Senior Director of Administration

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in Boston seeks a highly qualified Senior Director of Administration to lead the Firm’s real estate portfolio and firmwide administrative operations. This role reports to the CFO and oversees Directors of Administration across all offices, driving operational excellence and a One Manatt culture.

The Senior Director will provide strategic oversight of real estate, facilities, space planning, procurement and budgets, while coordinating complex multi-office initiatives

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in administration, real estate and/or facilities management within a professional services environment.
• Experience overseeing multi-location office operations and leading distributed teams.
• Deep knowledge of real estate strategy, leases, space planning and facilities operations.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and cost management.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to Directors of Administration across all office locations, ensuring consistency in operations and service delivery.
• Partner with CFO and leadership to develop and implement efficient administrative strategies and best practices.
• Foster a unified, high-performing administrative culture aligned with firm standards.
• Oversee national real estate portfolio, leases and occupancy strategy; manage facilities and capital projects.
• Lead procurement, vendor relationships, and budget management for real estate and administration.
• Drive firmwide projects related to office openings, relocations and redesigns.

Skills

Leadership

Real estate strategy

Facilities management

Budgeting

Vendor management

Project management

Change management

Cross-office coordination

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Department: Administration
Job Number: 100579
Offices: Washington, D.C.; Boston; Chicago; New York; Los Angeles
With eleven offices across the United States, 450+ attorney and consulting professionals and 350+ business and administrative professionals, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP is a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm known for quality and an extraordinary commitment to clients. The firm’s groundbreaking approach—bringing together legal services, advocacy and business strategy—differentiates Manatt from its competitors and positions the firm to provide a unique and compelling value proposition.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is seeking a highly qualified Senior Director of Administration. Reporting to the Firm’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and serving as a key member of the Firm’s Business Professional Leadership Team, this role is responsible for leading the Firm’s real estate portfolio and firmwide administrative operations.

The Senior Director of Administration will provide strategic oversight of all office locations, including real estate, facilities, space planning, and office administration, while directly managing and developing the Firm’s Directors of Administration across all offices, who supervise the Firm’s administrative professionals, including secretarial and administrative assistants. This leader will drive operational excellence, consistency, and alignment with the Firm’s overall strategy, ensuring a high-performing, service-oriented administrative function across the enterprise.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Administration Oversight

• Provide leadership, direction and support to Directors of Administration across all office locations, ensuring consistency in operations, service delivery, and alignment with Firm standards.
• Partner with the CFO and Firm leadership to develop and implement consistent, efficient and right-sized administrative strategies, policies and best practices.
• Foster a unified, high-performing administrative culture aligned with the Firm’s “One Manatt” approach.
• Evaluate and optimize administrative structures, workflows and service models to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Real Estate & Facilities Management

• In partnership with the Firm’s CFO and external brokers, oversee assist with oversight of the Firm’s national real estate portfolio, including lease negotiations, renewals, and long-term occupancy strategy.
• Lead Oversee all aspects of facilities management, including space planning, office utilization, renovations, maintenance, and capital projects.
• Partner with external brokers, landlords, architects and vendors to execute real estate transactions and office buildouts.
• Ensure all offices meet the Firm’s operational, security, and client-service standards.

Operations & Vendor Management

• Oversee procurement related to facilities and administrative operations, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with Firm needs.
• Manage key vendor and contractor relationships across all offices.
• Develop and monitor budgets related to real estate and administration, ensuring fiscal discipline and transparency.

Project & Change Management

• Lead and execute firmwide projects related to office openings, closures, relocations, and redesigns.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement solutions to enhance operational performance across offices.
• Manage complex, multi-office initiatives, ensuring timelines, budgets and deliverables are met.

Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as a primary liaison between Firm leadership, administrative teams and business professionals to ensure alignment and communication.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to the CFO and leadership on real estate strategy, administrative performance and key initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in administration, real estate and/or facilities management within a legal, consulting or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multi-location office operations and leading distributed, large teams.
• Deep Knowledge of real estate strategy, lease administration, space planning and facilities operations.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale initiatives, manage competing priorities and drive execution.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and cost management related to real estate and operations.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills, with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Proven ability to unite and lead diverse team members effectively, fostering a cohesive and productive environment.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Analytical skills including aptitude for detail, and logic with extensive office management and administration experience in order to fulfill expectations.
• High level of discretion, judgment and professionalism in handling confidential matters.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel to all Firm office locations.

The base annual pay range for this role is between $250,000-$300,000. The base pay to be offered will vary and depend on skills and qualifications, experience, location and will also take into account internal equity. A full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits dependent on the position will also be offered.

Manatt is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex or gender (including gender identity, gender expression, status as a transgender or transsexual individual, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (over 40), genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, sexual orientation, political activity or affiliation, genetic or and any other protected classes or characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the American Disabilities Act, applicants may request accommodations needed to participate in the application process.

This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment.

Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, this employer uses E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).