Join our team as a Business Director located in our Washington, DC office.
We are seeking a highly skilled professional who thrives in a fast-paced, business-driven environment. The ideal candidate is a proactive and adaptable leader who demonstrates business acumen, integrity, and a collaborative leadership style, with a proven ability to effectively manage change and drive operational excellence. You possess strong emotional intelligence and the ability to adapt your management and communication approaches based on audience, situational, and cultural needs. With strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, you will exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and approach challenges with confidence and resilience. You are highly detail-oriented, motivated, and organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure, and you bring proficiency in interpreting and applying financial information in a professional services environment. A track record of building strong relationships and communicating effectively with office leadership and staff at all levels is essential to success in this role. If you are someone who demonstrates initiative, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering results through collaborative leadership, we invite you to join our team. This role reports to the Co-President and Administrative Shareholder for the Washington, DC office.
Position Summary:
The Business Director will lead and support the operational and administrative functions for approximately 151 attorneys and 97 professional staff employees for the Washington, DC office under the guidance of the Co-President and Administrative Shareholder. This individual will also work closely with various department managers to ensure efficient office operations, a positive workplace culture, and high standards of client service. The Business Director will collaborate with firm leadership and cross-functional teams, assisting with office management, staff engagement, and compliance with firm policies. This position requires a proactive and adaptable professional with strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills. This role will be based in our Washington, DC office on an in-office basis; presence is required for day-to-day operations, as well as for team meetings, training opportunities, and relationship building.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborates with Co-President and Administrative Shareholder, with support from the Chief Administrative Officer – Office Operations and leaders of the Talent Services (human resources), Marketing, Technology, Facilities, and Revenue Management teams to ensure effective business operations
- Executes local operational decisions in conjunction with key operational and administrative managers, partnering with national department directors as needed
- Seeks opportunities to reduce the administrative load on the Administrative Shareholder by providing quick, concise, and accurate information while also anticipating their needs
- Provides support to Practice Group Leaders, including performing analysis, developing reports, gathering information, and anticipating operational needs
- Routinely prepares officewide communications and policies, monitors adherence and consistently enforces compliance with both office and firm policies
- Collaboratively manages accounting/finance/revenue management functions of the office; develops and oversees office budgeting, in collaboration with Co-President and Administrative Shareholder and the local leadership team
- Partners with the Talent Services and Talent Acquisition teams to attract, develop, and retain both attorneys and professional staff
- Leads the annual staff compensation review process in collaboration with the Administrative Shareholder and local management team
- Assists with the annual associate performance and compensation review process led by the Administrative Shareholder
- Serves as a liaison with the Marketing, Technology, Information Governance, Office Services, Hospitality, Reception, and Facilities teams to ensure a high level of client service and resolve daily operations issues
- Plays a key role in expansion and renovations efforts and office space planning; manages office assignments and relocations
- Continually reviews staffing levels to maintain effective staffing ratios and monitors paralegal usage and workflow as needed
- Assists with integrating new attorneys, including lateral shareholders, into the firm; collaborates with departing attorneys and administrative managers on exit procedures
- Directly engages where and when needed to support office operational functions to ensure office needs and services are met
- Reviews invoices and expense reports for compliance with firm and office policies and processes approvals in collaboration with the CAO
- Creates and fosters a collegial environment of teamwork
- Supports the Co-President, Administrative Shareholder, and Practice Group Leaders on ad hoc operational issues and projects
Qualifications:
Skills & Competencies
- Demonstrated business acumen, integrity, and a collaborative leadership style with the ability to effectively manage change
- Ability to adapt management and communication styles based on the situation, audience, and cultural needs
- Strong emotional intelligence, interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), professional demeanor, and presentation
- Analytical with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Demonstrates sound judgement, takes initiative, and possesses excellent listening and follow-up skills
- Proven success in building strong relationships, being influential, and effectively communicating with senior leadership and staff
- Highly detail-oriented, motivated, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment to achieve business goals and objectives
Education & Prior Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Organization Development, Human Resources, or related field required
- Minimum of ten years of experience in a management or leadership position in a professional services organization
- Proficiency in interpreting and applying financial information in a business environment
- Strong business experience in human resources, accounting, finance, marketing, technology, and facilities management
Technology
- Proficiency with Windows-based software and Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook required
- Exceptional computer skills with the ability to learn new software applications quickly
- Drives AI innovation and adoption while establishing a culture of responsible AI use, ensuring appropriate governance, human accountability, ethical considerations, and compliance with organizational requirements
- Leverages firm-approved AI tools to streamline processes, drive operational efficiency, support cross-functional collaboration, and responsible business outcomes
Physical Requirements:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to move from their workstation or desk throughout the work area to work independently or with a team to meet with colleagues or supervisor and retrieve work assignments
- This position may also be sedentary and require the employee to sit for extended periods of time
- Requires manual dexterity to use a phone, enter data into a computer, handle objects, and use office equipment
The expected pay range for this position is:
$200,542 - $240,385 Per year .
Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience, location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. Full time employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, health insurance with an optional HSA, short term disability, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, 401K, vacation, sick time, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary programs include: voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary critical illness and cancer insurance and pet insurance. Commuter and Transit programs may also be available in certain markets.
