Senior Manager, Legal Operations

Job Description Cricket is a fast-growing technology company, and our Global Legal Operations team plays a critical role in enabling the business to move quickly, thoughtfully, and compliantly. As the company expands into new products, markets, and operational complexity, our teams rely on integrated, practical contract and procurement guidance embedded into everyday decision-making. We are seeking a Head of Legal Operations to serve as the operational leader and connector between Legal and the broader business. This role supports a broad range of responsibilities requiring strong judgment, organization, collaboration, and integrity. You will oversee contract workflows, procurement and vendor processes, legal spend coordination, and legal systems, while leading and developing a high-performing Legal Operations team. This role reports to the VP, Associate General Counsel and manages a team of Legal Ops Specialists, Legal Ops Analysts, and Contract Managers across both in-office and international (remote) locations. Position Overview The Head of Legal Operations serves as the strategic and operational leader of Cricut’s Legal Operations function, translating legal and business strategy into scalable execution. Reporting to our VP, Legal – Associate General Counsel, this role drives high-level initiative and day-to-day execution with direct accountability for building and developing a global Legal Operations team responsible for contract management, vendor management, procurement operations, and privacy operations across the company. The Legal Operations team is responsible for the day-to-day execution of Cricut’s global contract management, procurement requisition process, privacy operation, and vendor management/due diligence activities. The team provides frontline, company-wide global operational support to ensure vendors, contracts, and risk are managed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with established processes and systems as well as applicable law. This role requires a leader who excels as both a people manager and a high-output individual contributor. In addition to providing strategic leadership, prioritization, and continuous improvement oversight, the Head of Legal Operations is expected to remain closely connected to day-to-day operations—serving as backup support for Contract Managers and personally handling high-stakes deals that require senior-level attention or complex cross‑functional alignment. By maintaining deep, hands‑on fluency with contract workflows, redlining, negotiation dynamics, and operational tools, this leader is better positioned to support the team, remove obstacles, design scalable processes, and drive meaningful enhancements—while enabling consistent, high-quality service delivery at scale. What You’ll Own Contract Management Organize, maintain, and administer contract records within the company’s document repository and Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, including accurate metadata application Coordinate contract execution using the company’s approved electronic signature platform Generate standard and ad hoc contract reports for contract sponsors, including recurring monthly tracking reports Monitor contract milestones such as expirations, auto-renewals, and notice periods, and follow up with stakeholders as needed Draft routine contract amendments using approved company templates and playbooks Provide frontline CLM support to cross‑functional business partners, including intake guidance, status updates, and basic troubleshooting Initiate, submit, and track Purchase Order (PO) requests within the company’s procurement system Serve as a primary point of contact for routine PO status, balance, and process inquiries Support vendor onboarding and due diligence activities in coordination with Legal, Finance, Procurement, Privacy, and Compliance teams Provide additional procurement and vendor‑related operational support aligned with evolving business and team needs Strategic Planning & Business Insight Align people, processes, technology, and legal service delivery models—including contract lifecycle management, project management, and procurement management—with departmental priorities and enterprise goals Act as the operational leader for Legal Operations initiatives, translating strategy into operating plans, milestones, success metrics, and governance frameworks Support long‑term capacity planning through analysis of workload trends, contract demand, and vendor utilization, adjusting resourcing models as needed Financial Planning, Spend Management & Forecasting In partnership with the General Counsel, lead the Legal Department’s global budgeting, forecasting, and accrual processes, working closely with FP&A and Accounting Establish systems, controls, and financial governance to track legal spend, outside counsel costs, accruals, and budget‑to‑actuals with accuracy and transparency Identify cost‑savings and optimization opportunities through spend analysis, vendor strategy, alternative fee arrangements, and workload planning Provide regular financial updates and forward‑looking insights to Legal leadership to support data‑driven decision‑making Reporting, Analytics & Executive Insights Lead and maintain a data‑driven Legal Operations function, defining KPIs that measure efficiency, effectiveness, risk, value, contract performance, and outcomes Drive weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting on key metrics such as contract turnaround times, renewal pipelines, and outside counsel spend Develop executive‑ready dashboards, reports, and presentations Design and manage a comprehensive outside counsel and vendor program, including benchmarking, fee structures, performance reviews, billing guideline enforcement, and governance Negotiate and oversee alternative fee arrangements, rate structures, and engagement models aligned with departmental goals, risk tolerance, and financial discipline Maintain visibility into outside counsel performance and spend trends to inform sourcing decisions and resource allocation Ensure alignment across Legal, Finance, Procurement, and Compliance on vendor onboarding, engagement, billing, and oversight processes Technology Enablement, Adoption & Innovation Develop and own the Legal Department’s technology roadmap aligned with strategic priorities, future‑state vision, and contract, matter, and compliance needs Oversee the evaluation, implementation, integration, and adoption of legal technologies—including CLM, matter management, spend management, and AI‑enabled tools Serve as executive sponsor and operational lead for legal technology initiatives, coordinating with IT, vendors, and internal stakeholders Establish standards, playbooks, and governance to support scalability, reporting, operational visibility, and consistent contract lifecycle management Lead change management and training efforts to drive adoption of new technologies and workflows while ensuring compliance and data security Stay current on legal operations best practices and emerging technologies, proactively recommending innovations that improve efficiency and service delivery Department Operations, Compliance & Governance Oversee Legal Operations infrastructure, including project tracking systems, intake workflows, task management, and recurring process calendars Establish and maintain policies, procedures, SOPs, and training materials related to contracting, procurement workflows, legal operations, and compliance Qualifications Required 10+ years of experience in legal operations, contract management, or procurement in a technology‑riven environment, including prior hands‑on experience as a Contract Manager or legal paralegal with direct responsibility for redlining, drafting, and negotiating commercial agreements Bachelor’s degree with a strong academic or professional record Proven ability to operate as both a people leader managing multiple direct reports and a heavy individual contributor who can step in to execute complex contract work alongside the team Deep understanding of commercial contracting, including SaaS/customer agreements, vendor agreements, NDAs, DPAs, and more Demonstrated success designing and implementing workflows, playbooks, and scalable operational improvements Experience administering CLM platforms and legal workflow tools (e.g., Ironclad, SAP CLM, Apptus/Conga, etc.) and electronic signature tools (e.g., DocuSign, Adobe Sign) Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize, manage multiple workstreams, and execute in a fast‑paced environment Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and superb judgment, with the ability to lead and operate independently Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to partner effectively with non‑legal stakeholders High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel Preferred Qualifications Experience in a high‑growth or scaling organization Familiarity with privacy and data protection concepts (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and emerging legal technologies, including AI‑enabled and generative AI tools Experience managing outside counsel spend and legal budgets Experience partnering closely with Procurement functions Personal Attributes Positive, can‑do attitude with the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment Genuine enthusiasm for problem‑solving and enabling team success Courteous, flexible, organized, reliable, and proactive with sound judgment Committed to continuous improvement and personal growth; actively seeks and applies feedback Open, honest, and professional in all communications Demonstrates discretion and unquestionable integrity with confidential information Brings a sense of humor and a willingness to pitch in—no task too big or too small Additional Information At Cricut, we take care of our people. Enjoy competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, a 401(k) match, generous PTO, tuition reimbursement, and a yearly lifestyle stipend to support your wellness and passions. You’ll also receive exclusive employee discounts—and best of all, you’ll be surrounded by some of the most talented, creative, and curious minds out there. What makes someone a great fit for this role Here’s what makes someone a great fit for this role (and for this moment at Cricut): You move with urgency. You don’t wait for perfect clarity to act—you start, learn, and adjust. You set high standards. You take ownership, deliver quality, and hold yourself accountable. You stay focused when things move fast. You prioritize what matters most and tune out the noise. You collaborate like a pro. You elevate others, communicate clearly, and bring a low‑ego, high‑output energy. You embrace AI as part of your toolkit. From idea exploration to data analysis and creative problem‑solving, you leverage AI to accelerate innovation and amplify impact—because technology and creativity go hand‑in‑hand here. One More Thing (It’s a Big One) This role is in‑office 4 days per week with Fridays flexible. We believe real collaboration, innovation, and culture are built face‑to‑face. If you’re energized by working alongside smart, kind, creative people—and love those hallway conversations that spark the next great idea—you’ll feel right at home. If you’re looking for a fully remote role, this may not be the right fit. But if you’re excited by challenge, purpose, and building something better—let’s make something amazing together. Relocation Statement This position is eligible for relocation assistance. Cricut® is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. This position is contingent on successfully completing a Criminal Background Check upon hire. Cricut participates in E‑Verify. #J-18808-Ljbffr