Operations Manager

FERGUSON BRASWELL FRASER & KUBASTA PC • Irvine, CA

35d • Hybrid

About The Position

FBFK Law is a people-first, entrepreneurial firm built for those who want to grow, lead, and make an impact. FBFK has been named one of Fortune’s Most Innovative Companies for 2026, ranked No. 88 out of 300 organizations nationwide. The firm is also recognized in the 2026 Chambers Texas Spotlight Guide for Corporate/Commercial and Intellectual Property. In addition, FBFK attorneys are regularly recognized by Best Lawyers and Lawdragon for their leadership and excellence in the legal industry. FBFK has also been recognized among top real estate law firms by the Houston Business Journal, reflecting the firm’s continued growth and market impact. Founded more than 20 years ago in Dallas, FBFK Law has grown into a full-service firm with offices across Texas and California, including Plano, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Orange County, Century City (Los Angeles), and San Diego. Today, we are over 100 full time team members strong and continuing to expand in key markets and practice areas. Our work is organized around core capabilities, including Corporate and M&A, Litigation, Intellectual Property, Tax, International, and Health Law, supported by a deep bench of sub-specialties that allow us to serve clients across industries with precision and efficiency. We are a team of builders, creators, and collaborators driven by a 100-year vision to redefine what success in law looks like. At FBFK, we are intentionally building a platform where attorneys and staff can do exceptional work while also creating a fulfilling and sustainable life. Through our culture, leadership access, and firmwide initiatives, we invest in our people so they can grow, lead, and thrive. We put our clients’ interests first and operate with a shared commitment to excellence, efficiency, and long-term partnership. If you’re energized by the idea of building something exceptional, not just maintaining it, keep reading.

The Opportunity
FBFK's Southern California platform is at an inflection point. We've assembled a talented group of attorneys from top boutique practices across Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Now we need a sharp, strategic operations leader to unify these offices into a high-performing, fully integrated operation that reflects the excellence and innovation FBFK is known for. This is a build-and-lead role, not a maintain-and-manage role. You will serve as the COO's right hand in California — the person who takes a collection of talented professionals operating with legacy small-firm habits and transforms them into a cohesive, scalable, best-in-class operation. You'll have real authority, direct access to firm leadership, and the mandate to drive meaningful change. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on:
Turning complexity into clarity and fragmented processes into streamlined systems
Partnering with attorneys to help them hit their financial goals — not just tracking numbers, but influencing outcomes
Building operational infrastructure from the ground up in a high-growth environment
Making a visible, measurable impact on a firm that is redefining the legal industry

Requirements

• 7–10+ years of progressive operations, office management, or business administration experience, with a meaningful portion in a law firm or professional services environment
• Demonstrated success building or transforming operations — not just maintaining them; you've taken something from good to great (or from chaotic to functional)
• Strong financial acumen: experience with AR management, budgeting, pricing, and profitability analysis
• Proven track record of vendor management and negotiation that delivered measurable cost savings or service improvements
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, drive accountability, and see initiatives through to completion
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills — you can influence attorneys, collaborate with staff, and present confidently to firm leadership
• Comfort with change management — you know how to bring people along, not just push processes forward
• Technology fluency: Microsoft 365 proficiency; working knowledge of legal technology platforms (iManage/NetDocuments, Aderant/Elite, or comparable systems)
• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, or a related field
• Ability to travel regularly between Irvine, Century City, and San Diego (approximately 25–35%)

Nice To Haves

• Experience integrating or consolidating operations following a merger, acquisition, or rapid growth phase
• Familiarity with legal billing, timekeeping, and compliance requirements specific to California
• Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement certification or methodology experience
• Experience in a multi-office environment spanning different markets

Responsibilities

• Serve as the operational leader across FBFK's three Southern California offices (Irvine HQ, Century City, and San Diego), maintaining a regular in-person presence at each location
• Design, implement, and enforce standardized operating procedures that bring consistency, accountability, and efficiency across all CA offices
• Own accounts receivable management for the California offices: build proactive billing and collections practices, reduce AR aging, and create systems that prevent AR issues before they start
• Partner with attorneys to develop pricing strategies, monitor utilization, and drive toward individual and office-level billing and profitability targets
• Analyze financial and operational data to identify growth opportunities, efficiency gains, and areas for margin improvement
• Develop and track operational KPIs — responsiveness, financial performance, vendor metrics, and client satisfaction — and report insights to the COO with actionable recommendations
• Conduct a comprehensive review of all vendor relationships, contracts, and service levels across the California offices
• Renegotiate vendor pricing, terms, and service agreements to maximize value and reduce costs
• Manage ongoing vendor performance against SLAs; hold vendors accountable and make changes when standards aren't met
• Identify cost-optimization opportunities across procurement, facilities, and services; recommend and implement improvements
• Lead the effort to professionalize operations — replacing ad hoc, small-firm practices with scalable, repeatable processes worthy of a nationally recognized firm
• Drive continuous improvement projects across workflows, technology adoption, and administrative functions
• Support the adoption and effective use of legal technology platforms (e.g., iManage/NetDocuments, Aderant/Elite) through training, documentation, and change management
• Partner with IT on technology readiness including A/V, conference systems, print/scan infrastructure, and endpoint coordination
• Document and maintain SOPs, checklists, and playbooks that enable consistency and knowledge transfer
• Works with the Corporate Facilities team to be boots on the ground to oversee: CA facilities management including office safety, access control, emergency preparedness, and business continuity planning
• Ensure all operations comply with applicable California workplace regulations and legal-industry standards
• Uphold confidentiality, information governance, and firm policies
• Support audits, incident tracking, corrective actions, and follow-up
• Coordinate inter-office scheduling, coverage, and the onboarding of new offices and staff as the firm continues to grow

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Generous paid time off and firm holidays
• The opportunity to shape the future of a nationally recognized, Fortune-recognized innovative law firm

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager