Associate Director, Head of U.S. Legal Operations

Requisition ID: 278241

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

Purpose
The Head of U.S. Legal Operations contributes to the overall success of the U.S. Legal Department with responsibility for managing and continuously improving the business and operational infrastructure across the U.S. Legal function. This role partners closely with the U.S. and Canadian Head Office legal teams, finance, technology, third party risk management, and other corporate functions to drive effective financial management, outside counsel and vendor management, technology enablement, risk management, reporting and process improvement. Success in this role means that U.S. Legal and its business partners have timely and reliable financial information, disciplined management of outside counsel and vendors, effective technology and processes, well-documented operational practices, and meaningful data that allows the Legal team to make informed decisions and continuously improve the delivery of legal services.

Accountabilities

• Financial Management, Legal Spend, and Management Reporting.
• Support the development, management, and forecasting of the U.S. Legal Department budget, including monthly accruals and financial reporting.
• Partner with lawyers, outside counsel, and finance to develop and monitor matter budgets, forecasts, and legal-spend estimates.
• Analyze legal spend to identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency, predictability, and value.
• Develop metrics and senior management reporting that provide the senior Legal team with actionable financial and operational insight.
• Outside Counsel & Vendor Management.
• Manage and continuously improve the U.S. Legal Department’s outside-counsel and legal-vendor programs, including planning and forecasting for RFPs and contract renewals.
• Oversee firm and vendor selection, onboarding, relationship management, and applicable billing guidelines.
• Partner with Legal team on rates, discounts, and other arrangements designed to maximize value from law firms and legal vendors.
• Coordinate with internal vendor-management, risk, and control functions on onboarding and ongoing oversight of law firms and legal vendors.
• Technology, Data & Innovation.
• Serve as a key business owner for U.S. Legal technology and operational platforms, including forecasting and financial management.
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology, automation, and AI to simplify workflows and improve how Legal captures, manages, and uses information.
• Lead and/or support the evaluation, implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement of legal technology solutions.
• Develop data and analytics capabilities that enable senior Legal team to assess spend, workload, and operational performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Operational Excellence, Governance and Controls.
• Identify and implement opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve the U.S. Legal Department’s processes.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and develop operating procedures, playbooks, guidelines, and other resources that support consistent execution.
• Manage the U.S. Legal Department’s annual audits and self-assessments.
• Strengthen knowledge management, business continuity, and operational governance across U.S. Legal.
• Foster a customer-focused culture that strengthens client relationships and leverages broader Bank relationships, systems, and knowledge.

• Understands how Scotiabank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions. Actively pursues effective and efficient operations of their respective areas in accordance with Scotiabank’s Values, its Code of Conduct and the Global Sales Principles, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML/ATF/sanctions and conduct risk. Champions a high-performance environment and contributes to an inclusive work environment.

Reporting Relationships

Primary Manager: Deputy Chief Legal Officer, U.S.
Direct Reports: N/A
Shared Reports: Director, Legal Operations and Strategic Support, Canada

Dimensions

- The successful candidate will combine strong business judgment with analytical, financial, project-management and technology skills and will be comfortable moving between strategic initiatives and hands-on execution.

- The successful candidate will have a global mindset and be comfortable managing matters and interacting with stakeholders across jurisdictions.

Education / Experience / Other Information

- Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, legal studies, information systems, or a related discipline required; JD, MBA or other relevant advanced degree is a plus but not required.

- 7+ years of relevant professional experience, preferably in legal operations, a corporate legal department, financial services, a law firm, legal technology, finance or another complex professional-services environment. Experience at a multinational organization a plus.

- Demonstrated experience in several of the following areas: budgeting and financial management, outside counsel/vendor management, legal technology, data and analytics, project management, process improvement, management reporting, and operational risk or controls.

- Experience working across functions such as Legal, Finance, Technology, Procurement, Privacy, Information Security and Risk, with demonstrated ability to manage complex initiatives and senior stakeholders.

Working Conditions

• Work in a standard office-based environment; non-standard hours are a common occurrence. Limited travel possible.

Location(s): United States : Texas : Dallas

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.

At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know. If you require technical assistance, please click here . Candidates must apply directly online to be considered for this role. We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at Scotiabank; however, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Scotiabank is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.