Director of Regional Administration

You’re looking for a change, and so are we. At Venable, we know that every new hire brings valuable experience, new perspectives, and a chance to raise the bar on our approach to how we work. That’s why we’re looking for a Director of Regional Administration to partner with the firm’s Chief Administrative Officer and Chicago and Denver lawyer leadership to direct the day-to-day operations of the offices, ensuring the needs of legal and business professional staff and firm clients are met. This includes operational and strategic planning, workflow management, staff supervision, budget development and maintenance, facilities, and oversight of operational support functions for each office.

This is a hybrid role, based in Chicago with monthly travel to our Denver office.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for…

• Providing leadership in promoting and maintaining firm culture, commitment to internal and external client service, collaboration, teamwork, and accountability
• Developing, implementing, and leading strategic and operational planning including: establishing operations goals and objectives to improve efficiency, client services, staffing, and support services; delivering cost-effective management results within the office in support of firm objectives
• Developing lawyer relationships and understanding of office client base and associated matters
• Designing and implementing a support structure that most effectively supports the needs of the legal staff and firm clients in alignment with firm culture and standards of excellence
• Following a structured approach to leading change management activities; creating actionable deliverables, communication plans, training plans, and driving stakeholder engagement
• Designing and implementing a support structure that most effectively supports the needs of the legal staff and firm clients in alignment with firm culture and standards of excellence
• Managing all aspects of employment life cycle for assigned staff; directly managing Legal Administrative Assistant (LAA) Department staff; assessing efficient office LAA assignments and coordinating with attorneys and legal staff as adjustments are needed; setting clear and measurable performance standards and providing regular performance feedback against the expectations; handling employee counseling, rewards and recognition, and development
• Working in concert with Human Resources Business Partner to ensure conformity and consistency in the following areas: hiring, onboarding, and training, employee performance management and reviews, and resolving employee relations concerns; ensuring compliance with firm practices, policies, and procedures
• Partnering with peers and senior management to develop and implement firm-wide standardization in office operational management and lawyer support
• Managing landlord/tenant relationships; as needed, assisting with lease negotiations, build-out and remodel projects

The successful candidate will demonstrate…

• A minimum of ten years office management experience in a legal or similar professional services environment; a bachelor’s degree in business or related field, or equivalent work experience
• A minimum of five years of leadership experience, including managing and directing teams, overseeing performance, conducting reviews, developing, and implementing training, and supervising day-to-day operations; experience measuring and managing performance at both individual and team levels, with increasing scope and responsibility
• Thorough knowledge of office operations and administration, facilities and office services management, finance and accounting, and secretarial support services
• Ability to work collaboratively to grow the Chicago and Denver offices, including staff planning/development, space allocation/relocation and build outs, and resource assessment/alignment
• Ability to be adept at cultivating strong relationships, serving as a trusted advisor within the organization, and fostering a positive, engaging environment
• Strong strategic planning and goal-setting abilities, with the agility to adapt to evolving business priorities and drive impactful organizational change
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, effectively engaging individuals at all levels of the organization and conveying complex issues clearly, concisely, and persuasively
• Strong emotional intelligence by recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions, staying self-motivated, and empathetica