Managing Director

DLA Piper•Short Hills, NJ

1d•$203,438 - $275,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Managing Director supports the firm’s strategic initiatives and helps improve key client relationships through internal and external coordination. The role interacts directly with clients to support consistent team performance and address billing or collections issues. It also manages group administration, including conflicts, billing, collections, hiring, training, and knowledge content, and supports one senior-level Partner in managing their book of business. The position oversees client service, matter and financial management, operational leadership, process improvement, technology, and strategic planning. The Managing Director coordinates with firm business teams and multidisciplinary colleagues, monitors portfolio financial performance, supports client reporting and fee arrangements, and reports on strategic plan execution. The role is based in one of the listed offices and offers a hybrid work schedule, with the specific arrangement determined with the hiring manager or supervisor and subject to change.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, Finance, Business Administration, or a similar field.
At least 10 years of legal or law firm experience within practice management.
Superior communication skills and demonstrated ability to present complex information to senior leadership.
Ability to be innovative, creative, and proactive while working with a broad range of professionals.
Demonstrated leadership skills, including problem solving, planning, negotiating, and decision-making.
Ability to serve as a strategic advisor.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and interact with tact and resourcefulness.
Proven dedication to helping the firm deliver exceptional client service internally and externally.
Willingness to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor (JD).

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with client outside counsel guidelines and reporting requirements.
Support client-facing administrative needs, including status reports, budgets, and performance metrics.
Partner with pricing and legal project management teams to develop and maintain alternative fee arrangements and matter plans.
Oversee pitch and proposal activity, matter opening, budgeting, and compliance with client guidelines.
Monitor work-in-progress, billing, collections, and profitability metrics for the partner’s portfolio.
Coordinate with billing teams to ensure timely and accurate invoicing aligned with client requirements.
Work with collections on tracking payments and allocations.
Track and report on key financial KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.
Serve as the primary liaison between the partner and internal business teams, including finance, billing, administrative support, and marketing.
Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary team to deliver client service and operational excellence, including International where involved.
Implement best practices for matter management, workflow optimization, and resource allocation.
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burden.
Use firm technology platforms for matter tracking, reporting, and collaboration.
Train and mentor team members on best practices and tools.
Participate in the strategic planning process and ensure the strategic plan outlines actions to achieve firm performance goals.
Monitor strategic plan execution and regularly report progress to the Practice Group Leader and Firm Leadership.
Adjust the strategic plan to reflect changing market dynamics, the economic climate, and business trends.
Interact directly with clients to support consistent team performance and discuss billing or collections issues.
Manage group administration, including conflicts, billing, collections, hiring, training, and knowledge content.
Support one senior-level Partner in managing their book of business.
Travel as needed.
Effectively communicate with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties; deliver timely, accurate work; meet deadlines; foster positive work relationships; comply with firm policies; work under pressure and manage competing demands; and perform other assigned duties.