Associate Director of Operations

Job ID: 8849

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Location: Houston, TX, United States

Category: Facilities & Operations

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About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don't just meet the standard for legal excellence - we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 23 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers' commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You'll Do

As the Associate Director of Operations, you will oversee the day-to-day performance of key support service functions in the Houston office, while advising Dallas and Austin teams. You'll drive operational excellence across Conference Services, Facilities, Mailroom/Delivery, Digital Services, and Purchasing-while managing vendor partnerships, budgets, and service delivery standards. This role is highly visible and collaborative, partnering closely with local leadership and firmwide teams to implement initiatives, improve processes, and elevate service quality.

• Operational Leadership: Direct daily operations across support service departments to ensure consistent, high-quality service aligned with firm policies and goals.
• Team Management & Development: Lead, coach, and develop managers, supervisors, and staff; oversee hiring, performance evaluations, compensation recommendations, and employee relations.
• Budget & Financial Oversight: Develop and manage annual budgets, monitor spend, analyze vendor invoices, and ensure accurate financial reporting across departments.
• Vendor & Contract Management: Negotiate and manage relationships with external vendors (e.g., food services, facilities, digital services), ensuring service level agreements are met.
• Facilities & Workplace Operations: Oversee building operations, maintenance, security systems, space planning, and office moves; partner with leadership on space utilization strategies.
• Service Line Oversight: Ensure effective performance of Conference Services, Digital Services, Mailroom/Delivery, Purchasing, and Food Services, maintaining high service standards.
• Process Improvement & Project Execution: Identify service gaps, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and implement operational tools such as workspace management systems.
• Cross-Office Collaboration: Partner with Houston leadership and provide advisory support to Dallas and Austin offices, including occasional travel for alignment and guidance.
• Inventory & Resource Management: Maintain accurate tracking of supplies and ensure departments are equipped to operate efficiently.
• Data & Reporting: Collect, analyze, and report operational data to inform decisions and improve performance across service functions.
• Training & Best Practices: Develop standard operating procedures and training programs; share best practices across offices and firmwide teams.

What You'll Bring

• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in operations, business, or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years of operations experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role, ideally within a professional services environment.
• Leadership & People Development: Proven ability to lead teams, manage performance, resolve conflict, and motivate staff toward shared goals.
• Operational & Financial Acumen: Strong background in budgeting, vendor management, and driving operational efficiency across multiple service lines.
• Project & Change Management: Experience leading complex initiatives, implementing systems, and driving continuous process improvement.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Customer Focus: Commitment to delivering exceptional service and solving complex service-related challenges.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel) and familiarity with data analysis and reporting tools.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to gather, interpret, and act on data to support operational decisions and improvements.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #LI-Onsite #LI-SB1

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