Legal Operations and Contracts Manager

Fanatics is seeking a Legal Operations and Contracts Manager to serve as a strategic partner to attorneys and business stakeholders by owning critical legal operations processes, optimizing legal technologies, and implementing AI-enabled solutions across the Legal department. This individual will have primary responsibility for contract lifecycle management, legal matter operations, reporting and analytics, and legal technology administration, independently assessing process challenges and leading cross-functional initiatives that improve efficiency and reduce risk. The Legal Operations and Contracts Manager delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights. HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes. Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams) Serve as a key point of contact and subject matter resource for internal stakeholders regarding legal processes, systems, and operational workflows, providing guidance and training to legal team members on department systems and best practices. Support and coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving Legal, Compliance, Procurement, IT, and other business partners, effectively influencing stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Support attorneys with complex document management, project coordination, and operational initiatives, serving as a trusted operational partner across multiple legal practice areas. Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans) Serve as a primary resource for internal stakeholders on contract-related processes, templates, and repository governance, ensuring timely and accurate responses to inquiries regarding contractual terms and obligations. Maintain matter management systems, legal records, and department tracking tools to ensure visibility into deadlines and workflow metrics that support seamless legal service delivery. Design and implement standardized processes and dashboards that improve operational effectiveness and decision-making across the Legal Department, enabling business partners to move with speed and confidence. Partner with Legal, IT, Compliance, and business stakeholders to implement system enhancements that improve the quality and responsiveness of legal services across the organization. Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit) Evaluate opportunities to leverage automation and AI tools to modernize legal service delivery, streamline contract lifecycle management, and improve operational efficiency across legal workflows. Analyze contract volume, cycle times, and process trends to recommend improvements that increase throughput, reduce friction, and mitigate risk. Assess legal workflows across contracts, litigation, compliance, and regulatory functions to identify inefficiencies and design scalable, technology-enabled solutions. Develop and execute system governance, user training, and adoption strategies that embed new tools and ways of working into the Legal team's daily operations. Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset) Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle process, including intake, review routing, approvals, execution, repository management, and post-execution governance, exercising sound judgment across all stages. Manage the intake, triage, prioritization, routing, and tracking of legal requests across the department, determining appropriate workflows and escalation paths with minimal direction. Administer and maintain the legal team's technology platforms, defining governance standards and proactively recommending enhancements that improve legal service delivery. Identify continuous improvement opportunities within established workflows and lead change management efforts related to legal operations and technology implementation. AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to: Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING Required Qualifications: 4-6 years of experience in legal operations, contract management, compliance, litigation support, or related legal functions, with demonstrated success managing complex processes and cross-functional initiatives. Strong understanding of contract lifecycle management, legal workflows, and legal technology platforms, with hands-on experience in CLM platforms, matter management tools, e-signature systems, and document management solutions. Familiarity with AI tools and their application to legal operations and contract management processes, with experience implementing workflow automation, reporting, and analytics. Strong analytical, organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and effectively influence stakeholders at all levels. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion while managing competing priorities and resolving non-routine operational issues in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Experience designing and implementing standardized processes, dashboards, and reporting frameworks that improve visibility and operational effectiveness across a legal department. Experience supporting multiple legal practice areas in a high-growth, dynamic environment preferred. Education: Bachelor's degree required; Paralegal certification from an ABA-approved program preferred. The salary for this position is between $96,000 and $110,000 per year, in compliance with New York salary transparency requirements. This range reflects the expected compensation based on qualifications, experience, and location.