Senior Operations Manager

The Senior Operations Manager role will work closely with the Heads of Operations supporting the MDs (the MD HoOs), and the Chief of Staff, to manage the operational aspects of the Executive Management Function. This person will also work with various other teams (both legal Practice Groups and Business Services teams) across DLA Piper International.

The role is responsible for supporting the MD HoOs and CoS with the detailed planning, facilitation and implementation of the strategic and operational priorities of the Executive. The role will play a key part in ensuring Executive projects and initiatives achieve their objectives and are communicated appropriately across the firm, involving key senior stakeholders as necessary.

This is an important role with the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the delivery of the Executive's priorities.

Main duties and responsibilities

Project management

• Management of strategic, long-term projects and initiatives through the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closure stages. Applying a structured approach to a programme of projects and initiatives and monitoring progress

Communications and Stakeholder Management

• Develop and manage key stakeholder relationships across all levels of the business, in support of the Executive priorities

Strategy Execution Support

• Assist and support the CoS in translating strategic plans and priorities into tactical actions for execution
• Provide support to the MD HoOs and CoS in driving firmwide initiatives and projects
• Possess a thorough understanding of the Executive Management Function's strategic objectives and the necessary actions to achieve them
• Aid the MD HoOs and CoS in identifying key performance indicators and tracking their progress
• Drive coordination and synergy between the service functions, practice group and sectors

About you

• Extensive experience of working in an operational role in a legal, professional services or corporate environment
• Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple high priority projects to tight deadlines, ensuring high-quality outputs
• Proven expertise in managing complex operational and change focused projects and programmes, delivering continuous improvement in fast moving, complex environments
• A strategic thinker and proactive self-starter with strong interpersonal skills and a client service focus; adept at building and maintaining strong relationships
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience in managing communications at a team, departmental and firm level, to drive wider awareness and knowledge sharing
• Great stakeholder management and experience of working effectively with cross-functional areas within an international matrix structure, engaging and influencing diverse groups and remotely-based colleagues without consistent face-to-face contact
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous situations, demonstrating a flexible and collaborative working style
• High level of professionalism and personal accountability.
• Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions that align with Executive priorities
• Advanced presentation preparation and delivery skills, with expertise in creating and compiling comprehensive PowerPoint, Word and Excel documentation for management reporting, analysis and communication
• Innovative, with an ability to sensitively and courageously challenge the status quo

About us

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

Our values

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

Diversity and inclusion

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

Hybrid working

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

Pre-engagement screening

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.

Apply now