Associate Director of Practice Management

Overview

Cooley is seeking an Associate Director of Practice Management to join the Practice Management team.

Position summary: The Associate Director of Practice Management will work in partnership with the Director of Practice Management, practice group leaders, department chairs and firm management to provide financial and operational support to department and practice group leadership. This position is expected to employ a wide range of strategic and tactical solutions to help improve the profitability and efficiency of the practice groups, including supporting the development and driving of strategy, business plans, analysis related to hiring decisions, financial, operational and competitive analysis, and work closely with various professional staff teams that provide support to the department and practice groups.

The Associate Director will assess the assigned department/practice group(s) strengths, weaknesses, operational effectiveness and opportunities, and advise the group leader(s) on recommended action plans to help achieve the group’s long-term goals.

Position responsibilities:

• In conjunction with leadership, help to develop business plans for various practice group(s) and at the department level, manage implementation, monitor progress and suggest proactive measures to help achieve or exceed plan goals and targets
• Monitors group financial performance, working with Department Chairs and PGLs to address issues and opportunities
• Analyze pipeline and demand metrics and manage capacity planning processes in collaboration with talent management function
• Gather, distill and analyze operational, financial and market-based data in order to provide concise and actionable recommendations to department chairs and practice group leaders
• Collaborate with key firm stakeholders cross-functionally, including marketing and communications, business development, legal talent, human resources, knowledge management, lateral integration and professional development, on executing against practice plans
• Act as primary point of contact for department leadership on administrative and operational matters, escalating to proper administrative department leadership as appropriate
• Facilitate long-term planning and growth strategies for assigned practice areas and respective department. Aggregate annual hours, rates, revenues, headcount and client budgets for assigned practice areas
• Working with Department Chairs, PGLs; organize and set agendas for group Partner meetings and follow up on action items to drive progress
• Coordinate and develop agendas and substantive presentations for practice group meetings
• Provide data and analysis to practice group leadership for PG meetings and presentations to the Board
• Monitor, evaluate and improve key performance indicators of the practice groups, including cash leakage, in-depth realization studies, and utilization
• Collaborate with competitive intelligence on internal and external client, practice and industry studies
• Support the implementation, development and use of practice management tools
• Support growth opportunities and help drive expansion of client relationships in collaboration with the marketing and business development department
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of the overall department leadership function
• Works on strategic and ad hoc initiatives and projects for the practice group, Department and Firm
• Manage and track high priority initiatives of assigned PGs/department
• Communicate initiative status to relevant stakeholders
• Draft internal presentations and internal department-wide communications
• Deliver and share information with clarity and discretion on behalf of the department teams
• All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:

Required:

• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
• Ability to travel, as required
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business, finance, accounting, actuarial or mathematics-related field
• 8+ years (preferably with a minimum of 4 years senior manager experience) in a directly related role (e.g., a management,…