Hybrid Director, Practice Management – Tax

at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

• Job title: Director, Practice Management – Tax
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $300,000 - $350,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, New York City, United States

About the role

• Director of Practice Management overseeing operational excellence and financial profitability in the Tax Practice Group. Collaborating with key stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives and optimize business operations.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with PG heads, partners, and key stakeholders to develop a strategic vision for the PG that includes clear, achievable goals aligned with the firm’s strategy and focused on revenue generations, profitability enhancement, headcount, brand positioning and competitive differentiation;
• Support daily operations of the PG, including the preparation of meetings and retreats, setting agendas, preparing meeting materials, and coordinating meeting logistics;
• Collaborate with Finance to analyze PG financial performance (revenue, profitability, realization, utilization, A/R); monitor PG operational expenditures; report regularly on KPI’s; make recommendations for appropriate actions to improve PG financial performance and execute on related action items;
• Partner with Legal Talent to create and execute on PG talent management strategy, including recruitment, onboarding, and integration programs for lateral hires, training, resource planning and management, retention strategies, partnership pipeline reviews, and succession planning;
• Collaborate with Client Development and Engagement Team to analyze and increase cross-selling efforts within the Firm and work with client teams to enhance client collaboration;
• Collaborate with Knowledge Team to continually 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 key 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; and
• Foster a culture that is collaborative and committed to professional excellence.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years serving as a practicing lawyer or business professional with an 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 Tax space is strongly preferred.