Manager of Legal Operations
Natcast
Natcast (short for The National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology) is a new, purpose-built, non-profit entity created to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) consortium, established by the CHIPS Act of the U.S. government.
Opportunity
Working at Natcast represents an opportunity to help extend America’s leadership in semiconductor technology, significantly reduce the time and cost of moving from idea to commercialization, and build and sustain a semiconductor workforce development ecosystem.
These efforts to advance semiconductor technology and seed new industries built on the capabilities of a wide range of advanced chips hold the potential to benefit the country and the world for generations to come.
Manager of Legal Operations
In this role, you will be a key member of Natcast's Legal team, responsible for optimizing and streamlining legal operations to support the organization's mission of advancing U.S. leadership in semiconductor design and manufacturing. You will serve as a critical partner to the Legal, Research Security, and cross-functional teams, driving operational excellence and strategic initiatives.
Every day, you will manage projects, oversee vendor relationships, implement knowledge management systems, and develop analytics to support data-driven decision-making. Your role will be instrumental in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of Natcast's legal operations, enabling the team to better support the organization's innovative work in the semiconductor industry and ensure the security of our research efforts.
To thrive in this role, you must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and operationally minded, with strong project management skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. You should have a keen understanding of legal operations and the ability to translate complex legal and technical concepts into actionable operational strategies, with a particular focus on supporting contract management, intellectual property, compliance, and research security initiatives.
Natcast is a trailblazing non-profit entity established under the CHIPS Act to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) consortium. As a key component of the CHIPS and Science Act, Natcast is poised to drive innovation, set standards, and re-establish U.S. leadership in semiconductor design and manufacturing. By convening the brightest minds from government, industry, and academia, Natcast is tackling the most pressing challenges in the domestic semiconductor ecosystem head-on.
The Manager of Legal Operations will play a crucial role in supporting Natcast's mission by ensuring the Legal team operates at peak efficiency, enabling the organization to navigate the complex legal landscape of the semiconductor industry effectively while safeguarding our research and intellectual property.
Responsibilities
- Program Management: Own and drive projects for Legal and cross-functional teams, creating project plans and ensuring productive progress, with a focus on supporting research security initiatives
- Vendor + Technology Management: Manage legal technology vendors and consultants, overseeing contract renewals and technology initiatives, including those related to contract management, intellectual property, compliance, and research security
- Knowledge Management and Governance: Develop and support programs that promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across the Legal team, with emphasis on best practices for protecting intellectual property and research integrity
- Drive Collaboration: Work cross-functionally to advance strategic initiatives as assigned by the General Counsel
- Reporting/Analytics: Develop a sophisticated, outcome-focused reporting portfolio to enable data-driven decision-making, including metrics related to research security efforts
- Process Optimization: Develop, implement, and optimize day-to-day Legal operations processes, policies, and workflows
- Strategic Support: Provide operational and administrative support to the General Counsel, including budget management and OKR tracking for legal and research security initiatives
Required Skills And Experience
- 5+ years of experience in legal operations, project management, or a related field
- Strong operations and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and analytical skills
- Self-motivated with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing operational challenges
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to interact effectively with various stakeholders
- Tech-savvy with a good understanding of legal technology systems and software
- Experience in developing and implementing knowledge management systems
- Proven ability to analyze complex situations, identify issues, and develop effective solutions
- Familiarity with research security concepts and intellectual property protection in a technology-focused environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- Experience working in the legal department of a technology or semiconductor company
- Familiarity with the semiconductor industry and related legal challenges, particularly in research and development contexts
- Certification in Legal Operations (e.g., CLOC Core Competency Certificate)
- Experience with legal-specific software and tools (e.g., contract management systems, IP management platforms)
- Experience in export control or research security related compliance
- Experience with nonprofit compliance
If you are a detail-oriented, operationally minded professional with a passion for legal operations and a desire to contribute to the advancement of U.S. semiconductor leadership while supporting critical research security efforts, we encourage you to apply for this position. Join us in our mission to drive innovation and strengthen the domestic semiconductor ecosystem through efficient and effective legal operations and robust research protection.
Natcast is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any protected attribute. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission. If you require accommodation at any stage of the application process due to a disability, please let us know.
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