Birchrose Associates is working with a leading City law firm to recruit a Senior Legal Operations Manager to join its high performing finance team.

The Opportunity

This is a senior, embedded role sitting within the management structure of the Practice Groups, acting as the operational right hand to Practice Group Leaders. You will play a pivotal role in shaping performance, profitability, and service delivery across the group, while working closely with central business services including Finance, HR, Business Development, and Technology.

The role offers significant exposure to strategic decision-making and firmwide initiatives, with responsibility for improving how the Practice Group operates day-to-day as well as delivering longer-term transformation. You will also work closely with Legal Transformation and Technology teams, including the use of data, process improvement, and AI-enabled solutions to enhance efficiency and value delivery.

Responsibilities

• Act as the operational lead for allocated Practice Groups, ensuring day-to-day efficiency and alignment with wider strategic priorities
• Partner closely with Practice Group Leaders to deliver business plans, performance targets and operational objectives
• Use data and insight on utilisation, capacity and productivity to support resourcing decisions and improve overall performance
• Spot and deliver opportunities to improve processes, remove inefficiencies and enhance the way legal work is delivered
• Champion the use of technology, automation and AI-enabled tools to streamline workflows and reduce manual intervention
• Support Finance teams with budgeting, forecasting, pricing insight and ongoing monitoring of financial performance
• Analyse profitability and operational trends to inform commercial decisions and longer-term planning
• Oversee key resourcing activity including onboarding, leavers, work allocation and broader team coordination
• Work with HR on key people processes including promotions, salary reviews, performance management and reward cycles
• Provide day-to-day direction and oversight to embedded Legal Operations colleagues within the Practice Group
• Act as a central point of coordination between Practice Groups and business services teams including Finance, HR, BD and Technology
• Produce and coordinate management information, reporting packs and performance updates for senior stakeholders
• Contribute to Practice Group meetings, planning sessions and strategic discussions, ensuring actions are tracked and delivered
• Work with Business Development teams to support client initiatives and ensure effective use of data and insight
• Ensure adherence to internal policies, financial controls and operational governance standards
• Identify, assess and help resolve operational risks, escalating where necessary
• Support delivery of transformation projects and firmwide initiatives, ensuring successful implementation and adoption at Practice Group level

Benefits

• Senior-level role with significant strategic influence
• High visibility with Practice Group leadership and firmwide stakeholders
• Opportunity to lead operational transformation and innovation initiatives
• Exposure to cutting-edge legal technology and process improvement programmes
• Competitive package and strong career development prospects within a leading professional environment

Requirements

• Strong experience in legal operations or professional services operational roles
• Solid understanding of financial management including P&L, budgeting, and commercial drivers
• Proven experience in process improvement, change delivery, and operational transformation
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership
• Excellent organisational and project management capabilities
• High attention to detail with a continuous improvement mindset
• Confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills
• Experience working with data, reporting, and business performance metrics
• Familiarity with legal technology and process optimisation tools (desirable)

Birchrose Associates, trading name of Huntress Search Ltd, acts as a Recruitment Agency in relation to all Permanent roles and as a Recruitment Business in relation to all Temporary roles.

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK.