Director, Legal Operations

NJ TRANSIT; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 105,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Life Insurance

Paid Leave

Tuition Assistance

Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Plan

Retirement Plans

Job summary

NJ TRANSIT is seeking a Director of Legal Operations to partner with the General Counsel and lead operations, finance, technology, and administrative functions within the Office of the General Counsel. The role drives process improvements, ensures compliant operations, and supports effective delivery of legal services.

Key duties include budgeting, policy development, vendor management, and supervising staff.

Qualifications

• Experience handling highly confidential information with discretion.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop, update, and oversee departmental policies and procedures.
• Advise on operational compliance and process improvements.
• Review financial reports, AP, and WIP metrics for performance insights.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the department’s annual budget.
• Review and approve invoices, requisitions, and purchase orders; participate in budget meetings.
• Manage outside counsel billing for quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Serve as system administrator for the case management system.

Skills

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Communication

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree

7+ years PM/ops experience

3 years office management

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Excel

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director, Legal Operations serves as a strategic partner to the General Counsel, providing leadership, management, and oversight across operational, financial, technological, and administrative functions of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). Ensures the efficient delivery of legal services, drives process improvements, and supports organizational compliance and effectiveness.

• Develop, update, and oversee departmental policies and procedures, ensuring consistent adherence across the OGC.
• Advise the General Counsel on operational compliance and process improvements.
• Review financial reports, accounts payable, and work-in-process metrics to provide insight into departmental performance and resource allocation.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the department’s annual budget.
• Review and approve all invoices, requisitions, and purchase orders; participate in budget meetings.
• Manage outside counsel billing to ensure service quality, timely delivery, and cost-effectiveness.
• Serve as the administrator and system manager for the case management system, overseeing configuration, maintenance, upgrades, and system performance.
• Lead planning and implementation of legal technology initiatives in partnership with IT and other departments.
• Manage the internal file database and ensure proper document and data management practices.
• Partner with the General Counsel on staffing strategies, compensation, performance evaluations, and organizational planning.
• Supervise, train, mentor, and counsel support staff; provide conflict resolution and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Assign and monitor work for clerical staff and arrange overtime as needed.
• Drive progress on key projects and initiatives; monitor deadlines, deliverables, and executive reporting.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the OGC and departments including Accounting, Human Resources, and Information Technology to ensure alignment, collaboration, and compliance with corporate directives.
• Coordinate with Human Resources on recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of support staff.
• Manage Legal Group meetings, including preparing and presenting materials to internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee continuing legal education and training programs for company attorneys.
• Manage reporting and monitoring of staff time in time keeping system to ensure compliance with organizational policies.
• Provide administrative support to business units reporting to the General Counsel, including budget review, staffing, travel approvals, and conference coordination.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of NJ Transit policies, legal practices, and electronic filing requirements; serve as a resource to support staff.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Develop, update, and oversee departmental policies and procedures, ensuring consistent adherence across the OGC.
• Advise the General Counsel on operational compliance and process improvements.
• Review financial reports, accounts payable, and work-in-process metrics to provide insight into departmental performance and resource allocation.
• Develop, monitor, and manage the department’s annual budget.
• Review and approve all invoices, requisitions, and purchase orders; participate in budget meetings.
• Manage outside counsel billing to ensure service quality, timely delivery, and cost-effectiveness.
• Serve as the administrator and system manager for the case management system, overseeing configuration, maintenance, upgrades, and system performance.
• Lead planning and implementation of legal technology initiatives in partnership with IT and other departments.
• Manage the internal file database and ensure proper document and data management practices.
• Partner with the General Counsel on staffing strategies, compensation, performance evaluations, and organizational planning.
• Supervise, train, mentor, and counsel support staff; provide conflict resolution and recommend disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Assign and monitor work for clerical staff and arrange overtime as needed.
• Drive progress on key projects and initiatives; monitor deadlines, deliverables, and executive reporting.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the OGC and departments including Accounting, Human Resources, and Information Technology to ensure alignment, collaboration, and compliance with corporate directives.
• Coordinate with Human Resources on recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of support staff.
• Manage Legal Group meetings, including preparing and presenting materials to internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee continuing legal education and training programs for company attorneys.
• Manage reporting and monitoring of staff time in time keeping system to ensure compliance with organizational policies.
• Provide administrative support to business units reporting to the General Counsel, including budget review, staffing, travel approvals, and conference coordination.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of NJ Transit policies, legal practices, and electronic filing requirements; serve as a resource to support staff.

This Position Supervises

• Senior Legal Secretary (3)
• Senior Executive Legal Secretary
• Paralegal Manager

Education, Experience And Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of experience in a project management, operations, or support services, to include three (3) years of office management experience (responsible for organizing, coordinating, staffing, reporting, and managing department budgets)
• Experience with procurement card process and usage
• Experience with employee timekeeping software systems
• Any relevant combination of experience and/or education may be substituted for the experience and/or education requirement.

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office software, including Word, Outlook, Access and Excel required.
• Ability to be detail oriented.

Salary Range: $105,000-$170,000 USD

At NJ TRANSIT you will enjoy a competitive salary and excellent benefit package

• Comprehensive Family Health Insurance – Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Paid Leave
• Tuition Assistance
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Plan
• Retirement Plans
  • 401(a) - Retirement plan with a 6% employer contribution
  • 401(k) - Retirement saving plan with up to an 3% company match
  • 457(b) - Deferred Savings Plan

NJ TRANSIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer.