Global Practice Senior Manager – LSHI Hybrid

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Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions and regulatory matters.

Our team of 3,000 people (including more than 1,600 lawyers) across more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, operate as one global partnership to drive progress for our clients, for ourselves and for our communities.

The Global Practice Senior Manager for Life Sciences and Health Industry Group (LSHI) will support the strategic, talent management and operational aspects of the practice and support the Practice Group Leaders (PGLs) in the day-to-day management of the group, globally. The position will work with the LSHI Practice Group leaders to set and ensure achievement of LSHI’s business strategy, talent and performance objectives, and will develop and facilitate implementation of certain key strategic initiatives of LSHI (and with the firm’s other practice and industry groups).

The position will report day-to-day to the PGLs for LSHI, and have an administrative reporting line to the Chief of Legal Operations. The position may oversee other members of the Legal Operations group who work to support all senior members of the Legal Operations function.

• Act as a trusted advisor to the PGLs, advising on all aspects of the group’s progress, financial success and strategy, and taking on responsibilities and tasks as appropriate, in order to free up PGLs for higher level management work and client-facing work.
• Responsible for overall profitability of the group; analyze data/reports and put key metrics in front of PGLs with key findings and concrete actions for PGLs to drive revenue and margin.
• Direct margin improvement, routine looks at timekeeper utilization and matter by matter profitability, including AFAs.
• Insight into near and medium term pipeline.
• Inventory management - billing/collections/realization.
• Budget formulations and forecasts.
• Lateral partner recruiting - Assist PGLs as needed, but also act as check on hiring that was not in the group Strategic Plan.
• Evaluate business case for each candidate and group and whether it aligns with the Strategic plan.
• Responsible for onboarding & integration progress to ensure traction and quick ramp-up.
• Group Operations - Assist with key processes that impact the PG/IG, and proxy for PGLs whenever feasible for including but not limited to
  1) lawyer promotion process,
  2) CRL/MOA issues and changes,
  3) lawyer exits from the group/firm,
  4) NBI issues, and
  5) Billing/Pro Forma issues.
• Strategic Planning for the group - Help PGL/IGL set strategic goals for the group and break-down goals into action items for the PGLs, other partners in the group, and business liaisons (Business Manager, Business Development, and others).
• Workforce planning for summer associates/first years/trainees, non-partner laterals and lateral partners if any.
• Business Development plans to grow top line revenue.
• Plans to improve profitability (Client Value Team engagement/matter management, additional staffing/resource levers, client/matter selection, timekeeper utilization and right-sizing (up/down) of the group).
• Morale of the group; updates to the group, cohesion of the group - Support PGLs in these endeavors, and leverage other resources like Events, HR, BD as needed.

Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time.

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or related discipline required; an MBA or advanced degree is desirable.

A minimum of 8 years relevant business administration in a similar capacity required. Experience in a law firm or other professional services firm preferred. Prefer some experience with legal work in life sciences and/or healthcare, either a business law professional or lawyer.

• Strong financial planning and analytical expertise.
• Advanced knowledge of PCs and the Microsoft Office Suite. Elite, 3E, Data Fusion Intelli Stat and DTE knowledge preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively and as a team member.
• Excellent writing, organizational, problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to resolve issues quickly, effectively, and diplomatically and to make appropriate recommendations to the Chief of Legal Operations, Directors and managers.
• Good decision maker and proven ability to manage time and…