Practice Strategy & Operations Director

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 215,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is seeking a Director of Practice Management to drive cross‑functional leadership across Practice and Industry groups, turning priorities into actionable plans and measurable results.

Reporting to the Senior Director, the role blends business consulting, operations leadership, and collaboration with Finance, Marketing, Talent, Knowledge Management, and Technology to improve profitability and client outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in business administration, practice management, or business operations within a professional services environment (e.g. legal, consulting, financial).
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects in a collaborative manner within a matrix organization.
• Exceptional strategic business planning skills, with the ability to develop long‑range initiatives that align organizational goals with market opportunities and operational capabilities.
• Strong project management and prioritization skills.
• Strong financial acumen and budgeting skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional executive presence and presentation skills.
• Sound independent judgment, tact, and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to build trust and lead through influence.
• Adaptability, initiative, and a positive, can‑do attitude in a fast‑paced evolving environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools, and business intelligence tools.
• Proficiency in Salesforce or other CRM, with tableau reporting a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact and strategic partner to industry and practice group leadership on all strategic and operational matters.
• Lead the development of practice/industry group business plans aligned to the firm strategic plan in coordination with business professional teams.
• Lead project management of Practice/Industry key initiatives.
• Organize and execute periodic Practice/Industry group meetings and ensure follow-up of next steps.
• Foster engagement and a positive, collaborative culture.
• Partner with Finance in development of revenue budgets and forecasts.
• Partner with Business Professional teams in development, prioritization and management of Practice/Industry expense budgets.
• Partner with Finance/Practice Analytics team in development of strategies to improve performance metrics and profitability.
• Support Pricing team in the development and approval of alternative fee arrangements.
• Partner with Marketing and Business Development to align resources and go-to-market strategies.
• Provide input to Client Development and Marketing initiatives (CRM, Website, Brand).
• Support client satisfaction programs and pipeline management.
• Collaborate with Talent Engagement to monitor utilization metrics and training needs.
• Lead lateral hire integration and support Talent Performance and Advancement processes.
• Provide input on training needs to Talent Learning and Development.
• Collaborate with General Counsel and Risk Management on new client/matter intake and approval processes.
• Partner with Technology and Knowledge Management on key initiatives, including AI and use cases.
• Deliver data‑driven performance reporting to address gaps and drive improvements.
• Drive process improvements and sharing of best practices across teams.
• Maintain documentation of processes, policies, and operational needs.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Strategic planning

Communication

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA

Tools

Salesforce

CRM

Tableau

Microsoft Office

Business Intelligence tools

Job description

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is seeking a Director of Practice Management to drive cross‑functional leadership across Practice and Industry groups, turning priorities into actionable plans and measurable results.

Reporting to the Senior Director, the role blends business consulting, operations leadership, and collaboration with Finance, Marketing, Talent, Knowledge Management, and Technology to improve profitability and client outcomes.