Legal Operations Manager

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Remote first, UK

Compensation: circa £35,000

Description

We are seeking a dynamic and detail‑oriented Legal Operations Manager to join our Legal and Ethics function. This pivotal role is focused on enhancing the efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness of legal service delivery across the organisation. You will lead the development and implementation of operational strategies and process improvements that support the legal team’s performance and alignment with broader business goals.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive problem solver with a passion for innovation, data‑driven decision‑making, and stakeholder engagement. You will work closely with legal, compliance, and cross‑functional teams to drive operational excellence and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Location: We perform at our best when we feel trusted and are able to choose an approach to working that suits us best, which is why we are a remote‑first company. However, we also believe in face‑to‑face collaboration, and our UK colleagues meet once a month for team time and quarterly for company get‑together sessions in our Leeds office, so we ask that you be within a commutable distance that you are comfortable with in order to attend the office on those occasions.

About our Recruitment Process: We welcome applications from all individuals, irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, or belief. As we understand the value of the transferability of skills and experiences, we are not looking for the ‘perfect candidate’ – we encourage everyone who is truly excited about our mission to apply.

We receive a high volume of interest in our roles and may close applications early if we reach capacity. We strongly recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you require additional time to complete your application due to accessibility needs or other circumstances, please don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re happy to support you.

Day to day we’ll trust you to:

• Identify and implement opportunities for process improvement across legal workflows and service delivery.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and reporting tools to track legal team performance and operational health.
• Manage and optimise technology platforms, including contract lifecycle management (CLM) and matter management systems.
• Lead the design, rollout, and adoption of new processes and tools that support strategic and operational objectives.
• Support change management initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions and stakeholder buy‑in.
• Collaborate with internal teams to map workflows, identify pain points, and co‑create solutions.
• Assist with audits, risk assessments, and the implementation of legal and ethical policies.
• Maintain and update internal knowledge repositories, legal templates, and process documentation.
• Drive end‑to‑end delivery of process change initiatives, from scoping and planning to implementation and post‑launch review.
• Monitor the effectiveness of implemented changes using data insights and stakeholder feedback.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions to support process adoption and continuous learning.
• Champion a culture of operational excellence, innovation, and accountability.

You’ll need to have:

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent organisational and time‑management abilities.
• High level of proficiency with legal technology platforms and document management systems.
• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable improvements.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Experience

• Proven experience in legal operations or a similar role within a legal, compliance, or corporate governance environment.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) and document management systems favoured.
• Demonstrated success in leading process improvement and change initiatives.
• Familiarity with legal service delivery models and operational best practices.

Behaviours and Attributes

• Proactive and self‑motivated with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Collaborative and inclusive, with the ability to build strong working relationships.
• Resilient and adaptable to change.
• Detail‑oriented with a commitment to quality and accuracy.
• Strategic thinker with a hands‑on approach to problem solving.
• Professional, ethical, and discreet in handling sensitive information.

What’s in it for you?

At Emerald, we value our people. Becoming a part of our team means you’ll join a trusting and flexible environment and we've been flexified so you can trust that we're a truly flexible workplace. All we ask is that you attend the office once a month to come together with work colleagues. You’ll also have numerous opportunities to progress your career, as well as access to professional development and the opportunity to learn new skills.

You’ll receive a wide range of benefits, such as 38 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays), remote flexible working, a discretionary performance bonus, 6% pension contribution and various benefits aimed at supporting your wellbeing and work‑life balance such as a working from home allowance. You can check out a full list of our benefits here.

Roles are advertised at a benchmarked market median rate. Offers will be made within a range of the median, depending on skills and experience.

Please note - Applicants must be authorized to work in the UK without restrictions or sponsorship. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Emerald Group is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all of our applicants. If you would like to request any accommodations or adjustments from application through to interview stages, please complete the relevant section within the application or contact us at peopleteam@emerald.com and let us know.