Head of Legal Operations, US

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live.

The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

National Grid has an inclusive culture. We are committed to creating a work environment where everyone feels respected, valued and empowered to reach their full potential. Our mission is to build a business that represents, reflects and celebrates the cultures and communities we serve.

National Grid is seeking a US Head of Legal Operations. This role is based in our Brooklyn, NY or Waltham, MA office, with hybrid working.

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to join our General Counsel Operations team, overseeing legal operations across the US. This is a leadership role within our General Counsel Operations team, acting as a key business partner to our General Counsels in New York, New England, National Grid Ventures, and our General Counsel, Litigation and Chief Compliance Officer.

The successful candidate will be responsible for driving operational excellence, digital enablement, and financial discipline of the legal teams in the US. The role will also work alongside colleagues in the UK on cross-function initiatives. This role requires an experienced legal operations leader who can influence senior stakeholders and drive change and continuous improvement across all levels of the General Counsel function.

The ideal candidate will possess exceptional stakeholder management skills, a proven ability to operate at a senior level across multiple business units, and a strong track record of delivering transformational results in legal operations.

1. Strategic Business Partnering & Influence
* Act as the primary legal operations business partner to the General Counsels for New York, New England, National Grid Ventures, Litigation and Chief Compliance Officer, building trust and credibility ensuring leadership engagement with our legal operations objectives, including our Digital Strategy.
* Influence and drive change and continuous improvement across all levels of the General Counsel function.
2. Process Optimization & Operational Excellence
* Develop and implement strategies to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of legal operations in the US and across the wider General Counsel function as needed.
* Collaborate with legal team members and GC Operations colleagues to assess current processes and identify areas for process optimization.
* Oversee and manage legal operations projects, ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes, timelines and budgets.
3. Financial Management and Outside Counsel Management & Performance
* Own financial management of the legal teams in the US, including budgeting, forecasting, and delivery against efficiency and value targets.
* Lead outside counsel panel strategy and management across the legal team in the US.
* Manage external legal budgeting, forecasting, and spend.
* Drive cost control, billing compliance, and value for money.
* Identify opportunities to reduce outside counsel spend, drive performance, service quality, and delivery.
4. Data Insights & Performance
* Establish mature legal data and insights capability for our General Counsels in the US, enabling actionable insights and evidence-based decision making.
* Use legal data to drive effectiveness and efficiency, support prioritization and resourcing decisions, and measure the impact of the legal team.
5. Technology Implementation & Digital Partnership
* Partner closely with the Director of Innovation & Digital to drive the regional implementation and adoption of our Digital Strategy.
* Lead the regional deployment and adoption of technology solutions including AI-driven solutions within legal workflows, matter management, contract automation, e-billing platforms, and Generative AI technologies.
6. People Leadership & Capability Building
* Build, develop, and lead a high-performing legal operations team in the US.
* Develop team capabilities, ensuring high performance and engagement.
* Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
7. Communications & Engagement
* Support General Counsels in the US with leadership calls, including developing agendas, content, meeting notes, and action items.
* Ensure communications reinforce our operational objectives, including our Digital Strategy.

* Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (JD, MBA, or equivalent) preferred.
* At least 5+ years of experience in legal operations, with progressive leadership responsibility.
* Demonstrated ability to influence and drive change across all levels of an organization, including at the senior executive level.
* Proven experience operating effectively within matrix organizations and partnering across multiple business units and geographies.
* Strong track record of technology implementation and driving digital adoption within legal functions, including experience with AI and emerging technologies.
* Experience managing financial aspects within a legal department, including budgeting, forecasting, and efficient delivery.
* Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement effective solutions.
* Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
* Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and build relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
* Demonstrated ability to handle complex stakeholder relationships and communicate effectively at all levels.
* Experience building, leading, and developing high-performing teams.

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