Director of Operations

Rinke Noonan Attorneys at Law; Saint Cloud (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Employer-funded Health Savings Account

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Profit Sharing Plan

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday pay

Professional development opportunities

Discretionary bonuses

Job summary

Rinke Noonan Attorneys at Law seeks an experienced Director of Operations to guide the firm’s next growth chapter, partnering with leadership to align priorities, systems, and people for sustainable success. This senior, cross-functional role oversees operations, finance, technology, and governance, shaping strategy, improving processes, and building strong teams across the firm.

The ideal candidate arrives with proven leadership in professional services, a drive for continuous improvement, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Management, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, administration, HR, or business management.
• Meaningful people-management experience with delegation, performance management, and accountability.
• Experience leading cross-functional operational work and translating leadership direction into execution.
• Financial fluency to understand performance, budgeting, and linking decisions to impact.
• Strong judgment in handling competing priorities and confidential matters.
• Ability to influence senior professionals and build credibility.
• Excellent communication and discretion in sensitive matters.
• Systems-oriented approach to improving processes and ownership.
• Experience developing capable teams and establishing accountability.

Responsibilities

• Translate firm direction into clear priorities, ownership, timelines, and coordinated action.
• Ensure structures, systems, processes, and resources support the firm and oversight of finance, technology, vendors, facilities, HRIS, and process improvement.
• Serve as thought partner to Managing Partner and leadership on operational implications and risks.
• Partner with Finance to understand performance, budgeting, and staffing decisions.
• Lead and develop administrative staff, clarify roles, and manage performance and accountability.

Skills

Leadership experience

Cross-functional influence

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Discretion & confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Related Field

Master’s degree in Business Administration or related discipline

SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP / PHR / SPHR (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Business management systems

Job description

Rinke Noonan is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to help lead the firm into its next chapter of growth and continued excellence.

For nearly 60 years, Rinke Noonan has built a strong reputation for sophisticated legal work, trusted client relationships, and a collaborative, team-oriented culture. As the firm continues to evolve, we are looking for a thoughtful and highly capable operational leader who can partner closely with firm leadership, strengthen the systems and people that support the practice, and help turn firm priorities into coordinated action.

This is a highly visible leadership role with broad responsibility across operations, finance, people, technology, and organizational infrastructure. The role is well suited for someone who enjoys bringing clarity to complexity, building trusted relationships, continual improvement, and helping strong professionals work together effectively.

The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, financial and operational acumen, strong people leadership, and the ability to influence across a professional-services environment where collaboration and shared decision-making are important. Rinke Noonan is looking for a leader who can understand the organization, ask good questions, build credibility, develop others, and create the structure and follow-through that allow the firm to operate effectively and sustainably.

The person joining Rinke Noonan will also benefit from a thoughtful transition with the current Director of Operations, creating an opportunity to learn the firm's history, relationships, systems, and operating rhythms while gradually establishing independent leadership.

Position Responsibilities

The Director of Operations is accountable for five primary areas:

• Integrated Execution: Translate firm direction and leadership decisions into clear priorities, ownership, timelines, and coordinated action across committees, practice areas, and administrative functions.
• Operational Leadership: Ensure the firm has effective structures, systems, processes, resources, and accountability, including appropriate oversight of finance, technology, vendors, facilities, HRIS, documentation, and process improvement.
• Strategic Partnership: Serve as a thought partner to the Managing Partner and firm leadership by identifying operational implications, risks, opportunities, and connections across the firm once strategic direction has been established.
• Financial Oversight: Partner with Finance and firm leadership to understand financial performance, support budgeting and planning, oversee key recurring processes, and connect staffing and operational decisions to financial impact.
• People Leadership: Lead and develop administrative staff and leaders, strengthen role clarity and delegation, partner on hiring and performance management, and address people and organizational issues with appropriate accountability including corrective action, discipline, and termination decisions.

The Director of Operations also participates in Rinke Noonan's governance structure in defined roles across standing committees, helping connect decisions to execution while respecting established decision rights and committee ownership.

Qualifications

We are particularly interested in experienced operational leaders who have worked across functions and can lead through influence as well as formal authority.

Candidates should have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Management, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, administration, human resources, or business management.
• Meaningful people-management experience, including responsibility for delegation, performance management, employee relations, corrective action, discipline, termination, employee development, and accountability;
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional operational work and translating leadership direction into coordinated execution;
• Financial fluency sufficient to understand business performance, participate in budgeting and planning, and connect operational decisions to financial impact;
• Sound judgment and discernment in complex situations involving competing priorities, stakeholders, risk, and shared decision authority;
• A demonstrated ability to build credibility and influence experienced professionals who may not report directly to them;
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to address difficult issues directly, receive feedback constructively, and maintain discretion and confidentiality;
• A systems-oriented approach to improving processes, clarifying ownership, reducing key-person dependency, and building sustainable operating practices;
• Experience developing capable teams and creating accountability without becoming the default problem-solver;
• Demonstrated judgment, discretion, and confidence in handling sensitive employee relations and human resources matters, including difficult performance, discipline, and termination situations;
• Comfort overseeing functions such as finance, technology, vendors, facilities, or governance without needing to be the technical expert in every area; and
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and business management systems.

Additional preferred qualifications include:

• A master’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Management, or a related discipline; and
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or a similar professional certification.

Leadership experience in professional services, a partnership, or another decentralized environment with multiple influential stakeholders is strongly preferred.

Law-firm experience can be valuable, but it is not required if the candidate brings strong professional-services leadership, operational judgment, financial fluency, and the ability to learn the firm's business and governance model quickly.

Leadership Approach and Values

Rinke Noonan values professionalism, development and growth, teamwork, service, and transparent communication. The Director of Operations should model these values in how they lead, communicate, make decisions, and work across the firm.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience

Pay Range: $110,000 - $130,000 a year

Compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, demonstrated leadership capability, and the level of responsibility appropriate for the person hired.

Rinke Noonan offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• 100% employer-paid health insurance for employee and family coverage;
• Employer-funded Health Savings Account (HSA);
• Employer-paid life insurance;
• Employer-paid long-term disability insurance;
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP);
• Profit Sharing Plan;
• 401(k) Retirement Plan;
• Paid Time Off (PTO);
• Paid holidays;
• Professional development opportunities; and
• Opportunities for discretionary bonuses.