Director of Administration

Arnold & Porter Llp; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 192,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Arnold & Porter Llp in San Francisco is seeking a Director of Administration to lead office operations across the Northern California offices. The role will work closely with the office partner head, supervise HR functions, and ensure policy compliance while driving efficiency and profitability.

The position supports SF and SV offices on a hybrid schedule. The candidate will promote culture, manage capital projects, facilities, and budgets, and collaborate with firmwide HR and Talent teams to

Qualifications

• Requires a four-year degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum five years of supervisory/management experience in a similar environment.

Responsibilities

• Promote firm culture and foster a cohesive office environment.
• Design and run engagement programs and staff events.
• Lead liaison between office leadership and firmwide management; ensure policy adherence.
• Oversee administration, operations, facilities, HR, and finance functions.
• Manage budgets, billing support, and vendor contracts; monitor expenditures.
• Implement AI tools to improve efficiency and processes.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Communication

HR policies & compliance

Office operations

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Problem-solving

Change management

Education

Four-year college degree or equivalent

Tools

Windows & Microsoft 365

Database systems/management

AI tools (ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, Claude, Harvey)

Job description

Arnold & Porter has an opening for a Director of Administration in our Northern California offices (San Francisco and Silicon Valley) to work closely with the partner head of the offices to ensure smooth operations and office oversight. This role will reside in our San Francisco office working a hybrid schedule.
The Director of Administration is responsible for the administrative and operational aspects of the offices, as well as the overall supervision of the human resource functions for legal and support personnel. The Director acts as liaison between local leadership and firmwide management to ensure consistent application and enforcement of firm policies and procedures along with local statutory regulations. This highly visible leadership position develops and implements systems and strategies for improving administrative productivity and firm profitability, builds consensus by promoting positive employee communication and interaction, and fosters a positive, non-discriminatory and harassment-free work environment.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Administration

• Promoting firm culture and creating and fostering a cohesive office environment.
• Designing and implementing engagement programs (i.e., Staff Appreciation Week, Well-Being Week in Law, “Garden Room” gatherings, weekly office lunches, partner meetings, annual holiday parties, etc.)
• Promoting and encouraging collegiality and effective communication and interactions.
• Serving as an energized leader and effective liaison between office leadership, firmwide management, and employees.
• Identifying and resolving local areas of administrative concern.
• Tracking and addressing local personnel attendance in accordance with the firm’s standard practices.
• Incorporating innovation and AI tools into standard procedures to create efficiencies.

Operations and Facilities

• Coordinating and implementing space allocation, office moves, construction projects, and refurbs as necessary.
• Managing facility leases and vendor/service contracts in accordance with the firm’s standard practices.
• Coordinating with building management to ensure facility maintenance and safety.
• Maintaining safety, first aid, business continuity, and disaster prevention programs in compliance with firm policies and procedures and current local, state and federal requirements.
• Overseeing inventory, procurement, and maintenance of furniture, equipment, and office supplies.
• Establishing and promoting participation in sustainability and recycling programs.

Human Resources and Talent Development

• Overseeing local professional staff and outsourced entities as necessary.
• Liaising with the Talent team and Human Resources team on local legal and professional support staff recruiting, including the summer program.
• Coordinating legal and professional staff development; including training and counseling as well as onboarding, orientation, transfers, and departure logistics.
• Working closely with firmwide the Human Resources and Talent Departments to collaborate and resolve SF and SV personnel issues as they arise.
• Administering employee incentives, evaluations, compensation, and benefits programs in compliance with the firm’s standard practices.
• Ensuring compliance with the firm’s human resources policies and procedures and current local, state, and federal statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Serving as an effective liaison between management and employees.

Finance & Accounting

• Preparing the annual and revised office budget and monitoring office expenditures and entering monthly budget variances.
• Assisting local partners with billing and collections, in coordination with the billing team.
  

Qualifications:

• Four-year college degree or equivalent work experience required.
• A minimum of five years of supervisory/management experience in a comparable environment.
• Experience creating budget and negotiating contracts including leases, service contracts, outsourcing agreements, etc. Space planning and utilization management experience desirable.
• Proficiency in Windows operating systems and Microsoft 365 Office Suite and/or related software including database systems/management.
• Proficiency in various AI tools, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, Claude, Harvey.
• Ability to effectively work with all professional staff and attorneys in demanding, high stress situations.
• Familiarity with fundamental human resources policies and procedures, as well as current local, state, and federal statutory employment law requirements.
• Proficiency with legal terminology and standard legal procedures.
• Excellent administrative skills and strong database and Internet research skills.
• Ability to multitask and have a sense of urgency with the workload.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to make sound decisions and demonstrate a high degree of trustworthiness in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to strategically maintain financial/budgetary information.
• Effective leadership experience.
• Ability to be a change agent and drive new firm initiatives.
• Ability to demonstrate strategic focus.
• Possess exceptional judgement and professionalism.
• Ability to define goals and follow through to achieve results.
• Strong problem-solving skills and an ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Excellent organization and communications skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while exhibiting a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously.
• Exceptional client service both internal and external.
• Flexibility to work additional hours, as necessary.
  

The anticipated base salary for this position is $192,000 to $250,000. The actual base 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.
For benefits information, please click here https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/careers/professional-staff/benefits .
The firm may provide a discretionary bonus annually.

Arnold & Porter is an equal opportunityemployer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy and childbirth (including breastfeeding and related medical conditions), age, marital or partnership status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family leave status, citizenship status, immigration status, ancestry, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations. Our Firm's equal opportunity policy applies to all employment practices and terms and conditions, including, without limitation, recruitment, employment, assignment, training, compensation, benefits, promotions, disciplinary action and terminations. For purposes of the firm's Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment Policies, the term “race” includes, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks, and twists.

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP endeavors to make www.arnoldporter.com accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Director of Support Staff Stephanie Denmark at +1 202.942.6068. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For our EEO Policy Statement, please click here . If you would like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click Know Your Rights .

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP uses E-Verify, which is a web-based system, to confirm the eligibility of our employees to work in the United States. As an E-Verify employer, we verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees by electronically matching information provided by employees on the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, against records available to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We use E-Verify because we are a federal contractor containing the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) E-Verify clause. Please see the posters for details regarding E-Verify or contact Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP’s Human Resources Department for more information. E-Verify Participation Poster and Right-to-work Poster .