Manager, Legal Operations Advisory

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer; Sydney; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is seeking a Legal Operations Advisory Manager for a 12-month, full-time contract. The role supports the national Digital Legal Delivery practice from Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane and leads client engagements end-to-end.

The successful candidate will bring five+ years in legal operations, strong project management, and deep knowledge of operating model transformation, AI, and change management; you will mentor juniors and help grow LOA capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in law with at least five years in legal operations and transformation.
• Proven track record managing consultative projects end-to-end and complex scoping.
• Deep knowledge of operating model transformation, change management and design-thinking.

Responsibilities

• Lead client engagements end-to-end and advise senior in-house leaders.
• Drive project scoping, planning and delivery of high‑quality deliverables.
• Facilitate workshops and translate complex concepts into clear insights.
• Develop client-facing AI-enabled solutions and monitor industry trends.
• Build relationships with clients and support proposals and pipeline growth.
• Provide direction to junior team members and promote LOA visibility.
• Contribute to LOA strategic initiatives under the Head of LOA.

Skills

Legal operations

AI in legal services

Project management

Stakeholder management

Data visualization

Education

Bachelor's in Law

Tools

Power BI

Visio

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

This is an exciting time to join our award-winning Legal Operations Advisory (LOA) team as Manager on a 12-month contract. Leveraging the innovation of our national Digital Legal Delivery practice, you will lead client engagements end-to-end, advise senior in-house leaders, and contribute to shaping the future of legal service delivery.

This role is full-time, and can be based in our Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane office.

What you'll do

• Advise senior leaders in corporate legal functions across all aspects of the legal operating model, with up-to-date knowledge of industry best practice and AI.
• Act as day-to-day engagement lead, driving project scoping, planning and delivery of high-quality client deliverables.
• Facilitate workshops, presentations and co-creation sessions, translating complex concepts into clear, accessible insights.
• Proactively develop client-facing solutions, pursue research projects and monitor trends, with a particular focus on AI.
• Build and strengthen relationships with internal and external clients, aligning LOA services to client and market needs.
• Support business development activity, including identifying opportunities and contributing to proposals and pipeline growth.
• Provide task direction and guidance to junior team members during engagement delivery.
• Promote LOA internally and externally to boost market visibility and recognition.
• Contribute to LOA strategic initiatives under the direction of the Head of LOA.
• Role model high performance, and foster collaborative and continuous within the team.

What you'll bring

• Bachelor's degree in law or a related field and at least five years' experience in legal operations and transformation.
• Proven track record managing consultative projects across the full lifecycle - assessment, design, implementation and continuous improvement - and experience scoping, planning and managing complex projects concurrently.
• Deep knowledge across operating model transformation, functional strategy, process enhancement, legal technology, change management and design-thinking methodologies.
• Strong data handling and analytical skills, with excellent data visualisation and storytelling capability (PowerPoint, Excel, Power BI, Visio).
• Solid understanding of the legal AI landscape.
• Exceptional communication skills - able to build client relationships, present to senior stakeholders and translate complex ideas for diverse audiences.

If you are a practicing lawyer with quality experience using AI platforms to optimise workflows, and a keen interest in broadening your experience into legal operations, we would be interested in hearing from you.

What you can expect from us

• We're a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.
• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.
• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.
• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you'll have it and we'll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.
• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia's market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values-Human, Bold, and Outstanding.