In this role, you serve as a strategic partner to the Chief Legal Officer and work closely with the entire Legal team, as well as cross-functional stakeholders, to ensure Legal programs run smoothly. You oversee all facets of the Legal team's operations, play a key role in day-to-day support, and make an impact by driving efficiency, optimizing processes, scaling resources, and supporting strategic goals. Because you have a holistic view of how we operate, you are the culture carrier and the glue that holds our team together. You foster a collaborative environment where team members feel supported, valued, and connected. Responsibilities: • Budget Management: Oversee the department budget by partnering with FP&A and Accounting on monthly accruals, forecasts, and annual planning. Identify vendor savings opportunities to self-fund incremental resources. • Vendor Management: Oversee law firm and other vendor billing. Manage POs and invoices, and track vendor spend and alternative fee arrangements. • Technology Implementation: Play a key role in driving AI initiatives and pushing adoption across the team. Evaluate and manage the Legal tech stack. • Process Development & Improvement: Identify resource gaps, streamline workflows, and drive operational efficiencies across the Legal team. • Team Leadership & Culture: Promote team culture through events, recognition, and operating cadences that keep the Legal team connected and engaged. Plan and coordinate in-person team offsites. Manage agendas for team meetings. • Reporting & Analytics: Collect and analyze team metrics, compiling them into monthly and quarterly business reports. Prepare executive presentations, reports, and documentation. • Strategic Initiatives: Manage team-wide and cross-functional projects to support strategic initiatives, ensuring successful execution. What it takes to catch our eye: • You have 5+ years of experience in Legal operations, business operations, strategic project/program management, or related fields with progression into increasing responsibility and strategic scope, preferably with an in-house Legal team. • Strong financial acumen with experience managing a department budget • Experience using AI and automation tools to improve efficiency; experience with evaluating and implementing AI tools is a plus • Exceptional communication skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail • Ability to influence across all levels of the organization • Ability to scale operations as the department grows • Proven record of deploying systems end-to-end, and developing solutions to reduce routine escalations to senior team members • Demonstrated success managing complex initiatives in a fast-paced environment • A self-starter with the ability to work autonomously • Ability to build strong partnerships across Legal, and with cross-functional partners and outside counsel • Handle highly confidential and sensitive information with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment • Comfortable learning new systems and tools quickly Come change how the world works. Upwork is establishing its first international operational hub in Toronto, Canada, and this role will require 3 days per week in office. We're proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including healthcare coverage for you and your family, RRSP/DPSP retirement plans, mental health support, wellness reimbursement program, supplemental vacation, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The annual base salary range for this position is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program. Annual Base Compensation $135,500-$169,500 CAD