Legal Operations Manager
£65,000 – £75,000 plus benefits
Reports to: Lead Senior SolicitorDirectorate: Research & InnovationContract: PermanentHours: Full time 35 hours per weekLocation: Stratford, London – High Flex (1-2 days per week in the office)Closing date: Friday 24th April 23:55pmRecruitment process: Competency-based interview process with task.Interview date: Approximately week commencing 4th May 2026
About Cancer Research UK we exist to beat cancer. We are excited to offer a newly created opportunity for a Legal Operations Manager to join our Research & Innovation Legal team. This is a pivotal role with real scope to make a meaningful impact, shaping how we deliver legal services that support life changing research.
What you will be doing
Operational Strategy & Process Improvement:
- Review, develop, and innovate the legal service model to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
- Lead process mapping, workflow design, and implementation of best practices, including contracting and approval processes, playbooks and operating procedures.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and operational excellence across legal services.
- Oversee design, development, and maintenance of process documentation, governance strategies, and workflows.
Technology & Legal Tech Integration:
- Develop and implement a long term roadmap for legal technology and AI adoption and optimisation, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and R&I Legal needs.
- Manage integration of legal technology and AI tools within existing systems, working closely with suppliers and internal technology teams to ensure smooth deployment and interoperability.
- Evaluate, pilot and roll out new technologies – such as case management systems, intake portals, automation, document intelligence tools, knowledge-management and other AI enabled solutions – addressing operational challenges across R&I Legal and wider organisation.
- Design and prototype lightweight custom AI solutions where required, lead responsible implementation (including governance, risk and compliance considerations), deliver stakeholder training, and monitor emerging AI capabilities to drive continuous improvement.
Data & Business Intelligence:
- Develop high-quality management information and reporting processes.
- Work with senior team members to collect, analyse, and present relevant metrics to inform strategic decision-making.
- Use AI assisted analytics tools where appropriate to enhance reporting, trend analysis and decision support insights.
Knowledge Management & Training:
- Facilitate knowledge hubs, templates, and best practice materials to prevent knowledge loss.
- Work with Learning & Development to deliver training, presentations, and demonstrations on legal tech and new processes.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Collaborate with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to design and communicate transformative changes.
- Assist the Director of Legal in preparing and delivering impactful communications to foster collaboration, ensure consistency and build user confidence, including roll-out plans, service updates, and training materials.
- Build and maintain good working relationships across the organisation.
- Coordinate internal team operations, including regular team meetings, documentation, scheduling, action tracking, and support governance of the departmental budget through structured monitoring, reporting, and alignment with Finance.
What are we looking for?
- Significant experience in legal operations or project/change management.
- Experience identifying, piloting or implementing AI or automation tools within in-house legal teams or comparable environments.
- Ability to design or customise AI based solutions (e.g., utilising LLMs, prompt engineering, automation platforms, or basic scripting) is a plus.
- Strong understanding of legal technology and its application to improve workflows, including knowledge of market leading vendors, and core use cases.
- Excellent project management, prioritisation, and organisational skills.
- Ability to influence and communicate effectively at all levels, including leadership.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills with experience in business intelligence and data-driven decision-making.
- Strategic thinker with a genuine interest in solution design and innovation.
- Commitment to Cancer Research UK’s mission and values.
Our organisation values
Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
Human: Act to have a positive impact on people
Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively
We are looking for people who can embody these values and drive progress against our mission to beat cancer.
What will I gain?
We offer a working environment that supports wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies enable you to improve work-life balance and wellbeing.
How to apply
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications, but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, please complete the work history section of the online application form for us to assess you fairly and objectively.
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