Head of Legal Operations in City of London

Job description

Head of Legal Operations

Location: Manchester or London, UK

Reporting to: Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) & Executive Committee

Position: Full-time

Role Summary & Focus (70% Operations / 30% Compliance)

We are seeking a highly experienced, entrepreneurial UK-qualified Solicitor to become our Head of Legal Operations . This is a pivotal executive role requiring exceptional operational leadership (70% focus) and a deep understanding of regulatory compliance (30% focus).

As a Director and Executive Committee member, you will be the key operational partner to the COLP. Your primary mission is to design, optimize, and lead the execution of our legal service processes , ensuring efficiency, profitability, and scalability. You will translate compliance standards into practical, high-quality, and cost-effective operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership & Service Delivery (The 70%)

• Process Design & Optimization: Own the design and continuous refinement of the legal service delivery model. Implement best practices and tools to maximize efficiency, profitability, and client satisfaction.
• Team Oversight: Provide inspirational leadership and direction for all practicing staff (solicitors, legal executives, paralegals), acting as a mentor and operational advisor.
• Strategic Project Management: Lead critical projects related to resource planning, budgeting, technology implementation, and external counsel management.
• Metrics & Quality: Design, own, and track Goals and KPIs focused heavily on operational performance, efficiency, and measurable quality metrics.

2. Compliance Implementation & Support (The 30%)

• COLP Partnership: Act as the primary operational partner to the COLP , actively translating SRA, GDPR, and AML requirements into concrete, measurable, and standardized workflows .
• System Controls: Design and manage the operational systems and controls necessary for identifying, monitoring, and mitigating compliance risk at the service delivery level.
• Guidance & Reporting: Develop policies, procedures, and internal guidance to ensure consistent staff adherence. Support the COLP in all required regulatory reporting and internal audit preparation.

3. Executive Governance

• Strategic Influence: Serve as a Director and Executive Committee member , driving strategic alignment between operations, compliance, and commercial goals.
• Culture: Promote a culture of integrity, high performance, and constructive collaboration across all functions.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• UK-Qualified Solicitor with 7–10 years’ Post-Qualified Experience (PQE) .
• Required Weighting: Proven senior leadership experience in Legal Operations and process design (reflecting 70% focus).
• Compliance Acumen: Demonstrable familiarity with the SRA Standards and Regulations, GDPR, and AML regulations , with experience in translating these rules into practical operational frameworks (reflecting 30% focus).
• Strong practical experience in Consumer Dispute Resolution or relevant litigation/claims.

Skills & Attributes

• Leadership: Exceptional ability to lead by example, motivate teams, and successfully manage large-scale operational and cultural change.
• Problem-Solver: A pragmatic, "can-do" thinker capable of solving complex operational and compliance challenges simultaneously.
• Moral Integrity: Possesses the unshakeable moral compass and confidence required to advocate for operational integrity and efficiency at the executive level.

What We Offer

• A highly influential leadership role with direct executive impact and a clear operational mandate.
• The opportunity to mentor and develop staff while shaping the future service delivery model of an innovative firm.
• Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

City of London

Type of Contract

Casual / Part Time Jobs

Published at

12-10-2025

Profession type

Logistics jobs

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English