Legal Operations Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Gusto

At Gusto, we're on a mission to grow the small business economy. We handle the hard stuff — payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR — so owners can focus on their craft and their customers. With teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York, we support more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide and are building a workplace that reflects the people we serve.

 
All full-time employees receive competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs) — because everyone who helps build Gusto should share in its success. Offer amounts are determined by role, level, and location. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy.

 
AI is a fundamental part of how work gets done at Gusto. We expect all team members to actively engage with AI tools relevant to their role and grow their fluency as the technology evolves. AI experience requirements vary by role and will be assessed during the interview process.

About the Role:

We are seeking a hands-on Legal Operations Manager to join the Legal & Compliance team .  In this role, you will own the systems, tools, and processes that enable our Legal & Compliance teams to build and scale and be at the forefront of driving AI solutions for the teams.   You will report to the Head of Legal Employment, Litigation & Legal Operations working cross functionally as a true strategic partner to the team. 

If you’re energized by building things that last, experimenting with emerging technology, and redefining what an in-house legal team can achieve, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

About the Team:

Gusto’s Legal & Compliance team partners with product teams to enable innovation, facilitate responsible company growth, accelerate the Gusto roadmap, and provide compliant products to our customers, through solution-focused counsel on legal and business risks. We are passionate about using groundbreaking technology and excellent service to elevate the experience of small business owners and their employees. Each team member is a true owner and makes a tremendous impact every day.  

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Drive the Legal & Compliance team’s operational strategy, understand operational challenges, identify opportunities to improve systems and workflows
• Maintain and optimize a best in class AI driven tech stack.  Partner cross functionally with AI and Contract Operations to identify technologies, negotiate with vendors, and drive implementation. 
• Partner closely with Finance and Legal leadership to manage budget, forecasting, accruals, and track spend
• Working closely with leadership, own planning cycles, OKRs, and data reporting and metrics
• Manage outside counsel relationships, including new engagements, billing guidelines invoicing, and e-billing.  Drive outside counsel management strategy with a focus on cost discipline and operational accountability
• Build and maintain knowledge management platforms and learning and development programs that keep the team current and operating effectively.
• Run the day-to-day operations of the Legal & Compliance team, driving efficiencies that enable the team to perform its best work.  (e.g. manage vendors, attorney memberships, internal practice guidelines, expenses, team meetings)
• Represent Gusto within the Legal Operations community, staying current on emerging technologies and best practices.

Here’s what you’ll need for this role:

• 5+ years of legal operations experience at a high-growth technology company
• Hands on expertise with legal tooling-selection, implementation, and day-to-day operation (CLM, e-billing, matter management, procurement systems)
• Experience implementing AI and technology within legal operations
• Hands-on experience with AI-assisted legal tools and a fluency (or path to fluency) in agentic / automated legal workflows (e.g. Claude CoWork)
• Experience engaging and managing outside counsel, legal spend, budgeting, and program management
• Proven ability to build and maintain metrics and reporting frameworks, including operational KPIs
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders across Legal, Finance, IT, Security, and Procurement
• A builder's mindset — demonstrated success building and improving processes, not just running them, with measurable results

Here’s what we’d love to see you bring to the table:

• Legal Operations community involvement (CLOC, Legal Suite)
• Experience at a SaaS or otherwise high-velocity technology company
• Creative problem-solving skills and the confidence to take smart risks
• Energy, curiosity, and a drive to be part of something groundbreaking
• A team-first approach, with no job too big or too small

Our cash compensation amount for this role is $133,000-$160,000 in San Francisco and $113,000-$139,000 in Denver. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate location, experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City. Employees who are based in those locations will be expected to work from the office on designated days approximately 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role). The same office expectations apply to all Symmetry roles, Gusto's subsidiary, whose physical office is in Scottsdale.

Note: The San Francisco office expectations encompass both the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas. 

When approved to work from a location other than a Gusto office, a secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection is required. This includes non-office days for hybrid employees.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for small businesses, you will find a home at Gusto. 

Gusto is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Gusto considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Gusto is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. We want to see our candidates perform to the best of their ability. If you require a medical or religious accommodation at any time throughout your candidate journey, please fill out this form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

Gusto takes security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please review our Fraudulent Activity Disclaimer.

Personal information collected and processed as part of your Gusto application will be subject to Gusto's Applicant Privacy Notice.