Director, Practice Group Strategy and Operations

Morgan Lewis•Boston, MA

23h•$174,600 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, one of the world’s leading global law firms with offices in strategic hubs of commerce, law, and government across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, is seeking to hire a Director of Practice Group Strategy & Operations to serve as a senior operating partner to Practice Group Leaders (PGLs) and Practice Groups, helping translate firm and Practice Group priorities into clear plans, operating routines, decisions, and sustained execution. Reporting to the Senior Director of Practice Group Strategy & Operations, the Director provides Practice Group leadership with integrated support, visibility, and follow-through. This position will reside in either our Boston or Philadelphia office with a hybrid in-office/remote working schedule.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university or, equivalent combination of education and experience.
Progressive experience translating strategy into execution, coordinating complex operations and annual processes, and partnering with senior business or practice leaders in a matrixed organization.
Demonstrated experience developing and managing strategic and operating plans, governance and review cadences, executive decision materials, performance measures, and complex cross-functional initiatives.
Experience in a large law firm or similarly complex global professional services organization is preferred, together with the ability to work effectively across offices, regions, time zones, and organizational boundaries and to travel periodically as required.
Working understanding of law firm or professional services operations and the ability to connect firm strategy, Practice Group priorities, practice economics, talent, client and market considerations, and operational execution.
Demonstrated ability to translate broad priorities into clear outcomes, plans, milestones, responsibilities, measures, decisions, resource requirements, and operating routines.
Strong leadership skills, including the ability to lead complex work and select and onboard talent, delegate, coach, and lead effectively.
Exceptional judgment, discretion, and institutional awareness when handling sensitive information.
Strong service orientation and demonstrated humility, accountability, curiosity, openness to feedback, and reliable follow-through in a high-expectation environment.
Ability to build trusted relationships, to create alignment among PGL’s, partners, professional staff, Practice Group Strategy & Operations colleagues, and functional leaders while respecting decision rights and functional ownership.
Ability to synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative information into concise, decision-oriented communications, balanced recommendations, and clear executive presentations.
Demonstrated ability to lead change, manage ambiguity and competing priorities, and sustain momentum across offices, regions, time zones, and organizational boundaries.
Strong organizational, project-management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to establish practical governance, anticipate dependencies and risks.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business and professional publications, prepare business correspondence, proposals and reports, effectively present information.
Maintaining an in-office presence is important to delivering services through an integrated and collaborative work culture. Firm policy requires this role to work in the office three days per week, as scheduled by the manager, unless client demands, or another approved accommodation is in place.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
Advanced proficiency with enterprise-approved AI and automation tools used by the firm, together with the judgment to apply them responsibly to analysis, planning, knowledge and workflow improvement.

Responsibilities

Partner with Practice Group leadership to translate firm and Practice Group priorities into practical strategic and operating plans, with clear outcomes, priorities, ownership, measures, resource requirements, and accountability.
Maintain an executive-level view of progress and adjust plans as priorities and circumstances evolve.
Maintain a coordinated view of the Practice Group's priorities, initiatives, recurring processes, commitments, risks, and deadlines.
Establish an effective operating cadence and coordinate participation in firmwide processes, providing leadership with clear visibility into progress, issues, and required decisions.
Support effective Practice Group governance by structuring leadership meetings and decision processes, preparing concise executive materials, coordinating required information and participants, documenting decisions, and ensuring appropriate follow-through and escalation.
Serve as the primary integrator between Practice Group leadership and firm functions, coordinating resources, information, decisions, and implementation across areas such as Finance, Talent, Business Development, Technology, AI, Knowledge Management, and Research.
Identify barriers and risks to drive improvements and adoption of significant initiatives.
Apply and improve common Practice Group Strategy & Operations standards and practices.
Share lessons and reusable approaches across practices and, where assigned, lead and develop Practice Group Strategy & Operations personnel and support effective resource deployment and continuity.
Lead by example; establish clear expectations; set direction, priorities; delegate to ensure work levels are balanced and at an appropriate level; and resolve internal staff issues.
Facilitate the development of staff by providing opportunities and support with timely feedback; regularly coach, evaluate, and recognize staff performance and accomplishments.
Establish department budget; seek to improve department efficiency and reduce expenses by streamlining operations.