Practice Area Manager - Corporate & Real Estate

Location: Belfast

Workplace: Hybrid

The opportunity: The Practice Area Manager - Corporate & Real Estate will coordinate and support business operations for the Transactions Practice Group across the EMEA+ region with the aim of driving and enhancing practice performance and decision-making in line with the global practice strategy and the overall strategy of the Firm.

Working at Baker McKenzie: Baker McKenzie is the world's leading law firm with offices all over the world. Our Belfast Centre is home to over 400 colleagues in both legal and professional services. We offer one of the best workplace benefits packages in the business with comprehensive private health cover, income protection, life assurance and a full employee assistance plan. These and a host of other benefits make us one of the most desirable companies to work for in Belfast. We are committed to promoting inclusion, diversity, and equity for all and are confident we can provide a career as individual and as exceptional as you.

Responsibilities:

• Advise and support the Associate Director of Business Management and the Practice Group Leaders on strategic, business, and operational matters across the EMEA+ Alliance.
• Develop, update, and monitor the business plan of the practice with a responsibility to help achieve the PG targets within. In addition, help set and manage the budget proactively to ensure the effective implementation of the Firm's strategy.
• Drive improvements in operational and financial performance by monitoring and analyzing key performance indicators at practice and service line levels, ensuring alignment with planned targets (including cost management, working capital, staffing, productivity, and margin contribution).
• On occasion, provide pricing support for significant mandates or pitches within the practice, and support secondment requests where needed.
• Ensure cross-practice and cross-functional initiatives implementation at the Practice Group level and coordinate resources from other Business Professional functions supporting the same Practice Group to ensure proper coverage and effective strategy execution.
• Capture efficiency and innovation opportunities for the main service lines by leading and participating in initiatives, aligned within the global practice and with other Practice Groups.
• Ensure appropriate resourcing model, headcount planning, staffing, and talent pipeline (including training and performance management) leveraging support from, and in coordination with, other Business Professional functions.
• Advise and support the Practice Group Leaders about key investment decisions, such as lateral Partner hires, exits, and promotions. Taking a leading role in coordinating the relevant Business Services functions and managing the projects.
• Monitor and ensure effective implementation of client and business development plans leveraging support from other Business Professional functions.
• Coordinate and lead internal Practice Group engagement activities and meetings fostering positive and open communication.
• Leverage services provided by shared service centers and specialist functions within the Business Professional organization to drive excellence and efficiency.

Skills and Experience:

• Relevant undergraduate degree required.
• Good professional management experience in a global setting, ideally in a professional services environment.
• Proficiency in law firm operations, legal accounting, and finance.
• Proficiency in using MS Office applications, including PowerPoint and advanced functions of Excel.
• An understanding of the elements of law firm profitability at practice group, service line, client, matter, and attorney level.
• Strong business sense and good judgment in problem-solving.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Effective communication at all organizational levels.
• Experience with business management, including an understanding of the challenges of operating in different markets regionally.
• Able to manage multiple complex operations with continual attention to detail (including accuracy with numbers).
• Experience conducting complex qualitative and quantitative analyses, interpreting results, and suggesting action plans.
• Experience coordinating people in different locations and cultures.
• Able to work effectively in informal teams and collaborate cross-practice and cross-function in a global organization.

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