Office Manager

MJD Recruitment Pty; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 72,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Career development opportunities

Work-life balance emphasis

Job summary

MJD Recruitment Pty partners with a respected Melbourne law firm to recruit an Office Manager who will lead the Melbourne Practice Support team and take full accountability for the office. This hands-on leadership role requires supervision of Legal Assistants and Receptionists and alignment with firm-wide standards.

The role focuses on operations, space planning, vendor management, events, business continuity and WHS, plus collaboration with Practice Groups and Business Services to deliver a

Qualifications

• Five or more years in office management or legal practice support.
• Prior supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of office workflows and service expectations.
• Excellent communication, organisation and stakeholder management.
• Service-first mindset with adaptability to change.
• Strong digital literacy and willingness to learn new systems.
• Comfort with managing meeting and event spaces and office relocations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the Practice Support team, including performance management.
• Act as primary contact for office operations (building, security, access, parking).
• Manage space allocation across offices, desks, war rooms and on-site storage.
• Support workforce planning, overtime and staffing costs, and vendor expenditure.
• Oversee office equipment and services with external providers.
• Support client events, staff functions and firm events for a seamless front of house.
• Coordinate business continuity and emergency procedures; promote WHS.
• Collaborate with Practice Groups and Business Services to align with firm standards.

Skills

Office management

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Organisation

Digital literacy

Microsoft 365

Tools

Microsoft 365

Office technology

Job description

A well-regarded law firm is looking for an Office Manager to lead its Melbourne Practice Support team. This is a hands-on leadership role, well suited to an experienced Legal Assistant or Practice Support professional who has supervised others and is ready to take on full accountability for a team and an office.

The role

Reporting to senior Practice Support leadership, you will be accountable for the day to day running of the Melbourne office. You will lead a team of Legal Assistants, Receptionists. You will also partner with Business Services and Practice Group leaders to keep local service aligned with firm-wide standards.

• Leading, coaching and developing the Practice Support team, including performance management and workflow
• Acting as the primary contact for office operational matters, including building management, security, access, parking and tenancy
• Managing allocation of space across offices, desks, war rooms and on-site storage
• Supporting workforce planning, overtime and staffing costs, and reviewing supplier and service expenditure
• Overseeing office equipment and services, including external providers and trades
• Supporting client events, staff functions and firm events to deliver a seamless front of house experience
• Coordinating business continuity and emergency procedures, and championing WHS across the office
• Collaborating with Practice Groups and Business Services to support firm initiatives and a connected, one firm culture

About you

• Five or more years’ experience in office management or legal practice support, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment
• Prior supervisory or team leadership experience, such as guiding, allocating work to or developing other support staff. Senior Legal Assistants looking to move into management are encouraged to apply
• A strong understanding of legal practice support workflows and the service expectations of lawyers and clients
• Excellent communication, organisation and stakeholder management skills, with sound judgement on urgency and escalation
• A service-first mindset, with the initiative to adapt to changing priorities and a genuine interest in continuous improvement
• Strong digital literacy, including Microsoft 365, and an appetite to learn new systems
• Comfortable with the physical side of the role, including setting up and packing down meeting and event spaces, moving supplies and assisting with office relocations

What’s on offer

• Up to $120k package including super
• 38 hour week, with a minimum of four days per week in the office, 1 day work from home
• A clear career step into management, with the support of a broader Practice Support and Business Services network
• A people-focused culture that values development and retention