Job description

ABOUT SLATE At Slate, we’re building safe, reliable vehicles that people can afford, personalize and love—and doing it here in the USA as part of our commitment to reindustrialization. The spirit of DIY and customization runs throughout every element of a Slate, because people should have control over how their trucks look, feel, and represent them. WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR As Slate’s first Legal Operations Manager, you will play a critical role in designing, implement, and continuously improving the Legal Department’s service delivery model. This is a process-first role. Your mandate is to identify friction anywhere legal work touches the business, design a better way, and bring people along. You will build and run the department’s intake and triage workflows starting with marketing review, stand up scalable processes for contracts and knowledge management. Because you will be embedded in legal work every day, experience in a legal, regulatory, compliance, or policy environment is strongly preferred. You will report to the Associate General Counsel - Commercial, and work across the entire legal organization and its business partners. Candidates living in, or able to relocate to the Detroit metro area are preferred. WHAT YOU GET TO DO Process design and improvement Design the legal department’s operating model from intake and triage through execution, retention, and reporting. Build workflows that will scale for high-volume request types, starting with marketing and advertising reviews. Implement and optimize contract management, knowledge management, and e-billing processes using a fast, frugal, and scrappy mindset. Work cross functionally to develop and document Slate’s contract approval matrix, contracts and regulatory playbooks, and self-service resources. Technology Lead vendor selection, implementation, and adoption of legal technology beginning with a “legal front door” workflow tool and Contract Lifecycle Management system and ensure each tool is used to its full capability. Partner with Finance, IT, and other departments so legal technology and data align with broader company systems and objectives. Strategic planning and reporting Help legal leadership develop the department’s strategic plan and goals, and monitor performance against them. Build the metrics and dashboards leadership uses to make staffing, spend, and prioritization decisions, and deliver data-driven insights that drive change. Lead cross-functional projects with Finance, IT, Marketing, and other partners. WHAT YOU BRING Process orientation: You are process-oriented above all. You see how the parts of a workflow fit together, spot where they break, and can design and document a better system, then make it stick Influence: You identify a problem, gather the data, build the case, and persuade people to work differently using both evidence and empathy. In a first-of-its-kind role, adoption is the job. Communication: You write, speak, and listen well. You can absorb a detailed or complex process and explain it clearly to lawyers, executives, and business partners alike. Collaboration: You work comfortably across levels and personalities, inside and outside the company, to get to an outcome. Analytical mindset: You live in the data, think analytically, and connect dots across processes to find what needs to change. Self-knowledge: You know your strengths, your gaps, and your biases, and you operate with a strong sense of values and ethics. 5 years of experience with significant legal operations exposure in legal ops, process improvement, program management, or business operations supporting a legal, regulatory, compliance, or policy function. Experience in a legal, regulatory, compliance, or policy environment strongly preferred. Hands-on experience implementing legal or business technology platforms (e.g., intake/workflow, CLM, DMS, e-billing); comfort learning and administering new tools is a threshold requirement. Working financial knowledge of budgeting, accruals, and cost control; experience managing a budget or a team is a plus. Confidence working directly with executives, outside counsel, and technology vendors. WHY JOIN TEAM SLATE? At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles. Safety First Delight Customers One Team Relentless Improvement Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy Respectful Collaboration Positive Legacy WE WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE OPERATE. Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason. Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at slate-talent_acquisition slate.auto.

Requirements

Must-haves

As Slate’s first Legal Operations Manager, you will play a critical role in designing, implement, and continuously improving the Legal Department’s service delivery model.
Process design and improvement
Design the legal department’s operating model from intake and triage through execution, retention, and reporting.
Build workflows that will scale for high-volume request types, starting with marketing and advertising reviews.
Implement and optimize contract management, knowledge management, and e-billing processes using a fast, frugal, and scrappy mindset.
Work cross functionally to develop and document Slate’s contract approval matrix, contracts and regulatory playbooks, and self-service resources.
Lead vendor selection, implementation, and adoption of legal technology beginning with a “legal front door” workflow tool and Contract Lifecycle Management system and ensure each tool is used to its full capability.
Partner with Finance, IT, and other departments so legal technology and data align with broader company systems and objectives.
Strategic planning and reporting
Help legal leadership develop the department’s strategic plan and goals, and monitor performance against them.
Build the metrics and dashboards leadership uses to make staffing, spend, and prioritization decisions, and deliver data-driven insights that drive change.
Lead cross-functional projects with Finance, IT, Marketing, and other partners.
Process orientation: You are process-oriented above all. You see how the parts of a workflow fit together, spot where they break, and can design and document a better system, then make it stick
Influence: You identify a problem, gather the data, build the case, and persuade people to work differently using both evidence and empathy. In a first-of-its-kind role, adoption is the job.
Communication: You write, speak, and listen well. You can absorb a detailed or complex process and explain it clearly to lawyers, executives, and business partners alike.
Collaboration: You work comfortably across levels and personalities, inside and outside the company, to get to an outcome.
Analytical mindset: You live in the data, think analytically, and connect dots across processes to find what needs to change.
Self-knowledge: You know your strengths, your gaps, and your biases, and you operate with a strong sense of values and ethics.
5 years of experience with significant legal operations exposure in legal ops, process improvement, program management, or business operations supporting a legal, regulatory, compliance, or policy function.
Hands-on experience implementing legal or business technology platforms (e.g., intake/workflow, CLM, DMS, e-billing); comfort learning and administering new tools is a threshold requirement.
Confidence working directly with executives, outside counsel, and technology vendors.

Nice-to-haves

Candidates living in, or able to relocate to the Detroit metro area are preferred.
Experience in a legal, regulatory, compliance, or policy environment strongly preferred.
Working financial knowledge of budgeting, accruals, and cost control; experience managing a budget or a team is a plus.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Platform: workday
Effort: long