Director of Administration (London)

Morrison Foerster LLP, an Am Law 50 law firm with 18 offices worldwide, has an opening for a Director of Administration in our London office!

The Opportunity

• Provide overall strategic and tactical leadership to ensure all office functions and personnel are aligned in providing seamless client service and responsive support. Provide leadership in addressing current and anticipated needs by developing and deploying effective solutions.
• Manage infrastructure and staffing of the office to ensure support is effective, efficient, and evolves with office growth and changing requirements.
• Create a culture of operational excellence and accountability in managing business processes and activities in support of clients and those served internally.
• Establish and maintain best-in-class service levels and cost per service standards.
• Plan and lead complex projects in support of firm, functional and office strategies.
• Lead the effort to design, document, implement, measure and improve office operations process and procedures.
• Develop staffing plans and budgets for office consistent with Firm objectives and operational requirements. Ensure monthly operational expense performance meets budget.
• Conduct periodic office meetings to ensure all personnel are kept abreast of significant office and firmwide information. Conduct meetings with partners, associates, and staff as appropriate.
• Participate on and provide leadership in firmwide committees and meetings; ensure that office inputs are provided.
• Liaise closely with other Directors of Administration, especially Berlin and Brussels.
• Provide day-to-day direction to direct reports. Develop administrative and managerial staff through effective goal setting, coaching, reviews, and development planning.
• Work closely with the London HR team on all employee relations and office environment matters. Coordinate closely with HR, attorney development management, partners, and firm management on attorney HR matters, providing tactical support and guidance.
• With the London HR team, manage the administration of health, welfare, and retirement benefits programs for the London office, in coordination with firmwide Benefits.
• Make long range recommendations for future space, facilities, and equipment needs. Provide leadership and expertise in all space planning projects; coordinate with stakeholders to promote client service objectives and ensure minimal disruption to client service operations. Coordinate with building management as needed regarding routine and non-routine needs.

Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor's degree plus at least seven years of experience as an Office Manager/Director in a legal or professional services environment, or equivalent experience.
• Proven record of successful leadership and achievement of results in a variety of roles in a professional services industry. Proven ability to work collaboratively across organizations in achieving results.
• Experience in managing a business to the expectations of shareholders, management, and employees.
• Experience in effectively leading organizations through change.
• A record of developing management teams to higher levels of performance.
• A focus on operational excellence, client service, and cost management.
• High degree of intelligence and a highly organized approach to problem-solving.
• Outstanding project management and presentation skills.
• Strong operational and financial skills, and knowledge of information technology practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop administrative staff through effective goal setting, coaching, reviews and development planning.

Who We Are

At Morrison Foerster, our culture is defined by our deeds. We're passionate about what we do. We're equally passionate about how we do it. We resist hierarchies and operate within a model of respect - for our colleagues, their ideas, and the differences that make us stronger. We encourage you to learn more about who we are , and what we do .

Should you find you're ready to do the best work of your life, we encourage you to let us know!