Senior Director of Legal Operations

Position summary

The Senior Director of Legal Operations (“SDLO”) will partner with Department Chairs, Practice Group Leaders, client teams and the Chief of Legal Operations in the development and execution of business and administrative support to raise the Firm's profitability, value and efficiency. The SDLO also functions as a deputy to the Chief of Legal Operations, handling a diverse array of time-sensitive and confidential tasks and responsibilities alongside the Chief of Legal Operations or in their stead. The position requires a wide-ranging combination of skills and acumen, including strategic planning, financial management, legal data analytics, strategic leadership, critical thinking, client management and general process management. This role also unequivocally requires senior-level professional maturity, discretion and gravitas, along with a demonstrated ability to navigate a highly matrixed environment where unspoken rules and competing priorities can run in parallel—and at times, in conflict.

FOR INTERNAL CANDIDATES: Applicants should currently be operating at the Director level (or equivalent) and have a strong record of sustained performance.

Job duties and responsibilities

• Partners with the Chief of Legal Operations to keep strategic as well as tactical goals and projects moving forward; and acts as a proxy for Chief of Legal Operations as needed.
• Promotes coordination of administrative and business support for Department Chairs, Industry and Practice Group Leaders and client teams to drive excellence and efficiency in client service combined with maximizing firm profitability with a focus on achieving Firm goals.
• Builds and maintains a productive and value-added relationship with both Department Heads in order to support them in the furtherance of all department-level goals and needs.
• Working with the Chief of Legal Operations, Chief Human Resources Officer (and their designees), as well as Legal Department Heads, Global Head of Legal Talent, and all firm Practice Group leaders, actively participates in all aspects of annual partner (EP and FSP) and counsel compensation process and annual partner (EP and FSP) and counsel promotion process.
• Conducts analyses and policy/process reviews to develop best internal operation practices, including, but not limited to: secondments, talent retention, compensation, and overall business operations as they relate to the PG and IGs, as well as the legal departments.
• Coordinates implementation of strategic plans with ongoing administrative and business support operations.
• Has managerial responsibility which at times may include more junior Legal Operations team members directly reporting to the role.
• Works with Marketing, Accounting, Client Value, Project Management and Knowledge Management Departments to review, create and implement best internal operation practices for supporting client service, growing client relationships and enhancing financial performance.
• Partners with PG and IG business managers within Legal Operations to support Industry and Practice Group Leaders, client team leaders and individual attorneys by working directly with them to analyze overall performance of client relationships and matter arrangements and making recommendations for improving revenue and profitability in accordance with strategic plans.
• Gains a thorough understanding of the firms' systems (3E, Intapp, Peoplesoft, Sharepoint, etc. in order to support analysis and reporting, as needed, as it relates to PG, IG and Department performance and metrics.
• Helps to build and manage various Department and PG/IG budgets, both on the revenue and expense side of budgets, and helps develop practice development and other operating budgets.
• Reviews and makes recommendations for improvements to processes and tools used for internal structure, reporting, and support of the Departments, Practice and Industry Groups.
• Provides as needed one-on-one support for individual Client Relationship Leaders in client management, pricing and financial performance.
• Represents the Chief of Legal Operations in meetings, committees, and strategic initiatives, exercising independent judgment and decision-making authority as appropriate.
• Develops executive-level presentations, business cases, financial analyses, and recommendations for Firm leadership, management committees, and practice leadership.

Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented asnecessary.  Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time. 

Requirements

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Management, Legal Studies, or a related field required.

Advanced degree strongly preferred, including MBA, JD, Master's in Legal Management, Master's in Finance, or other relevant graduate degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 12-15 years of progressively responsible experience in legal operations, law firm administration, professional services management, finance, consulting, or a related field.

Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience managing teams, projects, budgets, and strategic initiatives within a complex professional services environment.

Demonstrated experience partnering with executive leadership, practice group leaders, department chairs, partners, and other senior stakeholders.

Experience supporting or leading law firm operational functions, including financial management, profitability analysis, strategic planning, talent management, compensation processes, client relationship management, pricing, and business operations strongly preferred.

Experience developing and presenting business cases, strategic recommendations, and executive-level reporting based on quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Advanced experience managing confidential and highly sensitive information and exercising sound judgment in complex situations.

Experience working within a large, matrixed, global organization preferred.

Experience at working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment is essential

Skills:

Demonstrated ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources both internally and externally

Demonstrated ability to respond to project adjustments and alterations promptly and efficiently

Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and drive adoption of new processes, technologies, and business initiatives. Demonstrated ability to bring projects to successful completion while navigating the related political and cultural environments

Demonstrated ability to influence, motivate, and build consensus among senior stakeholders while maintaining a strong client-service orientation.

Demonstrated ability to influence and advise senior leaders and partners without direct reporting authority.

Must have a high degree of emotional maturity and intelligence and well-developed interpersonal skills

Demonstrated ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships with partners, executive leadership, attorneys, professional staff, clients, and external stakeholders.

Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis, and financial performance management.

Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable recommendations.

Demonstrated strategic planning and execution capabilities.

Excellent executive communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.

Demonstrated ability to manage highly confidential and sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment.

Strong project and change management skills with the ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.

Experience leveraging business intelligence, financial, and operational reporting tools to support decision-making.

Demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizational structures and competing stakeholder interests.

Strong negotiation, consensus-building, and conflict-resolution skills.

Additional information

Supervisory responsibilities: Yes.

Equipment used: Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, copier, scanner, etc.

Essential job functions

Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and perform tasks requiring prolonged and/or extensive computer use.

Ability to use computers, telecommunications, and digital collaboration tools to perform core job responsibilities.

Ability to communicate effectively.

Ability to maintain attention to detail while analyzing complex information, managing multiple priorities, and applying sound judgment to strategic decisions.

Ability to access, use, and safeguard confidential and sensitive information while performing job responsibilities in work environments that support confidentiality, privacy, and information security requirements.

Travel for meetings and training as required.

Ability to work extended hours as required to meet project, client, or business needs.

Working conditions

You will be required to work in the office at minimum 4 days per week. Occasionally called upon to work hours in excess of your normal daily schedule. The details of your weekly schedule will be discussed further with your direct supervisor.

Pay ranges
This represents the presently anticipated low and high end of Reed Smith's pay range for this position. Actual pay may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location and experience.

• Pittsburgh, Atlanta: $260,000 - $305,000
• Philadelphia, Chicago: $278,000 - $330,000
• Washington, DC, Boston, Princeton: $296,000 - $350,000
• New York: $306,000 - $365,000

Employee benefits overview

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Virtual Health Services
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Coverage
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Lyra Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Family Leave (for eligible Exempt and Non-Exempt staff)
• Transportation Benefit
• Back-up Child Care Services
• College Coach Program
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Sick Time (for Exempt staff)
• Paid Time Off (available to all full-time, non-temporary employees)

Reed Smith offers a challenging work environment, business casual dress code and a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, flexible benefits program, tuition assistance, and generous 401(k) plan.

Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Core Values of Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork & Respect, Innovation, and Impact. Reed Smith also provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with law, including in the application and interview process.

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.