Director of Administration

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 300,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is seeking a Director of Administration for the Chicago office. The role focuses on developing and implementing an efficient operating model and ensuring exceptional client service across Legal Talent and Professional Staff.

You will work with the Managing Partner and CAO on short- and long-term strategic planning, build out the Professional Staff function, and oversee budgeting, FP&A, and transformational initiatives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in business operations leadership at a major law firm or similarly sophisticated firm.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor a high-performing professional team.
• Experience leading all functional areas of business operations.
• Proven track record in driving continuous improvement and optimization.
• Strong business acumen with financial & analytical skills.
• Ability to develop short- and long-term strategic and operational plans.
• Experience managing multiple operational initiatives including real estate and construction projects.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence and build consensus.
• Experience planning and coordinating internal and client events; vendor management.
• Experience implementing technology solutions in professional services.

Responsibilities

• Lead all areas of business operations.
• Collaborate on and drive strategic and operational planning for the Chicago office.
• Develop understanding of the office's practices, market, and competitive position.
• Advise on future operational needs in Chicago.
• Manage, mentor, and develop the professional staff team (HR, IT, legal talent, recruiting, paralegal, operations, office services).
• Foster a high-performance, client-service oriented culture.
• Ensure alignment across functional areas with firm objectives.
• Drive financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and FP&A.
• Develop and implement financial metrics, analytics, and KPIs.
• Enable data-driven strategic planning and decision-making.
• Assess workforce model; introduce new capabilities as needed.
• Drive organizational transformation and productivity improvements.
• Manage real estate strategy, leasing, space planning, renovations, and related operations.
• Coordinate internal and client events, vendor management, and post-event follow-up.
• Oversee risk management, business continuity, disaster recovery, and emergency planning.
• Monitor trends in legal/professional services strategy and technology.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Financial analysis

Vendor management

Event planning

Team development

Communication

Data-driven decision making

Project management

Technology awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration

MBA or advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

About the Firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is one of the world’s leading international law firms. Founded in 1884, the Firm has over 2,000 lawyers and is headquartered in New York, with offices in Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Palo Alto, San Francisco, São Paulo, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. Through this global platform, the Firm delivers coordinated legal advice and transactional capabilities to clients worldwide.

Working closely with the Managing Partner of the new Chicago office and the Firm’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Director of Administration is responsible for developing and implementing an efficient and effective operating model for the Chicago office and ensuring exemplary client service across all functions, including both Legal Talent and Professional Staff. This role presents a significant opportunity for a highly motivated business leader with a strong operational focus to play a key role in establishing and developing the Firm’s newest office. The Director will work directly with the Managing Partner of the Office and CAO on short- and long-term strategic planning for the Chicago office. The Director will report directly to the Managing Partner of the Chicago Office and the CAO. A key early priority for the Director will be to build out the Professional Staff function that will support the office.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead all areas of business operations.
• Collaborate on and drive strategic and operational planning and implementation.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Chicago office’s practices, market, and competitive position.
• Anticipate and advise on the Firm’s future operational needs in Chicago.
• Manage, mentor, and develop the business professional team, including human resources, information technology, legal talent and recruiting, paralegal, operations, office services, and other functions.
• Foster a high-performance, team-oriented culture committed to professional excellence and the highest levels of client service.
• Ensure alignment across all functional areas with the Firm’s near- and long-term plans and business objectives.
• Drive financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning and analysis.
• Develop and implement financial reporting metrics, analytics, and KPIs.
• Enable more effective, data-driven strategic planning and decision-making.
• Assess the workforce model, including staffing ratios.
• Introduce new functional capabilities as needed.
• Drive related organizational transformation, the deployment of outsourcing services, continuous improvement, and productivity optimization.
• Manage leasing, space planning, renovation and construction projects, and other aspects of real estate strategy and operations for the Chicago office in coordination with the Firm’s Head of Real Estate.
• Direct the planning and coordination of internal and client events in coordination with the Client Development and Engagement function.
• Partner on the development of concepts, itineraries, and requirements.
• Manage associated vendors.
• Coordinate event activities.
• Oversee post-event wrap-up and feedback.
• Direct strategic planning, program development, and implementation for risk management, business continuity, disaster recovery, and emergency management.
• Monitor trends and best practices in legal and professional services strategy and management.
• Communicate the impact of emerging innovations, developments, and regulations.
• Recommend appropriate action.

Skills and Experience

At least 15 years of experience in business operations leadership roles at a major law firm or another sophisticated professional services or financial services firm.

• Demonstrated success in managing, mentoring, and developing a team of highly qualified professionals.
• Leading all functional areas of business operations.
• Driving continuous improvement, innovation, and optimization.
• Strong business acumen.
• Well-developed financial and analytical skills.
• The ability to develop short- and long-term strategic and operational plans from broadly stated objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple operational initiatives simultaneously, including business transformation and service-model changes, as well as significant real estate and construction projects.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to lead through influence rather than control, champion new ideas and approaches, and build consensus around business strategies and decisions.
• Experience planning and coordinating internal and client events, including developing concepts, itineraries, and requirements.
• Managing vendors.
• Overseeing post-event wrap-up and feedback.
• Superior presentation, writing, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with individuals at all levels of the organization and with members of the external community and to tailor communications to different groups and stakeholders.
• Broad experience with technology and the application of technology solutions within the professional services industry.

Education Required

A bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field is required.

Preferred

An MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.

Salary Information

IL Only: The estimated base salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000 at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.

Simpson Thacher will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

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Equal Opportunity / Diversity Statement

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is committed to a collegial work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. The Firm prohibits discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any other legally protected status. This Policy pertains to every aspect of an individual’s relationship with the Firm, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, training and development, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.

#LI-Onsite Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is one of the world’s leading international law firms. The Firm was established in 1884 and has approximately 2,000 lawyers. Headquartered in New York with offices in Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Dallas, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Palo Alto, San Francisco, São Paulo, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., the Firm provides coordinated legal advice and transactional capability to clients around the globe.