and day-to-day operation (CLM, e-billing, matter management, procurement systems).
• Experience implementing AI and technology within legal operations.
• Hands-on experience with AI-assisted legal tools and a fluency (or path to fluency) in agentic / automated legal workflows (e.g. Claude CoWork).
• Experience engaging and managing outside counsel, legal spend, budgeting, and program management.
• Proven ability to build and maintain metrics and reporting frameworks, including operational KPIs.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders across Legal, Finance, IT, Security, and Procurement.
• A builder's mindset — demonstrated success building and improving processes, not just running them, with measurable results.

Nice-to-Haves

• Legal Operations community involvement (CLOC, Legal Suite).
• Experience at a SaaS or otherwise high-velocity technology company.
• Creative problem-solving skills and the confidence to take smart risks.
• Energy, curiosity, and a drive to be part of something groundbreaking.
• A team-first approach, with no job too big or too small.

Compensation

• Cash compensation: $133,000-$160,000 in San Francisco and $113,000-$139,000 in Denver.
• All full-time employees receive competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs).