Job Description
The Chief of Staff to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) is a strategic leadership role responsible for helping the Legal organization operate effectively and execute its priorities. Reporting to the CLO, this leader serves as a trusted advisor and oversees legal operations, strategic planning, budgeting, organizational performance, professional development, and key initiatives across Legal, Compliance, Insurance and Risk Management.
Working closely with the Legal leadership team and business partners, the Chief of Staff drives execution, improves operational efficiency, and helps build a collaborative, high-performing organization.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Leadership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the CLO.
- Help develop and execute the Legal organization's strategic priorities.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives and special projects.
- Coordinate leadership meetings, strategic planning, and executive communications.
- Track progress on key initiatives and ensure accountability.
Legal Operations & Financial Management
- Lead the Legal Operations function and drive process improvements.
- Oversee legal technology, outside counsel, vendors, and operational metrics.
- Manage the Legal department budget, forecasting, and financial reporting.
- Monitor legal spend and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Organizational Performance
- Lead the development and tracking of the department's annual goals and key results (OKRs).
- Create dashboards and performance metrics to measure success.
- Coordinate initiatives across Legal and business partners to ensure timely execution.
Talent, Culture & Development
- Promote a strong, collaborative culture across the Legal organization.
- Partner with Human Resources on talent development/management and organizational structure
- Coordinate onboarding, and employee engagement.
- Oversee continuing legal education (CLE), leadership development, and professional training programs.
Risk, Compliance & Insurance
- Support governance, reporting, and enterprise risk initiatives.
- Coordinate relationship management with key underwriters, captive managers, brokers and clients.
- Partner with business leaders to ensure alignment on key enterprise priorities.
Executive Communications & Governance
- Prepare executive presentations, reports, and communications.
- Support Board and executive committee reporting.
- Drive consistency in reporting, metrics, and leadership communications.
Qualifications
- JD, MBA, or other advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of leadership experience in legal operations, strategy, business operations, consulting, or a corporate legal department.
- Experience leading strategic initiatives and managing complex projects.
- Strong financial, operational, and project management skills.
- Excellent communication and executive presence.
- Ability to influence across functions and lead through collaboration.
- Experience with legal operations, compliance, enterprise risk, or insurance is preferred.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic and business-minded.
- Strong operational and execution skills.
- Collaborative and influential leader.
- Excellent communicator and relationship builder.
- Organized, analytical, and results-oriented.
- Exercises sound judgment and maintains confidentiality.
- Committed to continuous improvement.
Success Measures
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Successful execution of the CLO's strategic priorities.
- Efficient, well-run Legal Operations.
- Achievement of departmental goals and performance metrics.
- Effective budget management.
- Strong employee engagement and organizational effectiveness.
- Effective coordination across Legal, Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, and Insurance.
- Strong partnership with the CLO and Legal leadership team.
