Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Company: Confidential
Location: West Palm Beach
Posted on: September 16, 2023

Job Description:

Growing law firm in West Palm Beach, Florida seeks experienced COO (law firm experience is a bonus but not required). *Please note: If you live outside South Florida but are interested, the firm WILL PAY RELOCATION EXPENSES for the right candidate.

The Chief Operating Officer ("COO") has primary responsibility for business and non-legal aspects of the firm. Reporting to the firm CEO, the COO will have overall responsibility for finance and accounting, technology, human resources, facilities, communications, marketing, and administration. Overall responsibilities extend from day-to-day business issues to longer term issues and strategic planning.

Key Success Factors

The COO must establish and maintain productive, cooperative, and mutually respectful relationships with the partners, and be perceived as a credible and trustworthy colleague whose judgment is respected by the CEO. The COO must understand and be comfortable in a professional services environment. Experience and skill in managing all levels of human resources is of key importance. He or she will value and respect the contributions made by all employees and will encourage personal and professional development at all levels of the firm. The COO must be a forward-looking professional with the ability to think strategically to ensure the firm has the resources and business discipline necessary to grow and prosper. They must be comfortable in implementing and executing decisions of the CEO as well as formulating and suggesting strategic and tactical issues.

Responsibilities

Human Resources
--- Manages all staff recruitment and hiring activities including interviewing, selection, onboarding, and training.
--- Coordinates all staff performance reviews and salary reviews.
--- Manages the employee health and benefits plan.
--- Ensures the human resource policy manual is developed, maintained, and followed.

General Management
--- In cooperation with the CEO, develops strategies to manage and support the growth and success of the firm.
--- Ensures the CEO has all the necessary information to make effective decisions in a timely fashion.
--- Develops and maintains all operating and administrative procedures and policies of the firm.
--- Administers the firm's various professional liability insurances.
--- Oversees all office administration including records management, space utilization, facilities, maintenance, office services, insurance, purchasing, mail and messenger services, and special projects.
--- Supports all marketing and business development activities of the firm including website, advertising, events, newsletters, and communication.
--- Oversees all technology including hardware, software, telecommunications, and other tools that provide the necessary information and technical support to meet the firm's business needs.
--- Ensures that new and emerging technologies are assessed to determine their potential value to the firm.
--- Supervise the training of staff (including lawyers) on how to use the firm's technology and its applications in the most productive way.

About the Person

The successful candidate must operate comfortably across a broad spectrum of responsibilities including hands-on financial and administrative work to issues involving information technology, human resources, business judgment, and strategic planning.

The COO will engender confidence and credibility by virtue of their presence, demeanor, leadership skills, and professional qualifications.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will possess the following personal characteristics and
capabilities:
--- Strong administrative, management, and leadership abilities.
--- Ability to work with limited direction and provide direction and guidance to other staff.
--- Capable of handling multiple priorities.
--- Must be able to analyze issues, anticipate consequences, make decisions, and initiate action.
--- Ability to communicate complex information effectively, both orally and in writing, to all levels of the firm.
--- Able to build consensus and work in a collaborative manner.
--- Capable of dealing with difficult situations and people.
--- Ability to encourage and motivate employees while maintaining consistent office practices and procedures.
--- Must be highly organized and self-directed in approach to work.
--- Must be able to manage administrative support staff to accomplish their objectives and goals.

You MUST be a legal resident of (and living in) the U.S.be considered for this position. If you are not, your application will not be considered. In addition, you must live within a 45 minute commute of West Palm Beach, Florida (if you do not, you will NOT be considered). This is NOT a virtual position and requires 5 days a week in-office with a very limited amount of work from home possible. *IF you are otherwise qualified but do not live in South Florida, please do submit your application AS THE FIRM WILL PAY RELOCATION EXPENSES FOR ANY CANDIDATE HIRED WHO CURRENTLY RESIDES OUTSIDE OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

*Please do not apply unless your current title is along the lines of Sr. VP, Executive Director or COO at your current law firm or company (no non profit, individuals coming from government, academia or self employed individuals or consultants will be considered). We will consider individuals with law firm experience (firms with at least $25mm in annual revenues) as well as operations professionals from companies with at least $100mm in annual revenues.

Keywords: Confidential, Miami , Chief Operating Officer (COO), Executive , West Palm Beach, Florida