The Head of Law Department Innovation is responsible for helping to shape and execute the Guardian’s Law Department innovation and transformation strategy. This role will report to the Head of Law Department Strategy, Operations and Technology and partner with Law Department Executive Leadership on the development of an AI strategy. Core responsibilities include identification and implementation of transformative initiatives within the Law Department, driving operational improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and value delivery. While artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are core focus areas, the role also oversees broader transformation initiatives—including process redesign, operating model improvements, and adoption of modern service delivery approaches—that may or may not involve AI.
This leader partners closely with Law Department leadership, IT, and relevant stakeholders to modernize and embed innovation into the department’s culture and deliver measurable improvements in how legal services are delivered.
Key Responsibilities
AI Strategy & Implementation
Develop and maintain a comprehensive AI strategy for the Law Department aligned with enterprise technology strategy and governance frameworks.
Identify high-value AI use cases across the Law Department functions (e.g., contract lifecycle management, regulatory analysis, litigation support, knowledge management, and workflow automation).
Establish and Law Department AI Center of Excellence.
Lead pilot programs, proofs of concept, and scaled deployments of AI-enabled solutions.
Partner with relevant stakeholders to ensure responsible use of AI, adherence with governance standards.
Evaluate emerging legal technologies and vendors to determine strategic fit and value.
Transformation & Innovation Initiatives
Identify and lead transformative initiatives that improve the efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness of the Law Department, including those not reliant on AI.
Redesign legal processes, operating models, and service delivery approaches to optimize performance and cost management.
Drive adoption of innovative tools and practices that enhance collaboration, transparency, and service delivery.
Strategic Leadership
Partner with Law Department leadership and IT to define and prioritize the legal department’s innovation roadmap.
Build a culture of innovation within the legal function by promoting experimentation, continuous improvement, and change adoption.
Establish metrics and reporting frameworks to measure the impact of innovation initiatives.
Program & Change Management
Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of transformation projects from ideation through implementation and scaling.
Manage project governance, stakeholder engagement, and change management strategies.
Ensure effective communication and training to support adoption of new tools and processes.
Develop repeatable frameworks for identifying and delivering future innovation opportunities.
Vendor & Technology Management
Assess, select, and manage relationships with legal technology providers, consultants, and innovation partners.
Collaborate with enterprise IT to ensure solutions meet security, integration, and compliance requirements.
Monitor industry trends in legal technology, AI, and service delivery models.
Continuously refine the innovation roadmap based on outcomes, feedback, and evolving business needs.
Qualifications
Required
10+ years of experience, preferably in financial services in Law Department operations, technology, or project management roles.
Excellent project management skills.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing legal technology roadmaps or AI strategies.
Proven ability to build strong relationships across department and enterprise.
Experience working within corporate law departments.
Familiarity with legal and compliance AI tools.
Background in legal operations, process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma.
Experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving legal, IT, compliance, and business stakeholders.
Law Dept Core Capabilities
Strategic thinking and innovation leadership
Change management and organizational transformation
Technology fluency and AI literacy
Stakeholder influence and executive communication
Data-driven decision-making
Salary Range:
$155,370.00 - $255,255.00The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.
Our Promise
At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.
Inspire Well-Being
As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Accommodations
Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MyHR@glic.com. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.
Visa Sponsorship
Guardian is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment visas. In order to be a successful applicant. you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.
Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment
As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.
Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to MyHR@glic.com, making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via MyHR@glic.com.
Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here.
Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.