Operations Legal Manager - Veolia WTS

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specialising in water, energy, and waste management, Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. 

Job Summary about the area and the role:
Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions (VWTS) is a worldwide leader in water recovery, treatment, and reuse. We design and supply a range of water systems, from food and beverage applications, to municipal water, to microelectronics ultrapure water and heavy industrial wastewater treatment. We serve more than 50,000 customers worldwide and treat more than 11 million cubic meters of water every day. We simply aim to be the benchmark company for ecological transformation across the world.

At VWTS, we realize diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger communities. We are an organization that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We offer challenging and meaningful careers, with competitive benefits and flexible work arrangements.

Summary of the Job
The Legal Operations Manager will play a critical role in optimizing the Legal Department's
operations, implementing technology solutions, managing projects, and improving overall efficiency. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership and project management skills, capable of fostering cross-functional collaboration.
 
Key Characteristics

• Strong communication, influence and negotiation skills
• Strong project management
• Budget management

Duties & Responsibilities:
● Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Collect, analyze, and report on key metrics to support decision making
• Enhance data analytics and reporting capabilities to improve decision making for the legal team
• Develop and maintain information dashboards for the General Counsel and leadership team

● Project & Change Management:

• Manage Legal Department projects and initiatives
• Serve as subject matter expert in records retention cycle projects with a focus on corporate risk, corporate obligations, legal hold, and data preservation
• Define and drive strategic and operational initiatives with on-time and on-budget results
• Develop and implement efficient legal workflows and processes. Identify areas for improvement within the Legal Department and provide solutions
• Organize and create standard operating procedures. Coordinate the drafting of internal guides, resources, and template documents

● Technology and Tools:

• Evaluate, implement, and manage legal technology solutions (e.g., matter management, contract management, document management systems)
• Provide training and support to team members on technology tools

● Financial Management:

• Assist in the development and management of the Legal Department's budget
• Monitor spend and analyze cost data to find opportunities for savings

● Vendor Management:

• Oversee relationships with outside counsel and other legal service providers
• Negotiate terms and rates with vendors, ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness

● Team Collaboration:

• Collaborate with other departments, such as Finance, IT, and HR, to ensure cohesive support for legal operations
• Provide support and guidance to legal team members on operational issues

Hard Skills:

● Strong understanding of legal department operations, including contract management, e-billing, and legal spend management

● Proficiency with legal technology tools and software

● Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects

simultaneously.

● Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

● Demonstrated ability to drive change and improve processes

Soft Skills:

● Experience in working in different cultures and environments

● Ability to navigate a matrixed organization in a global environment

● Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interface with internal and external stakeholders

● Ability to work with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment

● A multi-tasker and project manager - able to set priorities and manage competing priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment

● Ability to contribute to the Legal Department as a team player

● Strong presentation and negotiation skills, with ability to influence and persuade in decision making processes both internally and externally

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in legal operations, project management, or a related role within a corporate legal department
• Fluency in English language 

Nice to have:

• French or Spanish speaking and the ability to draft and negotiate in that language

Working Conditions

• This position is hybrid - office and home based and can be located in any one of the many US and Canadian based sites.
• Travel estimated at 20%, some international travel likely

We are proud of our diverse and inclusive team, and are committed to continuing to foster a
work environment that celebrates and values diversity. We believe that the diverse perspectives and experiences brought by our team members contribute to our success and drive innovation. Come be part of something special - start your journey today!

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.