Head of Legal Strategy & Operations

About Tenor Legal: Tenor is the premier legal services firm known for innovation and excellence across one of the broadest and most dynamic networks of talent in the legal industry. We work with Fortune 500 companies and top-tier law firms, offering exceptional legal professionals on both flexible secondment and permanent placements.

The Opportunity

Tenor Legal is partnering with a leading global luxury goods company to identify a Head of Legal Strategy & Operations to serve as the right hand to the Chief Legal Officer of its U.S. business. This is a high-visibility, broad-remit role for a commercially minded attorney who thrives at the intersection of strategy, operations, and innovation — and who wants meaningful exposure to senior business and legal leadership across a portfolio of globally recognized brands.siness and legal leadership across an extraordinary portfolio of globally recognized brands.

The Client

Our client is a Fortune 500 multinational with a portfolio of iconic luxury and premium consumer brands across multiple categories. The U.S. legal department serves as a strategic partner to the broader organization and its decentralized network of affiliated brand entities.

• Title: Head of Legal Strategy & Operations (de facto Chief of Staff to the CLO)
• Location: New York City (hybrid)
• Engagement Type: Permanent, direct hire
• Reports to: Chief Legal Officer
• Compensation: $225,000–$250,000 base salary, plus a competitive benefits package including bonus eligibility, health insurance, 401(k), and PTO

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Advisory & Chief of Staff to the CLO (~35%)

• Influence the strategic direction of the legal department at the highest level through advice and execution support to the CLO
• Serve as a senior peer with the capacity to represent the legal department both internally and externally
• Engage with key stakeholders across the broader organization, including leaders at numerous affiliated entities
• Anticipate the CLO's priorities and proactively drive initiatives forward, including matters not explicitly directed

Legal Department Operations & Management (~30%)

• Assist in managing the legal department's budget and ownership of the relationship with Procurement
• Oversee paralegal and administrative resources, including workflow allocation and professional development
• Manage outside counsel relationships, including engagement, billing, and performance evaluation
• Build and maintain departmental dashboards, reporting structures, and KPIs

Innovation & Process Improvement (~20%)

• Identify and execute opportunities to enhance the legal department's operational prowess through process improvements and innovative tools, including legal technology and AI
• Lead the design and rollout of new workflows, knowledge management systems, and matter management practices
• Stay current on emerging legal operations trends and bring forward-thinking ideas to the department

Litigation Case Management & Special Projects (~15%)

• Manage select litigation matters and serve as the point person on litigation "special projects"
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and outside counsel on case strategy, budgeting, and reporting
• Lead cross-functional initiatives, including pro bono program design and DEI program design

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited U.S. law school; admission to the New York Bar (or eligibility to waive in)
• 10+ years of legal experience, ideally combining top-tier law firm training with meaningful in-house exposure
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to senior leadership
• Excellent judgment and the ability to articulate ideas and navigate complex corporate decision-making processes
• Strong project and people management skills, with experience overseeing teams or cross-functional initiatives
• Operationally minded, with a track record of identifying inefficiencies and executing process improvements
• Strong presentation and executive communication skills

Preferred Experience

• Prior experience in a legal operations, chief of staff, or strategy-focused in-house role
• Exposure to legal technology, innovation initiatives, or AI implementation in a legal department
• Experience managing legal department budgets and outside counsel relationships
• Background in litigation management is a plus, but not required for the right candidate
• Experience working within a decentralized, multi-entity, or matrixed corporate environment
• Familiarity with the luxury, retail, or consumer goods industries

Why This Role

• Front-row seat to senior leadership. Work directly alongside and on behalf of the CLO, with regular exposure to C-suite and board-level priorities.
• Broad remit, real impact. The decentralized nature of the organization is the opportunity — your work will touch a portfolio of globally recognized brands and shape how the legal function operates across the enterprise.
• Build and innovate. This is a role for a self-starter who wants to bring new ideas and execute on them, not someone looking to inherit a fully built playbook.
• Iconic brand portfolio. Join one of the most respected names in global luxury, with the resources, reach, and prestige that come with it.

Tenor Legal is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.