Director of Practice Group Management

Eversheds Sutherland • Chicago, IL

38d • $175,000 - $250,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director of Practice Group Management to support our Litigation and Energy practice groups at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP. We are searching for someone who wants to be a valued contributor and member of a talented and dynamic team of lawyers, paralegals and business professionals. The Director of Practice Management will be responsible for the effective oversight and management of the strategy, people, finance, and operations of their assigned practice groups (PGs). This person will do so by serving as a trusted advisor to their assigned practice group leaders (PGLs) and providing strategic analysis/consulting on a range of business topics. Success in this role will be measured by the director's ability to ensure that their PGs operate efficiently with clear visibility of financial performance and that their PGLs are proactively provided with all necessary resources required for success. The director will deliver these results by leveraging all business services (BusSvc) resources, coordinating with the requisite department leaders within the firm.

Requirements

• Thorough understanding of firm resources; techniques for compiling, analyzing, and presenting operational information, practice efficiency metrics, financial forecasts and profitability models while also understanding how to most effectively coordinate with all internal firm departments.
• Strong administrative, management, and leadership capabilities, including the ability to work under limited general direction while providing operational, strategic, and tactical guidance to PGLs.
• Ability to rapidly analyze issues, anticipate consequences, make decisions, and take action.
• Provide visionary and strategic operational leadership coupled with technical and professional knowledge.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise in all basic business functions of a law firm, including operations, process improvement, and analysis.
• Ability to anticipate issues, identify alternatives, recommend and implement effective courses of action.
• Ability to communicate complex information and ideas successfully and effectively to all levels of personnel, frequently without prior preparation.
• Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or changed at any time, formally or informally, orally or in writing, at the discretion of PGL/firm leadership.
• Bachelor's degree in a business-related field from an accredited college or university is required.
• At least 8-10 years of practice group management experience with a track record of increasing responsibilities is required - preferably with a large, multi-office law firm operating a practice group structure.
• Excellent interpersonal communication, written and verbal communication skills with critical thinking are required.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills in a timely manner. Ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders is required.
• Good customer service interaction is required.
• Must be able to shift perspectives to see both the Technology Department's and the end users' goals and experiences.
• Good judgment and ability to interact effectively with attorneys and firm personnel at all levels with a high degree of professionalism is required.
• Must have the ability to prioritize and handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Must have the ability to lead, by example, and work with staff and Firm management in a service-oriented, team environment.
• Coachable, dependable, continuous learner that is excited about innovation in the legal industry. Proactive, self-directed, and comfortable juggling multiple client relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks under deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• The ideal candidate will have advanced data analysis / financial forecasting skills, proven operational analysis acumen, solid project / program management experience, excellent communication skills, and a strong client-service focus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Trusted Advisor
• Serve as trusted business advisor to PGL in support of PG strategy, people, finances, and operations.
• Serve as PGL proxy for practice initiatives, monthly meetings, communications, expense/write down approvals.
• Support the development/execution of the PG strategic plan, monitor/report progress monthly, and ensure that ongoing PG initiatives are in line with the strategic goals.
• Facilitate requests/deliverables between the PGs and all BusSvc departments to ensure operational excellence.
• Engage individual partners at PGL direction to deliver various data requests and to consult on firm priorities.
• Finance
• Provide clear visibility of financial PG performance by monitoring historical performance, analyzing trends, reporting results YTD, forecasting to EOY and making recommendations for improvement.
• Drive profitability growth by providing partners with an understanding of the most important financial levers.
• Resolve financial PG issues with support from the appropriate BusSvc leadership (Acctg, Fin, Bill, Coll, etc.)
• Prepare financial content for monthly meetings using data from Finance and internal financial systems.
• Identify those timekeepers and clients that are driving current trends and determine how to address/leverage.
• Manage PG Mktg/BusDev expenses from budget creation to monthly expense approvals and reporting.
• Provide ad hoc PG data analysis and recommendations as requested.
• Operations
• Act on behalf of the PGLs to ensure PG operations run smoothly keeping PGL involvement to a minimum.
• Research, identify, develop, and manage opportunities to improve PG operations and source solutions to improve efficiency by collaborating with internal BusSvc departments or engaging external business partners.
• Manage monthly meetings by scheduling time, creating agendas/PPTs, arranging guest speakers and ensuring status is reported (firm initiatives, financials, recruiting status, BusSvc updates, tech offerings, etc.)
• Provide ad hoc data analysis that facilitates decision-making for PGLs.
• Analyze productivity data and coordinate weekly workload reporting/assignments to ensure full PG utilization.
• Actively investigate alternative legal practice technologies and processes that provide new PG efficiencies.
• Ensure the PG is able to deliver industry leading project management solutions to its clients.
• Encourage collaboration with other PGs and client initiatives/programs within the firm.
• People
• Provide support continuity and best practices training for new hires and new PGLs.
• Facilitate status of new laterals between Recruiting and PGL keeping PGL involvement to a minimum.
• Ensure focus is maintained on the PG promotion pipeline and current candidates.
• Facilitate people issues with PGL and appropriate BusSvc leadership (ProfDev, HR, Mktg, etc.)
• Investigate new talent models that are most appropriate for the PG that can improve overall leverage and profitability.
• Provide orientation to all new laterals on issues related to PG (meetings, reports, resources, etc.)
• Support and facilitate ongoing training and professional development of all PG lawyers.
• Maintain MS Teams site so that the PG has access to all historical monthly meeting materials.
• Encourage and support ongoing investments in PG culture, team building and esprit de corps.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits such as healthcare, paid time off, discretionary merit bonuses, life and disability insurance, retirement plans and tailored learning opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees