Senior Legal Operations Manager in Cardiff

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

The Opportunity

This is a senior, embedded role sitting within the management structure of the Practice Groups. You will play a pivotal role in shaping performance, profitability, and service delivery across the group, while working closely with central business services teams. The role offers 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 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).