Operations and Project Assistant

Fenwick & West LLP•San Francisco, CA

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Fenwick & West is seeking a proactive Operations and Project Assistant to act as a right hand to the firm's Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). The CCO leads three interconnected functions — Risk, Information Governance, and Partner Recruiting — each operating at a high pace with significant strategic and operational complexity. This is not a traditional administrative role. We are looking for someone who anticipates needs before they're voiced, brings intellectual curiosity to every challenge, and thrives in an environment where no two days look the same. You will be embedded at the center of the CCO's world: managing priorities, enabling workflows, and building the connective tissue that allows three departments to run smoothly and in sync. This role is an outstanding opportunity for an early-career professional who wants to grow into an operations manager or senior business services function within a leading technology law firm. This position can be based in our Silicon Valley (CA) or San Francisco (CA) office locations and offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing you to work both from home and at your designated Fenwick office. The frequency of in-office work will be determined by business needs and guided by your department's directives.

Requirements

3–5 years of experience in an administrative, operations, or executive support role — ideally in a professional services, legal, or corporate environment
Demonstrated experience supporting senior leaders or managing complex, multi-stakeholder workflows
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to tailor messaging for different audiences
High proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (CoPilot, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel); familiarity with project management or recruiting platforms a plus
Track record of thriving in fast-paced, high-volume environments while maintaining quality
Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Nice To Haves

Prior exposure to legal, compliance, risk, or recruiting functions is a plus but not required

Responsibilities

Manage the CCO's calendar, scheduling, and meeting logistics with care and precision, anticipating conflicts and proactively resolving them
Prepare briefing materials, agendas, presentations, and follow-up summaries for internal and external meetings
Track open action items, deadlines, and deliverables across the CCO's portfolio; surface risks and status updates proactively
Draft correspondence, memos, and communications on behalf of the CCO with an understanding of tone, audience, and context
Serve as a liaison between the CCO and internal stakeholders across the firm, building credibility and trust at every touchpoint
Maintain organized systems for documentation, files, and information flow across all three departments
Assist in the development and drafting of presentations and slide decks on a wide range of topics, ensuring content is clear, well‑structured, and tailored to the intended audience
Provide general administrative support on an as needed basis, including assisting with the coordination, tracking, and facilitation of firmwide compliance initiatives, such as required trainings and policy acknowledgments
Use Technology tools thoughtfully to produce higher-quality work more efficiently, applying sound judgment about when and how to apply them
Coordinate and track all aspects of partner candidate pipelines, including outreach scheduling, interview logistics, and follow-up communications
Maintain accurate candidate records, activity logs, and status tracking in the firm's recruiting systems
Support the preparation of candidate materials, meeting packets, and evaluation documentation
Liaise with candidates, search firms, and firm leadership with professionalism and discretion
Assist with scheduling lateral partner interviews across multiple offices and time zones
Ensure a seamless candidate experience at every stage of the process
Provide project coordination support for compliance, risk, and information governance initiatives, including tracking workstreams and milestones
Assist with the preparation of reports, training materials, and communications for internal audiences
Help coordinate firm-wide compliance programs, policy rollouts, and training logistics
Support research, data gathering, and analysis on risk-related topics as needed
Assist with vendor relationships, contract tracking, and committee meeting logistics