Practice Director, Practice Management – Infrastructure Group - Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP : Job Details

The Practice Director, Practice Management – Infrastructure Group acts as a strategic advisor and “chief of staff” to the Heads of the Infrastructure Practice Group (PG). The Practice Director partners with PG leadership to drive operational excellence, enhance financial profitability, and implement strategic initiatives. The Practice Director reports to the Heads of the PG, with a secondary reporting line to the Firm's Chief Administrative Officer. This role requires close collaboration with firm-wide leadership and Practice Management Directors, and with Finance, Legal Talent, Business Development, Knowledge Management, Legal Operations, Technology, Human Resources, and the Office of the General Counsel to optimize the PG's strategic initiatives, operations, profitability and resource management.

• Collaborate with PG heads, partners, and key stakeholders to develop a strategic vision for the PG, with clear, achievable goals focused on revenue generation, profitability enhancement, headcount, brand positioning and competitive differentiation.
• Support daily operations of the PG, including preparing meetings and retreats, setting agendas, preparing meeting materials, and coordinating meeting logistics.
• Collaborate with Finance to analyze PG financial performance (revenue, profitability, realization, utilization, and A/R); monitor PG operational expenditures; report regularly on KPIs; and make recommendations to improve financial performance and execute related action items.
• Partner with Legal Talent to create and execute the PG talent management strategy, including recruitment, onboarding, integration programs for lateral hires, training, resource planning and management, retention strategies, partnership pipeline reviews, and succession planning.
• Collaborate with the Business Development Team to analyze and increase cross-selling within the Firm and work with client teams to enhance client collaboration.
• Collaborate with the Knowledge Team to drive efficiencies, improve processes, and incorporate innovation in legal service delivery.
• Collaborate with Practice Directors in other groups to reinforce strategic and operational alignment with adjacent practices (Funds and other groups).
• Continually identify opportunities for operational efficiency, improvement and innovation in matter management, business operations, infrastructure, methodologies, and other areas of business performance; develop solutions and plans for corresponding action.
• Monitor current trends and best practices in legal and professional services firms; communicate the impact of new innovations, developments, and regulations.
• Foster a collaborative culture committed to professional excellence.

• Bachelor's degree required
• 10+ years' work experience, preferably in professional services
• J.D. or MBA preferred

• A minimum of 5 years serving as a practicing lawyer or business professional with emphasis on practice management, operations, legal project management, client relationship management, and financial management, in sophisticated professional services environments.
• Strong business acumen, project management, and analytical skills.
• Proven ability to develop and successfully execute comprehensive project and operational plans from broadly stated objectives.
• Strong knowledge of accounting and budgeting principles; capability to analyze and report financial data effectively.
• Proven experience driving continuous improvement and innovation in business operations, technology, and infrastructure in a complex, matrixed, global professional services organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence stakeholders and build consensus.
• Superior presentation, writing, and verbal communication skills; the ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with all levels in an organization—tailoring communications effectively for different groups and stakeholders.
• A consultative, collaborative, and highly client-service oriented approach to work.
• Prior experience working within the infrastructure space is preferred.

NY Only: The estimated base salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000 at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.

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• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Information Technology
• Industries: Law Practice