Department Operations Manager

Polsinelli•Kansas City, MO

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Polsinelli is seeking an engaging professional to join their team as a Manager for Legal Department Operations in their Kansas City office. This role is responsible for overseeing the daily business and operational functions that support the delivery of legal services across several legal departments and industries. The Manager will ensure the department operates efficiently, strategically, and in alignment with organizational objectives. This position serves as an interface between legal departments, focusing on specific industries, and administrative support functions such as finance, accounting, and HR. The role requires an analytical and detail-oriented individual who can balance competing priorities and facilitate diverse groups towards results.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
5+ years of relevant experience in business, financial or operational analysis, consulting, or similar.
Strong desire for a career as a non-lawyer in the legal industry.
Developing understanding of general business and financial concepts and terminology.
Must be able to change directions quickly, transitioning between multiple “hats” throughout the day as workflow needs change.
Ability to take ownership for delivering customized projects with a degree of autonomy; adept at leading or supporting several projects simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; dedication to accuracy, precision, and diligence in all deliverables.
Proficiency using Microsoft Office suite and internal document management systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in the business of law a plus.
Interest and desire to learn skills necessary for supporting high-performing client service teams and other teams and groups within the firm.
Proficiency using legal research tools and software (e.g., iManage) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Department and Industry leadership to design, implement, and oversee procedures and workflows that enhance structure, efficiency, and overall operational management within the department.
Work with the relevant department chair and practice leadership to support the strategic planning process.
Develop a cadence for monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting including progress against strategic plan and financial performance for the department to firm leadership.
Participate, understand, and implement the identified short-term and long-term operational and practice management initiatives of the legal department.
Support the department in the offboarding, onboarding, and integration process.
Maintain accurate operational metrics, dashboards, and reports to support strategic decision-making.
Support overall organizational hygiene, i.e. plan, recommend agendas, track action items and minutes for various department meetings and retreats.
Serve as a liaison between the legal department and other professional staff departments within the firm (e.g. professional development, training, and HR) to ensure collaboration and to ensure broader support throughout the department, the legal operations team, and professional staff.
Collaborate and work well as part of a geographically dispersed multidisciplinary team.
Establish and review project management cadence to provide updates, collaborating with relevant groups to report out findings.