Legal Operations & Corporate Governance Leader

Legal Operations & Corporate Governance Leader

Work Mode: Hybrid

Location:Hybrid - Kohler, WI

Opportunity

The Legal Operations and Corporate Governance Manager is a business and leadership oriented, organized, and well-rounded professional who has experience and capability to lead strategic and operational Legal Department initiatives with a focus on timeliness and budgetary constraints, as well as key corporate governance and board activities. The Manager will be cross-skilled and have the ability to lead projects and work with cross-functional teams to define and drive strategic and operational initiatives with on-time and on-budget results. This role will lead the execution of all Legal Operations initiatives, including reporting key operational and substantive metrics to enable decision-making, identify and implement Legal Department tools and processes, support financial and strategic planning, and outside counsel/vendor management. In addition, this role will also play a leadership role on supporting the corporate secretary and board functions that take place in the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary roles.

The role requires strategic thinking, solid judgment, strong work ethic, the ability to excel in a fast-paced environment, and outstanding interpersonal and technical skills. This position will report to the Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, with a dotted line to the Sr. Legal Director - Litigation & Government Affairs, based in Kohler, Wisconsin. The Legal Operations and Corporate Governance Manager will be asked to lead and/or support the areas defined below.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management:

• Drive strategic legal operations projects, including financial planning and budgets, workflow optimization, and reporting on key metrics; and Identify and implement legal department tools to streamline new or existing practices, as well as manage design, rollout, and training for these new systems.

Technology and Practice Operations:

• Assess emerging technology to create and update technology roadmap; Identify and automate repetitive or time-consuming manual processes; Liaise with Procurement/Legal/Finance/IT regarding business enterprise solutions;

Matter Management/eBilling System:

• Serve as leading System Coordinator with full administrator rights;
• Lead, with support, training for all new users and maintain training and reference guides;
• Create reports and data analytics to monitor and track legal spend, identify opportunities for cost savings, track budgets and trends, benchmark law firm rates and matters, and others as needed; Troubleshoot SAP and other issues with Finance, Tax, and Accounting; Law firm/vendor on-boarding, management and support;
• Outside Counsel Guidelines compliance; and Primary point of contact with Account Representatives.
• Oversee Legal Department's internal and external facing Sharepoint sites.

Financial Management and Business Intelligence:

• Identify savings and efficiency opportunities using metrics; and Utilize accruals and forecasting through financial and strategic planning.

Trainings and Development:

• Develop, implement and/or execute Legal Department and Kohler Co. associate trainings;

Records Management:

• Lead cross-functional initiative to enforce and operationalize Records Management policy; and create, update, and operationalize annual associate training and attestation process.

Knowledge Management:

• Create knowledge hubs and Regulatory Dashboards; and Support SMEs creation of SOPs and templates.

Board Meeting Management:

• Lead coordination of board meeting schedules, including sending out meeting notices, agendas, and supporting materials.
• Prepare meeting rooms and necessary technology for board sessions.
• Manage attendee registration and record attendance.

Document Management:

• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge management system for all board-related documents, including presentations, board papers, and legal documents.
• Prepare board materials by compiling relevant information, data, and reports.
• Ensure proper version control and distribution of board documents.

Communication and Liaison:

• Act as a primary point of contact for board members, responding to inquiries and requests promptly.
• Coordinate communication between the Corporate Secretary, board members, and other internal stakeholders.
• Manage confidential information with utmost discretion.

Compliance Support:

• Assist with maintaining corporate governance records and compliance documentation.
• Travel Arrangements:
• Lead coordination of travel arrangements for board members, including booking flights, accommodations, and ground transportation.

Administrative Tasks:

• Manage the Corporate Secretary's calendar, scheduling committee and board meetings
• Handle financial management for board-related activities.
• Prepare presentations and other materials as needed.

Management Task:

• Manage administrative assistant to support the Legal Operations and Corporate Governance functions.

Skills/Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of Legal Operations or Legal Corporate Governance Management experience.
• Excellent organizational and computer skills, great attention to detail and the ability to perform multiple tasks;
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage a large and diverse workload.
• Outstanding analytical, written and verbal communication skills, experience reporting to leadership;
• Demonstrated experience leading and/or motivating cross-functional teams; Microsoft suite of tools; and experience with Legal department and corporate governance management.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

The salary range for this position is $88,000 - $111,150. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate's experience, their education, and the work location. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision & 401k.

Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we're driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us
It is Kohler's policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.