Director of Administration
$300,000–$350,000 year
On-siteChicago, Illinois, United States
Job Summary
Lead all business operations for the Chicago office, driving strategic and operational planning while developing a comprehensive understanding of local market practices. Manage and mentor the professional staff team across human resources, IT, legal talent, recruiting, and office services to foster a high-performance culture aligned with firm objectives. Oversee financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and real estate strategy including leasing, space planning, and construction projects. Direct the planning of internal and client events, coordinate risk management and business continuity programs, and assess workforce models to optimize productivity and organizational transformation.
Required Qualifications
- At least 15 years of experience in business operations leadership roles at a major law firm or another sophisticated professional services or financial services firm
- Demonstrated success in managing, mentoring, and developing a team of highly qualified professionals
- Leading all functional areas of business operations
- Driving continuous improvement, innovation, and optimization
- Strong business acumen
- Well-developed financial and analytical skills
- The ability to develop short- and long-term strategic and operational plans from broadly stated objectives
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple operational initiatives simultaneously, including business transformation and service-model changes, as well as significant real estate and construction projects
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to lead through influence rather than control, champion new ideas and approaches, and build consensus around business strategies and decisions
- Experience planning and coordinating internal and client events, including developing concepts, itineraries, and requirements
- Managing vendors
- Overseeing post-event wrap-up and feedback
- Superior presentation, writing, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with individuals at all levels of the organization and with members of the external community and to tailor communications to different groups and stakeholders
- Broad experience with technology and the application of technology solutions within the professional services industry
- A bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field
Desired Qualifications
- An MBA or other advanced degree
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