Strategic Practice Operations Lead

Gowling WLG; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 101,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental coverage

Mental health support

Hybrid work

Retirement / 401(k) match

Job summary

Gowling WLG in Ottawa is seeking a Manager, Practice Operations and Initiatives to lead the execution of strategic priorities across the Firm’s practice groups. You will report to the Senior Practice Director and drive complex initiatives, governance, and analytics to enhance practice performance.

The role translates priorities into structured plans, coordinates cross-functional stakeholders, monitors progress and outcomes, and promotes continuous improvement and adoption.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance or a related discipline.
• 5–8 years of experience in operations, project management, or professional services; law firm asset.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic or operational initiatives from planning through implementation.
• Strong financial reporting, analysis and performance metrics experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder management.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint; familiarity with BI reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate a portfolio of strategic and operational initiatives approved by the Senior Practice Director and practice leadership.
• Translate Firm and practice priorities into project charters, business cases, implementation plans, timelines, responsibilities, measures and expected outcomes.
• Manage initiatives from scoping through implementation and evaluation, monitoring milestones, dependencies, resources, risks and outcomes, and escalating issues as appropriate.
• Support the consistent implementation of practice group and Firm priorities across practices and offices.
• Oversee the operational coordination of assigned practice areas, identify service or process gaps, and recommend practical solutions.
• Develop and maintain practice-management processes, tools and governance frameworks that promote consistency and accountability.
• Coordinate practice leadership meetings, including agendas, materials, decision records and follow-up on commitments and action items.
• Maintain dashboards and reports on practice performance, strategic initiatives and operational priorities.
• Analyze revenue, billings, collections, productivity and utilization metrics.
• Identify trends, variances, risks and opportunities, and develop practical recommendations to support leadership decision-making.
• Partner with Practice Directors, Practice Group Leaders, Department Chairs and Business Services teams, including Finance, People & Culture, Marketing and Business Development, Legal Talent, Knowledge Management, and Innovation and Technology.
• Lead continuous-improvement and change-management activities by coordinating communications, stakeholder engagement, implementation support and post-implementation follow-up.
• Perform any other related duties as required.

Skills

Financial acumen

Project management

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Change management

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Power BI

MS Project

Job description

Gowling WLG in Ottawa is seeking a Manager, Practice Operations and Initiatives to lead the execution of strategic priorities across the Firm’s practice groups. You will report to the Senior Practice Director and drive complex initiatives, governance, and analytics to enhance practice performance.

The role translates priorities into structured plans, coordinates cross-functional stakeholders, monitors progress and outcomes, and promotes continuous improvement and adoption.