What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Administration position at Ogletree Deakins?
Position Summary:
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.
Essential Functions:
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, escalate 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, as well as 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 services organization.
- Demonstrated experience leading multi-office or geographically dispersed teams in a matrixed environment.
- Strong knowledge of law firm operations, including administrative services, facilities, budgeting, and vendor management.
- Proven ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels, with sound judgment and a solutions-oriented approach.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders, including partners and executive leadership.
- Experience managing budgets and driving operational efficiency while maintaining high service standards.
- High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters.
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
Please note, we are not working with outside recruiters for this position.
Benefits:
Ogletree Deakins offers a robust suite of benefits for our Staff including: Paid Time Off, Paid Sick Leave, a 401(k) matching program, Profit Sharing, Paid Holidays, Paid Parental Leave, affordable Health and Life Insurance including Dental & Vision coverage, Health Savings Account /Flexible Spending Accounts to help offset the cost of dependent care and/or health care expenses, Tuition Reimbursement and an Employee Assistance Program.
Contact Information:
If you have questions, please e-mail Megan Becker at megan.becker@ogletree.com with “Director of Administration" in the subject line. Please note, applications submitted via e-mail will not be considered.
Firm Overview:
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Best Law Firms® has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 14 consecutive years. In the 2025 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor and Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 1,100 attorneys located in 60 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S.
We are fully committed to the importance of diversity within the legal profession, as well as all workplace environments.
Equal Opportunity Employer.