Legal Operations Manager Recruitment at 54gene

54gene is a health technology company centered on advancing the field of African genomics to unlock scientific discoveries as well as improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes within Africa and the global community.

Founded in 2019, 54gene utilizes human genetic data derived from diverse African populations, to improve the state of healthcare through large-scale discovery and translational research, advanced molecular diagnostics, and inclusive clinical programs. Our mission is to deliver on the promise of precision medicine for Africans and the global population, by bridging the global health disparity gap.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Position: Legal Operations Manager

Job Location: Lagos
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Department: Legal & Compliance
Reports to: General Counsel

Position Summary 

• As the Legal Operations Manager, you will report to the General Counsel and be a key member of the legal compliance and information security (LCIS) team in creating processes and practices to improve the day-to-day efficiency and effectiveness of the LCIS team, facilitate change, manage vendor relationships, provide necessary reporting to the department and, in conjunction with the General Counsel, maintain accurate budgets.
• You must be able to adapt to changing priorities and business needs and must be proactive in identifying areas of need and generating action plans.
• You’ll be part of a close-knit, high-performing team that promotes a fun atmosphere and relentless dedication to high-quality work. This role involves direct contact with the business client as well as third parties, so the ability to spot issues and provide viable solutions is key.

Essential Functions 

• Define, develop and implement the department’s legal operations strategy and initiatives to support efficiency and effectiveness, and monitor the latest legal operations trends to continually enhance our legal organization.
• Set specific goals and initiatives for the LCIS department and report on key operational and substantive metrics that will better inform decision-making, including matter and work product analyses.
• Serve as point of contact for clients, both internal and external in regard to LCIS department matters.
• Identify and implement legal department tools to streamline new or existing practices, manage design, rollout, and training for new systems, and generally oversee the LCIS department’s technology strategy (including the selection, implementation, administration, and support of all technology resources related to matter and document management, content and knowledge management, contract management and related legal operations systems), including but not limited to:
  • Uploading and organizing signed contracts, tagging contracts with appropriate data identifiers, calendaring compliance-related tasks, identifying contract management process improvements, and tracking contract flow and status
  • Maintaining agreement templates and contractual clauses 
  • Manage contract signature process
  • Track contract expirations and renewals
  • Administer LCIS matter intake system, assign new matters to appropriate team members, maintain oversight to timeline and track projects to completion
  • Maintain corporate organization/formation documents for company subsidiaries and manage compliance with local annual reporting requirements
• Manage the overall relationship between vendors and the LCIS department, including onboarding new firms/vendors, invoice processing, and coordinating payments with the finance department.
• With oversight of General Counsel, develop accurate departmental budgets and manage the planning, tracking, expense analysis, and forecasting functions.
•  In cooperation with the Senior Director, Quality Assurance and Compliance, develop and implement internal process guidelines and templates and optimize workflows within the legal department.
•  In cooperation with the Senior Director, Quality Assurance and Compliance, develop, implement and maintain company-wide record retention policy.
• Handle other administrative matters as assigned from time to time.

Education & Certifications 

• Associates, BA or B.Sc required.

Experience:

• 6+ years of legal operations, paralegal or legal administrative experience in either big firm or in-house legal departments
• Prior experience developing playbooks and policies, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to independently move projects forward by gaining the support needed from others while working in a cross-functional role.
• Strong experience in developing, implementing, and using legal department technology solutions.
• Excellent business judgment, analytical, problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
• Experience working directly with business partners
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and successfully manage multiple deadlines.
• Team player who exhibits personal leadership and leaves things better than you found them.