Sr. Office Administrator, Boston

Goodwin Procter Boston; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement plan

Backup caregiving

Paid time off

Professional development

Recognition programs

Wellness programs

Employee discounts

Job summary

The Senior Manager, Office Administration at Goodwin’s Boston office leads the delivery of an exceptional workplace experience for colleagues, clients, and visitors. You’ll coordinate administrative support, reception, hospitality, facilities, and security while aligning with firm standards and strategic objectives.

This role oversees budgets, forecasting, staffing, vendor performance, and cross‑functional projects, acting as a trusted advisor to office leadership to drive service excellence and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in office operations, administration, or related field.
• Experience leading teams and managing people in a complex organisational environment.
• Demonstrated success leading operational initiatives and cross-functional projects.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including budget management.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels without direct authority.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Experience using data and metrics to drive operational improvement.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary operational leader for the Boston office and coordinate multiple support functions.
• Monitor service delivery, workplace standards, and address issues proactively.
• Manage office operating budgets, planning, forecasting, and staffing.
• Lead the local implementation of firm-wide initiatives and manage projects.
• Oversee administrative staff, hiring, coaching, and performance management.
• Collaborate with HR, Facilities, Real Estate, Technology, Security, and Finance.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Budget management

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Relationship building

Influence without authority

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross‑functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do. Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting‑edge solutions in high‑stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world‑class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer. This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward‑thinking peers.

The Senior Manager, Office Administration serves as the senior operational leader for Goodwin's Boston office and is responsible for ensuring the delivery of an exceptional workplace experience for colleagues, clients, and visitors. Acting as the local owner of the office environment, the Senior Manager coordinates the efforts of multiple internal teams, outsourced service providers, and firmwide functions to ensure the office operates efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with firm standards and strategic objectives. This role combines operational leadership, people leadership, business management, project execution, change management, and continuous improvement. The Senior Manager serves as a trusted advisor to office leadership and is accountable for identifying challenges, developing solutions, and driving execution to support the evolving needs of the business.

The ideal candidate is an experienced operational leader who brings strong business judgment, a customer‑service mindset, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to lead through influence in a complex, matrixed organization.

What You Will Do:

Operational Leadership & Office Experience

Serve as the primary operational leader for the Boston office and maintain accountability for the overall workplace experience. Ensure the effective coordination of office operations across administrative support, reception, hospitality, conference services, facilities, physical security, technology, records, mail, and other support functions. Partner with local office leadership and firm management to identify operational priorities and implement solutions that support business needs. Monitor service delivery and workplace standards, proactively identifying and addressing issues before they affect colleagues, clients, or visitors. Act as the primary point of escalation for significant operational matters affecting the office. Enable and foster a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement throughout the office.

Business Operations & Financial Management

Manage office operating budgets and monitor expenses to ensure efficient utilisation of resources. Participate in planning, forecasting, and financial management activities related to office operations. Develop business cases and recommendations for staffing, services, workplace investments, and operational improvements. Monitor vendor performance, service levels, and operational effectiveness. Partner with firm management and business functions to ensure alignment between local needs and firmwide objectives.

Strategic Initiatives & Change Leadership

Lead the local implementation of firmwide operational, workplace, and service delivery initiatives. Manage complex projects from planning through execution, including office improvements, technology deployments, workplace enhancements, and organisational changes. Drive adoption of new technologies, processes, and service models. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and strengthen the employee experience. Use data and operational metrics to evaluate performance and recommend improvements.

Administrative Support Leadership

Provide leadership and oversight for administrative support resources within the Boston office. Ensure high‑quality delivery of administrative support services to all colleagues. Partner with firm management to assess staffing needs, service requirements, and resource allocation. Lead hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, employee development, and succession planning activities for assigned colleagues. Foster employee engagement, collaboration, accountability, and professional growth. Partner with the Office Chair and Real Estate & Facilities team to develop and execute office space strategies, including office moves, workspace assignments, restacking initiatives, capacity planning, and workplace optimisation projects. Coordinate move planning, communication, and execution to support evolving business needs and ensure efficient use of office space.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate closely with Human Resources, Facilities, Real Estate, Technology, Security, Finance, Events, Procurement, and other business functions. Coordinate the successful execution of local initiatives requiring support from multiple stakeholders. Build strong relationships across the firm and serve as a trusted operational advisor for Boston-based leaders. Ensure alignment between local office priorities and firmwide operational strategies.

Community & Culture Support

Support programs and initiatives that strengthen employee engagement and office culture. Partner with office leadership and the firm’s Culture & Impact function on community involvement, employee events, and workplace experience initiatives. Serve as an ambassador for the firm's values and commitment to client service excellence articulated in The Goodwin Way.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in office operations, business operations, administration, workplace management, hospitality, professional services, or a related field.
• Experience leading teams and managing people in a complex organisational environment.
• Demonstrated success leading operational initiatives, change management efforts, and cross‑functional projects.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including budget management and resource planning.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization without direct authority.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities.
• Experience using data and metrics to drive operational improvement.

Benefits and More

At Goodwin, you will discover your next career opportunity with a rewarding compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement & Savings Plan
• Emergency back‑up child and adult care
• Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Employee recognition and reward programs
• Employee wellness and assistance programs
• Employee discounts and perks

This position is eligible for overtime: No

The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience:

$140,000.00 - $182,000.00

Professional career paths at Goodwin offer you more – and less – than you might expect. You’ll find less hierarchy and more meritocracy. You’ll have more chances to work across departments and offices, and fewer roadblocks to getting the job done. We believe people are happiest when they’re not limited by a ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ approach, so we encourage a more imaginative and collaborative working environment. Our Global Operations Team – what we call our GO Team – brings a level of professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment to work each and every day. Goodwin embraces responsible and ethical use of AI in the Hiring Process.