Manager, Legal Operations at Panera Bread

, , United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

21 Mar, 26

Salary

167488.0

Posted On

21 Dec, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Legal Operations, Project Management, Contract Management, Workflow Design, Data Analysis, Budgeting, Vendor Management, Compliance, Communication, Technology Administration, Process Improvement, Collaboration, Reporting, Automation, Excel, Power BI

Industry

Restaurants

Description

Manager, Legal Operations Job Purpose The Manager, Legal Operations supports the day-to-day operations of Panera’s Legal Department. This role helps maintain legal systems, manage contract and matter workflows, coordinate with outside counsel, and assist with department reporting and budgeting. This role works cross-functionally with attorneys, paralegals, Finance, Procurement, and IT to enhance efficiency, data quality, and accountability. Duties & Responsibilities Contract Management and Workflow Support Support Legal’s contract management process, including intake, triage, tracking, and approvals. Help maintain visibility into contract renewals, expirations, and key milestones. Update and maintain standardized contract templates, playbooks, and approval workflows to promote consistency and compliance. Assist in identifying opportunities to automate manual tasks and improve turnaround times using workflow tools. Technology and Systems Support Assist with day-to-day administration of Legal Tracker, including matter setup, vendor entry, invoice review, accrual collection, and basic reporting. Coordinate with IT and vendors on system updates, troubleshooting, and user access requests for Legal technology tools (e.g., e-signature, entity management, CLM). Generate standard reports and dashboards from system data to support department visibility and planning. Vendor and Budget Coordination Assist with onboarding of outside counsel and vendors and ensure adherence to Panera’s Outside Counsel Guidelines. Support Legal’s budgeting and forecasting processes by tracking invoices, accruals, and spend trends. Prepare routine spend and matter reports for Legal leadership and Finance. Maintain organized vendor records and help monitor compliance with approved rates and engagement terms. Legal Intake and Request Tracking Monitor the Legal intake inbox and routing system to ensure requests are logged and assigned promptly. Track request status and turnaround times to maintain transparency and accountability. Compile data on request volumes and trends to support process improvement. Governance and Compliance Assistance Coordinate with Compliance and Governance teams to align Legal processes with company policies, data retention standards, and internal controls. Assist in tracking and documenting Legal-related compliance requirements, such as certificates of insurance or policy acknowledgments. Maintain organized electronic files and records for regulatory and contractual compliance. Knowledge Management and Communication Maintain Legal’s shared resources, templates, and FAQs. Assist in drafting internal communications and user guides for Legal systems and processes. Support collaboration and information sharing across Legal, Risk, and Compliance teams. Metrics, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement Compile and update Legal operations metrics and dashboards (spend, matters, contracts, cycle times). Analyze basic data sets to identify patterns or areas needing attention. Assist with annual goal-tracking, project planning, and process documentation. Support projects and initiatives aimed at improving Legal’s efficiency and service delivery. Qualifications (Education & Experience) Bachelor’s degree required; certification in Legal Operations, Project Management, or Process Improvement (e.g., CLOC, ACC, PMP) preferred. 4–7 years of experience in legal operations, project management, or business operations. Hands-on experience administering Legal Tracker or similar legal e-billing/matter management systems. Experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and workflow design. Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and translate legal needs into business-friendly solutions. Advanced Excel or Power BI proficiency for reporting and analytics preferred. Familiarity with budgeting, vendor management, and process governance. Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, and commitment to continuous improvement. Ability to leverage technology and automation to improve efficiency and performance. Working Conditions This position is hybrid (3 days in office) and is based in our Newton, MA office. Required travel – as needed. Physical Requirements While performing this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit, talk hear & use hands and fingers to operate keyboards Direct Reports This position will have approximately 0 direct reports. Salary:$119,634-$167,488 The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Newton Support Center With more than 2,000 Panera LLC and independent franchise bakery-cafes in the Panera Bread® family, and more locations opening all the time, it’s no wonder our company has been an excellent source of career and personal growth opportunities for more than 25 years. In neighborhoods across the U.S. and Canada, customers enjoy flavorful, handcrafted meals centered around freshly baked artisan bread. To us, that means serving food like we serve our own families – free of any of the items on our ‘No No’ List. Along the way, we also like to give back to our community. We enjoy working together, shoulder to shoulder with our customers, to confront a serious problem plaguing communities across this country – Hunger. Through our Panera Cares community cafes, we offer a dignified dining experience in an uplifting environment. In addition, we support our communities through day-end donations at our bakery-cafe locations and partner with local non-profit organizations. It’s this warmth that you’ll find when you join Panera Bread. From our competitive compensation and benefits packages to our unique cultural values, we’re confident you’ll find us a rewarding and fun place to work.

Responsibilities

The Manager, Legal Operations supports the day-to-day operations of the Legal Department, including contract management, technology support, and vendor coordination. This role also involves monitoring legal requests and ensuring compliance with company policies.