Manager, Practice Management – Exempt Organizations

The Manager, Practice Management will serve as a trusted advisor and “chief of staff” to the Head of the Exempt Organizations Practice Group (PG), which specializes in the representation of non-profit organizations and their donors. The Practice Management Manager will work directly with practice group leadership to drive accountability and ensure operational efficiency within the PG. The Practice Management Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the PG, as well as the implementation of the group’s strategic initiatives. In this role, the Practice Management Manager will report primarily to the Head of the Exempt Organizations Practice Group with a secondary reporting line to the Firm’s Chief Administrative Officer. The Practice Management Manager will work closely with practice group and firm leadership, the broader team of Practice Management Directors and other Professional Staff departments (including Finance, Legal Talent, Business Development, Knowledge, Legal Operations, Technology, Human Resources, and the Office of the General Counsel) to support the PG’s strategic initiatives, business operations, financial profitability, resource management, and more.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborate with PG head, partners and other key stakeholders to develop a vision and strategic plan for the PG with clear and achievable goals focused on revenue, profitability, headcount, reputation, brand awareness, profile and competitive differentiation.
• Support PG head with the daily operations of the practice group, including:
• Prepare for PG meetings and retreats, includes setting agendas, preparing meeting materials, and coordinating meeting logistics;
• Collaborate with Finance to analyze PG financial performance (revenue, profitability, realization, utilization, A/R); monitor PG operational expenditures; report regularly on KPIs; make recommendations for appropriate actions to improve PG financial performance and execute on related action items;
• Partner with Legal Talent to create and execute on PG talent management strategy, includes recruiting, onboarding and integration programs for lateral hires, training, resource planning and management, retention strategies, partnership pipeline reviews, and succession planning;
• Collaborate with Business Development Team to analyze and increase cross-selling efforts within the Firm and work with client teams to enhance client collaboration;
• Collaborate with Knowledge Team to continually drive efficiencies, improve processes, and incorporate innovation in legal service delivery; and
• Collaborate with Practice Directors in other groups to reinforce strategic and operational alignment with key adjacent practices (Funds and other groups).
• Continually identify opportunities for operational efficiency, improvement and innovation in matter management, business operations, infrastructure, methodologies, and other areas of business performance; develop solutions and plans for corresponding action.
• Monitor current trends and best practices in legal and professional services firms; communicate the impact of new innovations, developments, and regulations.
• Foster a culture that is team-oriented and committed to professional excellence.
  

Education

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 10 years’ work experience, preferably in professional services
  
  

Preferred

• JD or MBA preferred
• Prior experience working with exempt organizations, including foundations and charities
  
  

Required

Skills and Experience

• A minimum of 5 years serving as a practicing lawyer or business professional with an emphasis on practice management, operations, legal project management, client relationship management, and financial management, in sophisticated professional services environments
• Strong business acumen, project management, and analytical skills; the ability to develop and successfully execute comprehensive project and operational plans from broadly stated objectives;
• Strong knowledge of accounting and budgeting principles and the ability to track, organize, analyze and report financial data in a clear manner;
• Proven experience driving continuous improvement and innovation in business operations, technology, and infrastructure in a complex, matrixed, global professional services organization;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills: the ability to lead through influence rather than direct control and create consensus-based support for business strategies and decisions;
• Superior presentation, writing, and verbal communication skills; the ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with all levels in an organization—tailoring communications effectively for different groups and stakeholders;
• A consultative, collaborative, and highly client service-oriented approach to work.
  
  

Salary Information

NY Only: The estimated base salary range for this position is $200,000 to $235,000 at the time of posting.

The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.

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