Operations Manager, Southeast Asia

Herbert Smith Freehills; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for Southeast Asia to lead office operations across Singapore, Bangkok, and Jakarta. Reporting to the Operations Director, you will ensure efficient delivery of client services, facilities management, and legal support, while driving AI-enabled efficiency and staff engagement. A strategic, commercially-minded leader with 10+ years in office management will excel in this role.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in office management or operations roles.
• Experience in a professional services firm is preferred.
• Strong people management and team leadership skills.
• Ability to drive strategic change and leverage AI/emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational excellence for Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta offices.
• Oversee client services, facilities management, and document services.
• Manage the Southeast Asia Legal Support function and workloads.
• Collaborate with partners to enhance service quality and efficiency.

Skills

People management

Client service

Strategic planning

AI adoption

Communication

Education

Bachelor degree in Business Administration or related field

Job description

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Operations Manager, Southeast Asia to lead the operational excellence of our Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta offices.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Operations Director, Asia & Australia, you will play a pivotal leadership role in ensuring the efficient delivery of office operations across Southeast Asia. You will oversee client services, facilities management, document services and legal support functions, while partnering closely with senior stakeholders to enhance service quality, operational efficiency and employee engagement.

You will be responsible for:

• Efficient delivery of Southeast Asia’s Office Operations functions. Comprised primarily of Client Services (reception, meeting rooms and catering), Facilities Management, and Document Services. This also includes supporting Office Operation’s Global Centres of Excellence, comprised of Corporate Real Estate Management, AV/VC, Physical WHS, Document Production, Travel Management and Office Operations Project Delivery.

• Effective management of the Southeast Asia’s Legal Support (secretary) function, including collaboration with partners to deliver efficient secretary allocations and workloads.

• Proactively improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Southeast Asia Office Operations and Legal Support functions, including levering AI technology to the maximum extent. This may also include leading some Office Operations Projects or Services at the regional level.

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• Degree in Business and Administration or related fields.

• 10+ years’ experience with office management roles including local and remote staff management.

• Previous experience in a professional services firm.

• Very strong people management skills including leading high performing teams and influencing others.

• Able to drive strategic change including leveraging AI and emerging technologies.

• Genuine passion for client service, aligning with the firm’s objective of providing all external clients with an exceptional experience.

• Strong facilities management experience, including in environments requiring some degree of 24x7 operational coverage, and direct experience with physical security and business continuity.

• An excellent level of spoken and written English. Able to confidently get message across to senior audiences, present with clarity, energy, confidence and enthusiasm.

Team

Office Operations

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Singapore

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.