Director, Legal Operations

Kraken

Job Overview

Location

Remote

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• Kraken is at the forefront of the cryptocurrency revolution, driven by a mission to accelerate global adoption and empower individuals with financial freedom and inclusion. As a fully remote company with a global presence, we are a diverse team of industry pioneers united by a passion for crypto and a commitment to innovation. We are seeking a visionary Director, Legal Operations to lead and transform our legal function into a strategic, data-driven powerhouse.
• This pivotal role serves as the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for all aspects of Legal Operations, including technology, data management, and execution. You will be instrumental in shaping and implementing Kraken's Legal AI strategy, collaborating closely with Engineering, Product, Security, Finance, and other key stakeholders to modernize and scale our legal capabilities.
• As Kraken's regulatory landscape and business complexity evolve, you will own the operational strategy, design efficient workflows, implement cutting-edge tooling, and establish key metrics to drive automation, AI adoption, process standardization, and vendor optimization. Your leadership will ensure the Legal department operates as a proactive, strategic partner to the business, rather than a reactive cost center.
• A core responsibility will be establishing robust financial, resourcing, and demand management foundations. This includes ensuring that the right work is performed by the right resources at the optimal cost, delivering predictable outcomes as the organization scales.
• You will own and evolve Legal's operating model, identifying and eliminating inefficiencies, and driving scalability across all workflows, processes, resourcing strategies, service delivery mechanisms, and automation initiatives.
• Partnering with the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and Finance, you will lead Legal's budgeting, forecasting, accrual processes, and long-range cost modeling. This ensures financial predictability and alignment with Kraken's ambitious business growth objectives.
• This role encompasses leading legal resourcing and capacity planning, as well as comprehensive vendor management. This includes developing headcount models, defining optimal role designs, making critical 'make vs. buy vs. automate' decisions, overseeing legal billing, and managing outside counsel relationships and performance.
• You will be responsible for managing and governing Kraken's entire legal technology stack. This includes Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), matter management systems, intake platforms, spend management tools, knowledge management solutions, and emerging AI technologies. A key objective is to prevent tool sprawl through standardization, integration, and adherence to compliance requirements.
• Design, implement, and scale efficient Legal intake, triage, and demand management processes. You will champion the adoption of AI-enabled workflows, transitioning from experimental phases to secure, enterprise-grade deployments that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Establish a comprehensive suite of metrics, dashboards, and operational controls. These will provide critical visibility into legal demand, workload distribution, spend patterns, efficiency gains, risk exposure, key outcomes, and overall audit readiness.
• Act as a significant force multiplier for the Legal team. By enabling attorneys to concentrate on high-value judgment, strategic advisory work, and complex problem-solving, you will leverage process improvements, technology, and AI to optimize their impact and effectiveness.
• This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the operational future of a leading crypto company, driving innovation and efficiency within a dynamic and rapidly growing global organization. You will be at the heart of ensuring Kraken's legal function is a scalable, compliant, and high-impact contributor to our mission.
• We are looking for a leader who can translate complex legal and business requirements into clear technical roadmaps and actionable operational plans. Your ability to build and maintain strong executive communication and influence skills will be crucial for navigating ambiguity and leading transformation in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Embrace the 'crypto conviction' that defines Krakenites, bringing a proactive, forward-thinking approach to legal operations. Your work will directly support Kraken's commitment to industry-leading security, crypto education, and world-class client support, ensuring our legal infrastructure keeps pace with our groundbreaking products and services.

🎯 Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in Legal Operations, legal technology, process design, and finance-adjacent operational leadership within scaled, regulated, or technology-driven organizations.
• Proven track record of owning and scaling legal operations, legal tech, and financial management in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrated leadership in driving automation and AI initiatives end-to-end, from strategy and governance through secure enterprise deployment, adoption, and ROI measurement.
• Deep understanding of core legal workflows (contracts, regulatory, investigations, litigation, intake, outside counsel) with the ability to redesign inefficient end-to-end processes.
• Hands-on experience owning and optimizing legal technology platforms, including CLM, matter management, intake, spend management, knowledge management, and AI-enabled tools.
• Ability to translate Legal requirements into clear technical roadmaps and executable operational plans.
• Experience building metrics, dashboards, controls, and OKRs to measure performance, cost, risk, efficiency, and outcomes.
• Strong executive communication and influence skills, with comfort operating in ambiguity and leading transformation in fast-moving, high-growth environments.

🏖️ Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development and learning opportunities.
• Fully remote work environment with flexibility.
• Opportunity to be a key player in the rapidly growing cryptocurrency industry.

Skills & Technologies

Remote

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Kraken

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About Kraken

Kraken is a global cryptocurrency exchange established in 2011, offering spot and futures trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum and 200+ digital assets. Headquartered in San Francisco with entities worldwide, it serves retail and institutional clients, providing custody, staking, an NFT marketplace and OTC desk. The platform emphasizes security, regulatory compliance and educational resources.

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