Legal Process and Optimization Manager

How will you make a difference?

As a member of the legal operations function within the Wabtec legal department, the Legal Process and Optimization Manager is responsible for driving process excellence, technology enablement, and operational efficiency. This role leverages deep experience in legal operations, data analytics, and cross-functional collaboration to identify gaps, modernize workflows, and implement scalable solutions, including the integration of AI into everyday legal work. The position oversees legal technology platforms, reporting, and end-to-end vendor management, while partnering closely with Legal, Finance, IT, and Sourcing to align business objectives. Additionally, the role leads transformation initiatives such as post-acquisition integrations, process automation, and system implementations, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and effective communication.

What do we want to know about you?

• 7+ years experience working in legal operations industry.
• Experience working in corporate global legal department within a high paced legal operations team.
• Experience working within a legal operations function that has progressed its capabilities in alignment with the ACC Legal Operations Maturity Model.
• Experience managing legal operations’ systems, processes, and procedures.
• Prior experience as a liaison between legal operations leaders and key business stakeholders, including Legal, Finance, IT, Sourcing, etc.
• Prior experience leading the implementation of legal technology and artificial intelligence solutions, including one or more of the following: e-billing systems, contract lifecycle management solutions, legal hold solutions, corporate governance solutions, Harvey AI, Claude for legal, etc.  
• Strong reporting and analytic skills
• Managed the transition of current business practices from manual to automated, as well as understand and encourage the importance of incorporating artificial intelligence into a global corporate legal team’s everyday use to improve efficiencies.
• Proven track record of developing user documentation and training materials and training individuals on relevant processes and materials.
• Experience managing due diligence and integration initiatives.
• Resilient problem solver who remains undaunted by challenges and can effectively manage multiple projects and initiatives at once in a constantly evolving environment.
• Leverages technology to drive efficiency by enabling and automating operational processes.
• Recognizes clear and consistent overcommunication as an essential way of working.
• Demonstrates advanced proficiency in Microsoft tools, including Co-Pilot, Excel, Word, Visio, and Outlook. Experience with Harvey AI, Smartsheet, Oracle a strong plus.

What will your typical day look like?

• Collaborate with legal operations leadership to optimize the design, implementation, and continuous, measurable improvement of legal processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and service delivery across the legal function.
• Identify process gaps, inefficiencies, and failure points within current workflows; develop and execute data-driven optimization and automation strategies.
• Partner cross-functionally with Legal, Finance, IT, Procurement/Sourcing, and other business stakeholders to align processes, systems, and operational objectives.
• Optimize and implement legal technology platforms (e.g., matter management, e-billing, contract lifecycle management), including system enhancements, workflow configuration, and user adoption.
• Drive standardization and documentation of legal processes, policies, and procedures to ensure consistency and operational excellence.
• Create reports and automated dashboards across all legal technology platforms used by the department and presents insights to senior legal operations leadership.
• Facilitate post close Legal process-related integration efforts related to mergers and acquisitions, ensuring alignment of people, processes, and technologies in partnership with Corporate, IP and Commercial Counsel
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging best practices, benchmarking (e.g., ACC Legal Ops Maturity Model), and emerging technologies.
• Serves as a key stakeholder in leading and managing post-acquisition integration efforts
• Collects and analyzes data to support business decisions, drive process improvement, and optimize workflows; develops and implements data-driven plans for continuous process optimization.
• Identifying business needs based on gaps and failures in current process and proposed recommendations to drive process optimization and advancement. 
• Participate in vendor evaluation and selection processes for external legal and compliance service providers, collaborating closely with business stakeholders such as IT and sourcing.
• Oversees end-to-end legal vendor management, including modernizing billing guidelines, onboarding new vendors, managing rate negotiations and reviews (including discounts), overseeing the accrual process, and administering e-billing and matter management systems, coordinating with internal stakeholders, and  develop comprehensive spend reporting to provide clear visibility across all legal functions.

This role is also eligible for a performance bonus. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, is available at mywabtecbenefits.com.

Relocation assistance may be provided if eligibility requirements are met.

Wabtec will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable) and fitness for duty test (as applicable).

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $91100-129800 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
 

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.