Director of Administration

Position Summary

The Director of Administration is a senior operational leader responsible for overseeing and advancing the firm’s administrative platform across a large, complex, global law firm with more than 60 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role provides strategic leadership and day‑to‑day oversight of core administrative functions to ensure operational excellence, consistency, and scalability across the firm.

The Director of Administration partners closely with firm leadership, regional and local office leadership, and functional department heads to align administrative operations with the firm’s strategic objectives, client service standards, and financial budgets and priorities. Direct reports include a team of Regional Office Administrators (ROAs), Office Administrators (OAs), and a team of fully remote practice assistants that can be deployed firmwide.

The Director is also responsible for the firm’s procurement function, ensuring that purchases for goods and services meet operational needs while leveraging economies of scale to reduce cost, promote efficiencies and enhance financial performance across the firm’s geographic footprint, where achievable. This role requires a strong understanding of law firm operations, a collaborative leadership style, and the ability to manage change in a fast‑paced, professional services environment.

• Lead, mentor, and develop the geographically‑dispersed team of ROAs and OAs, fostering consistency, accountability, and high performance across offices and regions.
• Provide strategic leadership and day‑to‑day operational oversight for firmwide administrative functions, which may include office administration, facilities, real estate, records, administrative support services, procurement, and vendor management.
• Collaborate closely with Human Resources to communicate and apply firm performance standards and policies consistently across locations, assist in identifying and resolving employee relations issues, and, as needed, escal ate employee relations issues to the appropriate level of firm leadership.
• Partner with the COO and other senior leaders to develop and implement administrative strategies that support the firm’s business goals, growth, and global footprint, specifically including, but not limited to, the firm’s sustainability plan.
• Establish and maintain firmwide standards, policies, and best practices for administrative operations while allowing for appropriate regional and local flexibility.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and expense management for administrative functions, ensuring fiscal discipline and effective resource allocation.
• Manage the firm’s procurement function, including the firm’s relationship with procurement consultants, reviewing and approving large contracts for goods and services, and establishing procurement policies and procedures to ensure competitive, consistent terms and processes across the firm’s operations and offices.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and service providers, including contract negotiation, performance monitoring, and cost control.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, IT, and Practice Group leadership to support integrated operational planning and delivery of services.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including process optimization, service delivery enhancements, and the effective use of technology and data to improve efficiency and client service.
• Support office openings, closures, expansions, and renovations in coordination with firm leadership and Real Estate/Facilities teams.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and firm policies across jurisdictions, escalating risks or issues as appropriate.
• Implement and monitor the firm’s sustainability plan in collaboration with other executive leaders and local offices.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., MBA, PMP) preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible administrative or operations leadership experience within a large law firm or similarly complex professional…