Director, Legal Innovation & Operations (Legal Spend & Firm Management)

Reporting to the SVP, Legal, AI Innovation & Legal Operations, the Director owns the operating strategy, roadmap and execution for the Legal Department’s financial management, outside counsel and external-provider management, e-billing and related governance, within the broader strategy, priorities and resource parameters established by the SVP.

Responsibilities

• Advise and partner closely with attorneys, Finance, HR, Procurement, law firms and other external providers to improve cost predictability, deliver measurable financial savings, strengthen provider performance, and support informed decision-making
• Establish matter-level financial management standards, including matter budgets, accruals, reporting, forecast updates, variance thresholds and escalation requirements
• Own the Outside Counsel Guidelines and related governance, and drive firm compliance with billing, staffing, and other applicable terms
• Manage the full external provider lifecycle, including firm selection, competitive RFPs, onboarding and offboarding, engagement terms, panel and preferred-firm strategy, scorecards, business reviews, and performance intervention
• Lead annual and off-cycle rate negotiations, rate benchmarking, alternative fee arrangements, and other value-based pricing models
• Own the e-billing platform and invoice review workflow, including timekeeper rates, accruals, automated and manual review rules, and escalation of noncompliance, billing leakage, or inappropriate staffing
• Lead the business-side implementation, migration and optimization of legal e-billing and spend-management platforms, including requirements, data conversion and validation, process redesign, reporting validation, user adoption and vendor transition; partner with technology teams on technical implementation, integrations and ongoing support
• Own the commercial and financial management of Legal Operations technology and service vendors, including sourcing support, pricing, contract and renewal strategy, budget management and vendor performance, in partnership with the SVP, applicable business owners and Procurement
• Report quarterly on spend, forecast accuracy, savings and cost avoidance, billing compliance, firm performance, and vendor performance, with clear recommendations for action
• Lead, coach and develop direct report(s); establish clear priorities and performance expectations; review work product; provide actionable feedback; and support the direct report(s) professional development

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• 8+ years of experience in Legal Operations, Legal Finance, Outside Counsel Management, Strategic Sourcing, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, forecasts, accruals and financial reporting within a large organization
• Experience managing outside counsel guidelines, panel programs, firm selection, evaluations, scorecards, and business reviews
• Experience serving as a business owner, senior administrator, or functional lead for an e-billing, matter-management, or legal spend-management platform
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and experience analyzing and presenting complex financial and operational data

Desired Characteristics

• Experience with business-intelligence or data-visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau preferred
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information and recommendations to senior legal and business leaders
• Excellent attention to detail, sound judgment, and willingness to take initiative; a self-starter who works well without close supervision
• Experience supporting a major organizational transformation, separation, integration, or platform migration preferred
• Experience in entertainment/media or a legal department preferred

This position currently has a hybrid schedule, which requires contributing from either the New York, NY or the Universal City, CA office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range

$110,000 - $140,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible)

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.