Director of Risk and Operations

Miller Johnson; Michigan; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Disability insurance

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

A law firm based in Michigan is looking for a Director of Risk and Operations who will strategically lead and improve risk-related functions. This role focuses on conflicts management, records governance, and operational support services, requiring extensive experience in legal operations and risk management. The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills and a proven ability to influence in a professional services environment. The position offers competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package including flexible scheduling and tuition reimbursement.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in legal operations, risk management, compliance, or related leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of conflicts, matter governance, and operational risk.
• Proven experience leading teams and developing staff.
• Strong understanding of conflicts, matter governance, professional responsibility rules, and operational risk.
• Demonstrated ability to drive improvement and advance process maturity within scope.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence in a professional services environment.
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and judgment.

Responsibilities

• Own and administer the firm's conflicts process and matter governance.
• Lead records governance and oversee docketing guidance.
• Manage the firm's insurance portfolio and coordinate renewals.
• Partner with General Counsel on policy interpretation, escalations, and risk determinations related to conflicts and matter governance.
• Lead records governance and retention standards to meet ethical and regulatory expectations.
• Oversee docketing guidance to ensure consistent application across offices and practice groups.
• Standardize documentation protocols and ensure appropriate access, storage, and confidentiality.
• Manage refinement of data privacy and record-handling practices.
• Manage the firm’s insurance portfolio and coordinate renewals and coverage analysis.
• Monitor risk indicators and elevate issues in coordination with the COO and GC.
• Contribute expertise on professional liability, cyber, employment practices, and related coverages.
• Support compliance initiatives and ensure risk-related processes are consistently upheld.
• Lead, develop, and coach support service teams across our offices (mail/scan/copy, reception, hospitality).
• Support staffing, scheduling, training, and succession planning for support service roles.
• Provide oversight and coordination for facility-related activities such as office maintenance, space organization, vendor coordination, and office moves.
• Support execution of office buildouts and facilities projects under direction of the COO.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend targeted solutions.
• Implement approved improvements to workflows, policies, and daily practices.
• Document SOPs and operational standards to strengthen consistency and reduce knowledge silos.
• Introduce tools or automation where appropriate to improve speed, accuracy, or visibility

Skills

Leadership

Risk management

Process improvement

Communication

Docketing oversight

Insurance administration

Operational risk

Process improvement

Staff leadership

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Intapp

NetDocs

NetDocs

CompuLaw

Job description

Join to apply for the Director of Risk and Operations role at Miller Johnson.

Miller Johnson is seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Director of Risk and Operations to lead and continuously improve the firm’s risk-related and operational support functions. Reporting to the COO, this role provides leadership and subject‑matter expertise in areas including conflicts, intake, engagement documentation, records governance, docketing oversight, insurance administration, and operational support services. The Director will work closely with the firm’s General Counsel, CFO, and fellow directors to strengthen operational performance, mitigate risk, and enhance firmwide consistency and reliability.

Key Responsibilities

Conflicts, Intake, and Matter Governance

• Own and administer the firm’s conflicts process, ensuring accuracy and timely clearance
• Oversee matter intake procedures and engagement workflows
• Maintain and enforce standards for engagement letters, closing letters, and related correspondence
• Partner with General Counsel on policy interpretation, escalations, and risk determinations related to conflicts and matter governance

Records Management and Docketing

• Lead records governance and retention standards to meet ethical and regulatory expectations
• Oversee docketing guidance to ensure consistent application across offices and practice groups
• Standardize documentation protocols and ensure appropriate access, storage, and confidentiality
• Manage refinement of data privacy and record‑handling practices

Insurance and Risk Administration

• Manage the firm’s insurance portfolio and coordinate renewals and coverage analysis
• Monitor risk indicators and elevate issues in coordination with the COO and GC
• Contribute expertise on professional liability, cyber, employment practices, and related coverages
• Support compliance initiatives and ensure risk‑related processes are consistently upheld
• Lead, develop, and coach support service teams across our offices (mail/scan/copy, reception, hospitality)
• Support staffing, scheduling, training, and succession planning for support service roles
• Provide oversight and coordination for facility‑related activities such as office maintenance, space organization, vendor coordination, and office moves
• Support execution of office buildouts and facilities projects under direction of the COO

Process Improvement and Implementation

• Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend targeted solutions
• Implement approved improvements to workflows, policies, and daily practices
• Document SOPs and operational standards to strengthen consistency and reduce knowledge silos
• Introduce tools or automation where appropriate to improve speed, accuracy, or visibility

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 7+ years of experience in legal operations, risk management, compliance, or related leadership roles
• Proven experience leading teams and developing staff
• Strong understanding of conflicts, matter governance, professional responsibility rules, and operational risk
• Demonstrated ability to drive improvement and advance process maturity within scope
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills with the ability to influence in a professional services environment
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and judgment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with systems such as Intapp, LMS, NetDocs, CompuLaw, or other legal operational technologies
• Familiarity with data privacy frameworks and records retention standards
• Demonstrated success in operationalizing policies across multiple offices or departments
• Relevant certifications such as CRM, IGP, CIPP/US, PMP, or similar

At Miller Johnson, our culture is anchored in our Core Values and how we work together:

Who We Are

• Integrity and Candor – We speak the truth
• Down to Earth – We stay humble and real
• Grit – We push through and get it done
• Committed to Excellence – We raise the bar
• Committed to Impact – We lift others up

How We Work

• Entrepreneurial Mindset – We think like owners
• Down to Business – We move fast and stay practical
• Rooted and Invested – We build lasting trust

We are committed to fostering an exceptional work experience that includes a healthy work‑life balance and an inclusive culture that values uniquely talented team members. We offer competitive wages, flexible scheduling, paid time off, and annual performance reviews. Our benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑ and long‑term disability insurance, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance, and a 401(k)-retirement plan.

Seniority Level

• Director

Employment Type

• Full‑time

Job Function

• Legal and Marketing

Industries

• Law Practice