Senior Manager, Legal Operations - Outside Counsel Management

Senior Manager Legal Operations, Outside Counsel Management

At NetApp, we believe that operational excellence fuels innovation. We're looking for a strategic leader to drive our global outside counsel management and legal billing operations. This is a high-impact role that directly supports the Legal Leadership Team and influences how we manage legal spend, optimize law firm and alternative legal service provider relationships, and deliver value across the enterprise. This is a hybrid role located in our San Jose, CA office. We require two days in office per week.

Why This Role Matters :

As Senior Manager Legal Operations, Outside Counsel Management, you will lead the transformation of how NetApp engages with outside counsel and manages legal billing. You'll architect and execute programs that ensure cost efficiency, transparency, and high-quality legal support. Your work will shape how NetApp navigates complex legal landscapes, supports business growth, and drives accountability across our legal ecosystem.

What You'll Do :

• Design and implement NetApp's outside counsel engagement strategy in partnership with legal leadership and internal stakeholders.
• Oversee the full law firm lifecyclefrom selection and negotiation to performance and billing.
• Optimize our law firm roster to ensure the right expertise and jurisdictional coverage as NetApp evolves.
• Lead global negotiations on law firm agreements, rates, and alternative fee arrangements.
• Create competitive rate intelligence and benchmarking to aid in negotiations and ad hoc rate approvals.
• Launch cost-saving initiatives including preferred firm programs, competitive RFPs, and AFA frameworks.
• Develop and maintain KPIs, dashboards, and reporting tools to track performance and spend.
• Drive annual budgeting and monthly forecasting exercises in collaboration with Finance and legal teams.
• Work with each legal team to accurately track exposure, significant matters, and budget impact for their areas.
• Manage internal compliance program for law firm vendors, partnering with appropriate internal control teams.
• Ensure proper protections are in place in standard law firm agreement language.
• Manage NetApp's legal billing team and oversee all billing operations.
• Implement best practices for invoice review, savings enforcement, and global billing compliance.
• Partner with tax and AP teams to put proper billing and payment procedures in place in accordance with global laws and regulations.
• Lead the annual outside counsel budgeting process and support department-wide planning.
• Partner with the Sr. Director of Legal Operations on strategic projects and executive initiatives.

What You'll Bring :

Compensation : The target salary range for this position is 153,000 - 227,700 USD. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off (PTO), various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and / or restricted stocks (RSU's), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunity Employer :

NetApp is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination based on age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information, pregnancy, protected veteran status, and any other protected classification.

Why NetApp?

We are all about helping customers turn challenges into business opportunity. It starts with bringing new thinking to age-old problems, like how to use data most effectively to run better - but also to innovate. We tailor our approach to the customer's unique needs with a combination of fresh thinking and proven approaches. We enable a healthy work-life balance. Our volunteer time off program is best in class, offering employees 40 hours of paid time per year to volunteer with their favorite organizations. We provide comprehensive medical, dental, wellness, and vision plans for you and your family. We offer educational assistance, legal services, and access to discounts. Finally, we provide financial savings programs to help you plan for your future. If you want to help us build knowledge and solve big problems, let's talk.