Director Legal Operations

IHG Hotels & Resorts; Windsor; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

IHG Hotels & Resorts is seeking a Director of Legal, Risk & Compliance (BRR) Operations to shape how a global legal function operates across regions. You’ll lead operations, knowledge management, technology and external supplier management to create a more efficient, scalable and data-driven service.

In this role, you’ll partner with senior leaders across Legal, Risk, Compliance, Finance and Technology, and drive process improvements, smarter working, and better control of spend.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in operations within large legal functions.
• Strong expertise in managing law firms and external legal spend.
• Track record of driving process improvements and operational change.
• Ability to use data and insights to influence decisions.
• Experience with legal technology and digital transformation.

Responsibilities

• Set direction for BRR operations across the function.
• Design operating models, processes, and service delivery.
• Manage relationships with law firms and external providers.
• Oversee external legal spend, budgeting, forecasting.
• Use reporting and analytics to identify trends and inform planning.
• Drive adoption of legal tech and AI solutions.
• Lead BRR Knowledge Strategy and ensure accessible templates.

Skills

Operations leadership

Law firm management

External spend management

Process improvement

Data-driven decisions

Legal tech knowledge

Tools

Knowledge management systems

Job description

Great legal teams don't just give advice. They operate efficiently, make smart commercial decisions, use technology well, and ensure knowledge and expertise are easy to access when they're needed most.

We're looking for a Director of Legal, Risk & Compliance (BRR) Operations to help shape exactly that.

This is a rare opportunity to influence how a global legal function operates across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. You'll bring together commercial thinking, operational excellence, supplier management and technology to create a more efficient, scalable and data-driven approach to legal, risk and compliance services.

Working within Business Reputation & Responsibility (BRR) Operations, you'll lead the strategy behind operations, knowledge management, technology and external supplier management. From overseeing relationships with law firms and controlling external spend to improving processes and introducing smarter ways of working, you'll have a direct impact on how the function delivers value to the business.

You'll work closely with senior leaders across Legal, Risk, Compliance, Finance and Technology, helping to shape priorities, solve complex challenges and drive meaningful change.

What You'll Do

You’ll set the direction for operations across the function, ensuring the right processes, technology, data and supplier relationships are in place to support a high-performing function.

• Support the delivery of an operational strategy, including operating model design, process improvement and service delivery models.
• Managing relationships with law firms and external legal providers, ensuring strong performance, value and commercial outcomes.
• Overseeing external legal spend, budgeting and forecasting, while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and control costs.
• Using reporting and analytics to identify trends, inform decision-making and support long-term planning.
• Driving the adoption of legal technology and AI solutions that improve productivity and enhance the user experience.
• Leading the BRR Knowledge Strategy, ensuring knowledge, templates and resources are accessible, relevant and easy to use.
• Building strong partnerships across Legal, Risk, Compliance and other business functions to deliver sustainable improvements.

What You’ll Bring

• Significant experience within operations, either in-house or supporting large legal functions.
• Strong expertise in managing law firms, supplier relationships and external legal spend.
• A track record of improving processes, introducing new ways of working and delivering operational change.
• Confidence using data and insights to influence decisions and prioritise activity.
• Experience of legal technology, knowledge management or digital transformation initiatives.
• The ability to build credibility with senior stakeholders and challenge constructively when needed.
• A commercial mindset balanced with sound judgement and a focus on delivering value.

Ready to shape what's next?

If you're interested by the opportunity to influence how a global legal function operates, build smarter ways of working and drive meaningful change at scale, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications Friday 2nd October 2026

At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we work together to deliver True Hospitality for Good on a global scale. With corporate offices and over 6,000 hotel destinations worldwide, a career at IHG is the perfect way to broaden your horizons. You’ll experience our unique culture and brilliant colleagues who will support and inspire you. With a host of corporate opportunities to choose from, wherever you are on your career journey, and whatever you want to achieve there’s Room for You at IHG.

Over recent years, we’ve transformed our company. We have bold ambitions to drive performance and maintain our relentless focus on growth in order to be the hotel company of choice that guests & owners love.

We are a hospitality business at our core and value connections and being together helps us foster a unique sense of belonging that also supports productivity. That’s why here at IHG, we give our colleagues flexibility and balance – working in a hybrid way, blending office and remote working collectively. We recognise that every role is different, that’s why leaders work with teams to determine how and when they collaborate.

We provide a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life. These include impressive room discounts across our many properties, recharge days and volunteering days throughout the year. Through our myWellbeing framework, we are committed to supporting wellbeing in your health, lifestyle, and workplace. We offer a unique and inclusive culture, where there is always Room for You to belong, grow and make a difference.

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate difference and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by applicable laws. We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.