Operations Manager, 12 months fixed term contract

Gibson Dunn; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Gibson Dunn, a leading global law firm in London, seeks a seasoned Operations Manager to support the Director of Administration in overseeing day-to-day operations. This is a senior leadership role requiring deep law firm experience, exceptional organisational skills, and the ability to manage complex projects in a fast-paced environment.

You will coordinate facilities, HR, IT, and finance, drive process improvements, supervise administrative staff, and ensure service excellence for attorneys.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of progressive operations or administrative management experience in a law firm or professional services.
• In-depth understanding of the SRA rules and regulations, and experience supporting compliance within a legal practice.
• Strong organisational, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure, detail-oriented, and confidential environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Ability to efficiently manage a proactive and reactive workload.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Director of Administration to manage daily operations across departments (Facilities, HR, IT, Finance, legal support).
• Support the Director of Administration in coordinating interdepartmental projects and process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
• Supervise administrative staff and ensure service excellence in support of attorneys and legal professionals.
• Monitor and report on key performance metrics, budgets, and vendor contracts.
• Provide support in overseeing space planning, office maintenance, and vendor relations.
• Assist in the implementation and enforcement of firmwide policies and procedures in line with SRA rules and regulations and ensure ongoing compliance.
• Support the Director of Administration in onboarding new partners, including coordination of internal resources, technology set-up, integration into firm operations, and orientation on policies and procedures.
• Support the Director of Administration in driving adoption of legal technology and operational tools, collaborating with IT and practice teams to support innovation and improve workflows.
• Manage special projects as assigned by the Director of Administration.

Skills

Operations management

Project management

Client service

Communication skills

Team leadership

Confidential environment

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Summary

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Summary

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision. The London office is seeking a seasoned Operations Manager to support the Director of Administration in overseeing the day-to-day operational functions of the London Office. This is a key leadership role that requires deep law firm experience, exceptional organisational skills, and the ability to manage complex projects in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.

Responsibilities Include

• Work closely with the Director of Administration to manage daily operations across departments (e.g., Facilities, HR, IT, Finance, legal support).
• Support the Director of Administration in coordinating interdepartmental projects and process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
• Supervise administrative staff and ensure service excellence in support of attorneys and legal professionals.
• Monitor and report on key performance metrics, budgets, and vendor contracts.
• Provide support in overseeing space planning, office maintenance, and vendor relations.
• Assist in the implementation and enforcement of firmwide policies and procedures in line with SRA rules and regulations and ensure ongoing compliance.
• Support the Director of Administration in onboarding new partners, including coordination of internal resources, technology set-up, integration into firm operations, and orientation on policies and procedures.
• Support the Director of Administration in driving adoption of legal technology and operational tools, collaborating with IT and practice teams to support innovation and improve workflows.
• Manage special projects as assigned by the Director of Administration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of progressive operations or administrative management experience in a law firm or professional services environment.
• In-depth understanding of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) rules and regulations, and experience supporting compliance within a legal practice.
• Strong organisational, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure, detail-oriented, and confidential environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure and within a team environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to efficiently manage a proactive and reactive workload.

Experience

• Familiarity with the unique demands of a law firm, flexibility to support attorneys with varying administrative needs as and when needed.
• Strong client service orientation and the ability to manage internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Strategic thinker who is hands-on and solutions driven.

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Gibson Dunn is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities. We strive to ensure an inclusive and accessible hiring experience. The Firm will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable participation in the application and recruitment process, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in an interview, or otherwise take part in the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Please note, this is a dedicated email inbox established exclusively to assist applicants with accommodation request related to the recruitment process. Inquiries about the status of an application or other non-accommodation matter will not receive a response.

Notice to Recruitment Agencies: Gibson Dunn does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies, headhunters, or vendors. Resumes sent to any Gibson Dunn employee or attorney, or submitted by an agency through the direct candidate application portal will not establish agency ownership of the candidate and Gibson Dunn will not be expected to honor an agency’s terms or pay any related fees. When a role is open for agency submissions, Gibson Dunn will notify our current agency partners and make the position available through our Agency Portal in Greenhouse. Only agencies that have been given portal access are authorized to submit candidates for consideration. Agencies without a current agreement that wish to be considered for future opportunities may contact [e-mail]. Please do not send resumes to this address.