Legal Ops & Contracts Manager

Forward Networks is transforming how the world’s most complex networks are managed and secured. Founded in 2013 by four Stanford Ph.D.s, we built the industry’s first network digital twin — a mathematically precise model of the production network that gives IT teams unmatched visibility, verification, and agility across every major cloud and vendor environment.

Our customers include global leaders such as Goldman Sachs, PayPal, S&P Global, IBM, and Dell, as well as fast-growing enterprises and government agencies. According to IDC, Forward Networks customers realize an average of $14.2 million in annual benefits through improved efficiency and security.

Backed by world-class investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Goldman Sachs, MSD Partners, and Threshold Ventures, Forward Networks offers a people-centric, innovative culture where brilliant minds are shaping the future of network reliability, security, and AI-ready operations.

Forward Networks is seeking a highly strategic and hands-on leader to join us as our Legal Business Operations & Contracts Manager. This role is a pivotal force multiplier for the entire company, acting as the General Counsel’s chief operator, embedded within the business to optimize mission-critical processes. You will drive operational excellence across all legal workflows, focusing on business process improvement, scalability, and speed. You will be the architect and administrator of systems and tools that coordinate deal flow, train stakeholders, and establish the gold standard for contract intake and response. This is a high-visibility position reporting directly to the General Counsel, empowering you to shape the future of how Legal accelerates the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead Business Process Improvement: Architect and implement scalable, data-driven operational processes that minimize friction and accelerate commercial velocity across the Sales, Finance, and Legal organizations.

• Chief Operator for Legal: Serve as the strategic partner and chief operator to the General Counsel, managing key initiatives and driving the overall execution of the Legal department’s priorities and roadmap.

• Workflow Automation & Ownership: Own the end-to-end lifecycle of legal agreements. Design, implement, and optimize all contract management and intake workflows, treating Legal as a service organization for the rest of the business.

• Negotiation & Triage Leadership: Act as the primary business contact for commercial agreements (NDAs, evaluations, standard contracts), utilizing your business acumen and legal lens to execute rapid, high-quality responses and negotiations.

• Enablement & Governance: Develop company-wide playbooks, training, and centralized contract trackers that empower cross-functional teams (Sales, HR, etc.) to manage routine legal matters with confidence and consistency.

• Data & Metrics: Establish and track key operational metrics (e.g., deal throughput time, cycle time) to continuously measure performance, identify bottlenecks, and make a quantifiable business impact.

Requirements:

• Exceptional stakeholder enablement skills—able to translate complex legal requirements into simple, actionable training, playbooks, and self-service tools for non-legal teams (e.g., Sales, Finance, HR).

• Outstanding cross-functional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to act as a strategic partner to General Counsel and operational leaders.

• Adaptive, practical, and a natural problem-solver who thrives on ambiguity and is energized by the fast-paced, high-impact environment of a scaling company.

• A genuine interest in technology and automation, including being comfortable learning and applying new solutions, in line with our identity as an AI ”Forward” team.

Why Join

• A Strategic, Business-Embedded Role with high visibility, partnering directly with senior leaders and operational teams to drive company-wide efficiency.

• Be the Founding Architect of the Legal Ops function for a scaling, profitable SaaS company, directly impacting business velocity and operational excellence.

• Competitive compensation, significant growth path, and the opportunity to operate as an influential business leader.

The base pay range for this role is between $120,000 and $130,000. Base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location