Public Law & Policy Practice Manager

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Public Law & Policy Practice Manager in our Client Value & Practice Management department, reporting directly to the Public Law & Policy Practice Director and Practice Group Leader.  

The position will reside in the Washington, DC office with hybrid work capabilities and work with a team to take a multidisciplinary approach to legal service delivery, focusing on internal and external needs and promoting overall operational efficiency within the Public Law & Policy (PLP) practice. The Practice Manager is responsible for the execution of the business needs and internal operations of the practice group across multiple offices, with a strong emphasis on its strategy, performance objectives, work allocation and professional development. The Practice Manager is expected to perform all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm’s attorneys, advisors and staff, and maintaining an atmosphere of teamwork and continuous improvement. Above all, the Practice Manager must fulfill the needs of the firm in a manner consistent with the Firm’s Core Values. The Practice Manager will play a highly visible role in the behind-the-scenes operations at a lobbying and law firm.

Key responsibilities of this position include: 

Talent Management & Development

• Supervise a team of Policy Specialists and Fellows to ensure a high volume of work is distributed evenly and based on capabilities and availability. Maintain a working knowledge of team utilization, workload, developmental needs and professional development goals. Conduct ongoing financial analysis of overtime spending. Refine training program to address the team’s current needs and areas for growth. Incorporate feedback gained throughout the year into performance evaluations.
• Lead the year-round intern program including recruiting, onboarding and integration.
• Coordinate needs assessments for new hires, including attorneys, advisors and specialists. Work with Attorney Recruiting, Attorney Development and/or Human Resources in coordinating onboarding and offboarding efforts for non-partners to ensure proper integration and continued development. 
• Assist Director with lateral partner integration.
• Closely monitor workloads, availability, and utilization and alert Director to areas of concern. Review monthly utilization reports and note any inconsistencies.
• Work with Director to manage attorney and advisor evaluation and compensation adjustment processes, including review of evaluation forms, preparation for partner discussions of evaluation messages, and ensuring consistency across the group. Leverage knowledge acquired as a result of the evaluation process to focus on emerging issues and establish solutions.
• Monitor and report on pipeline of partnership candidates. Support Director and Practice Leaders in internal review and presentation of candidates to firm management.
• Work with Talent Development and Human Resources departments on morale and retention issues. 

Financial Performance Management 

• Closely manage the financial and administrative elements related to external consultants, including ongoing financial analyses of billable hours and client development activities. Oversee consultant contracting and invoicing, with support from Practice Specialist.
• Work with Finance, Client Value and Practice Leaders and Director to help develop revenue and expense budgets, review monthly operational expenditures and escalate issues and proposed solutions to Director. Provide operational metrics to inform strategic initiatives.
• Review financial reports provided by the Finance Department to assess Practice Group financial performance, identify key performance trends, prepare monthly reports, spot issues affecting Practice Group performance and make recommendations to improve the same.
• Support Director in mid-year and year-end collections processes.

Management & Reporting

• Work as liaison of Director and Practice Leaders with firm management and other professional departments to help identify, develop and drive firm initiatives. Integrate firm-wide goals into practice group initiatives.
• Work with Director, Practice Leaders and other relevant business service professionals to develop the group’s strategy and performance objectives, and lead, oversee, drive and ensure the timely execution of initiatives to support such strategy/objectives. 
• Oversee maintenance of databases of practice metrics, organizational documents and knowledge management resources, with support from Practice Specialist.
• Maintain industry awareness by keeping abreast of current events and significant legislation.

Administrative & Operational Support 

• Serve as a collaborator to Director and Practice Leaders, to help minimize managerial and administrative duties. Proactively and independently identify and analyze problems, develop solutions and deliver results.
• Coordinate agendas and prepare presentation materials for internal recurring practice meetings and other ad hoc meetings. Make suggestions for content and speakers and coordinate same. Liaise with Business Development, Client Value, Recruiting and other administrative departments on updates. Follow up with Director, Practice Group Leaders and Partners on initiatives arising from meetings to ensure deliverables and goals are met.
• Develop and plan internal practice group events and teambuilding activities, with support from Events Coordinator and Practice Specialist.
• Work with New Business Intake and the General Counsel’s office to assist as needed with issues related to opening new matters and conflicts clearance as well as with partner arrivals and transitions.
• Assist Director with the drafting of internal communications.

Business Development and Marketing 

• Work with Business Development on proposals and client engagement projects as needed; help ensure alignment with Practice Group’s strategy.  

Other

• Coordinate hiring, onboarding, managing and offboarding of other timekeepers and other designated Practice Management team members.
• Establish strong rapport and working relationships with other business services professionals, as well as strong relationships with Attorneys and Advisors within the practice.
• Support Director and Chief Practice Officer in team meetings, projects and initiatives, as needed.
• Special projects and special project management as assigned by Director and Practice Leaders.
• Foster and encourage a culture of superior client service, responsiveness, innovation and collegiality.
• Anticipate needs of practice leadership.

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA is preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of related experience, which must include law firm experience. Experience in administrative management roles at a lobbying firm or Capitol Hill is ideal but not required.
• A minimum of 2 years of people management experience, including experience with recruiting, hiring, and integrating team members. Supervision of an intern program is a plus.
• Superior analytical skills, with excellent business acumen
• Superior project management experience, including the ability to quickly and proactively identify and analyze problems, develop innovative solutions and deliver results; experience leveraging AI resources is a plus.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and sensitivity to the complexities of a partnership and multi- office global practice group.
• Deep knowledge and experience with accounting and budgeting principles and ability to analyze financial data, draw accurate conclusions and make appropriate recommendations for future courses of action.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, on a prepared and extemporaneous basis with all levels of attorneys and staff. Ability to manage partner relationships and meetings.
• Advanced working knowledge of MS Office applications including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word, and ability to work in various software applications as needed.
• Ability to prioritize, manage heavy workload and adjust to changing priorities, work independently and as a member of a team, manage multiple projects with specific deadlines, and complete tasks under time pressure as necessary.
• Strong service orientation, work ethic, organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to use initiative and judgment to accomplish results.
• Ability to use critique of work to improve performance.
• Demonstrated poise and professionalism when interacting with peers, attorneys, office, firm and practice management, and outside business contacts.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality of all information and adhering to the Firm’s Core Values.
• Commitment to professional growth and development.

The anticipated base salary range for this position in Washington, DC is $150,000 - $185,000. The actual salary offered will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, years of relevant experience, certifications or other professional licenses held, job-related knowledge and skills, business needs, and the location from which the work will be performed. Additionally, salary or hourly wages may be only part of the total compensation package, which may also include a full range of health and other insurance benefits, financial and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility), a discretionary bonus, and various paid time off benefits. Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here.