Chief Operating Officer

Meldon Law Firm; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Meldon Law Firm in Gainesville, FL seeks a results-driven Chief Operating Officer to translate strategic vision into day-to-day operations across four Florida offices.

You will lead non-attorney operations, coordinate departments, and maintain executive alignment with ownership, while enabling efficiency, client service, and growth for a trusted personal injury practice.

The role requires autonomous decision-making, strong communication, and a hands-on approach to organizational change.

Qualifications

• Proven COO leadership in a law firm or complex service-based organization.
• Ability to translate vision into actionable plans across multiple locations.
• Strong communication with owners and department leaders at all levels.
• Autonomous decision-making to improve productivity and client outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations across non-attorney functions and four Florida offices.
• Coordinate HR, finance, IT, and marketing to align with strategic goals.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence, especially in the Gainesville office.
• Make independent operational decisions to drive efficiency and change.

Skills

Leadership

Operational leadership

Multi-location management

Strategic execution

Communication

Business acumen

Integrator mindset

Decisiveness

Job description

Are you ready to steer a dynamic legal team toward operational excellence?

Can you transform strategic vision into seamless daily operations across multiple locations?

Do you thrive in environments where your leadership directly impacts success and client outcomes?

Are you excited to bring visibility, efficiency, and innovation to a renowned personal injury law firm?

Final question: When faced with a challenge, do you get excited or run away?

Founded with a steadfast commitment to justice, Meldon Law has been a trusted name in personal injury law for over 50 years. Operating across several locations in Florida, our extensive practice areas include car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and premises liabilities, providing comprehensive legal services to our community.

At the helm, founders Carrie and Jeffrey Meldon blend strategic vision with practical solutions to deliver outstanding legal representation. The firm prides itself on navigating complex personal injury cases with empathy and rigor, ensuring that each client receives the undivided attention their case deserves, supported by a team that is both adept and passionate. Our unique approach fosters a culture where helping clients through their most challenging moments is not just an obligation, but a calling.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Meldon Law plays an integral role in translating our strategic vision into effective day-to-day operations. This position is pivotal in ensuring our legal and administrative teams function seamlessly to deliver the highest quality service to our clients. As COO, you will enhance efficiency across our four office locations, enabling broader strategic goals and empowering the entire organization to achieve unparalleled success.

What you'll do:

• Operational Leadership: Oversee day-to-day operations across non-attorney legal operations, including intake, pre-suit support, litigation support, and settlement/closing functions, while ensuring strong coordination with the firm’s attorneys.
• Departmental Coordination: Ensure efficient workflow and collaboration between human resources, finance, IT, and marketing, translating strategic vision into actionable plans.
• Visibility and Engagement: Lead with a visible presence primarily in the Gainesville office, fostering relationships and credibility across all locations and with department leaders.
• Decision Making: Act autonomously to remove bottlenecks and make informed decisions that enhance productivity and efficiency across the firm.
• Strategic Execution: Partner with ownership to align operational strategies with broader organizational goals, facilitating meetings and participating in strategic planning initiatives.

What we're looking for:

• Proven Experience: Previous COO experience, preferable within a personal injury law firm, is ideal though experience in complex service-based organizations will be considered.
• Legal Background: Attorneys with strong leadership, business operations, or law firm management experience are also encouraged to apply. A legal background combined with operational expertise can bring valuable perspective to this executive leadership role.
• Leadership Scale: Demonstrated success leading multi-location operations and managing through department leaders or managers in a complex, service-based organization.
• Executive Adaptability: Comfortable working with strong owner personalities, receiving direct feedback, and adapting communication style while maintaining confidence, sound judgment, and professionalism.
• Integrator Mindset: Proven ability to translate an owner’s vision into execution, establish accountability across functions, make independent operational decisions, and lead an organization through meaningful change.
• Decisiveness: Ability to make autonomous decisions without constant escalation to ownership.
• Communication: Exceptional communicator who is comfortable across all levels of an organization, from team leaders to owners.
• Business Acumen & Problem-Solving: Strong understanding of how cross-functional business operations work together, with the ability to identify inefficiencies, diagnose root causes, implement solutions, and measure results.

Why you should work here:

• High Impact: Play a central role in shaping the future of a respected law firm by leading crucial operational transitions.
• Direct Access: Collaborate directly with firm owners who are committed to stepping back into vision and strategy roles, ensuring your leadership translates into significant organizational impact.
• Autonomy and Influence: Leverage the opportunity to innovate and influence processes without micromanagement, fostering an environment of trust and autonomy.
• Location & Travel: Primarily based in Gainesville, FL, with periodic travel to the firm’s other Florida offices. Candidates nationwide who are open to relocating to Gainesville are encouraged to apply.
• Cultural Momentum: Join an organization already experiencing positive cultural and leadership change, where your contributions can further enhance morale and efficiency.
• Benefits: Details regarding medical, dental, vision, retirement, and paid time off will be discussed during the interview process.
• Flexible Work Arrangement: This role is expected to be primarily onsite in Gainesville for the first 3 to 6 months to build relationships, credibility, and organizational visibility. Once established, there may be flexibility for one or two remote days per week based on performance and business needs.

This is your opportunity to make a substantial impact on the operations and culture at Meldon Law. If you are a seasoned operational leader with a passion for driving change and delivering top-tier legal services, we invite you to apply and help steer our firm to new heights of excellence and efficiency.