Administration Manager

Job description / Role

Our client, an international law firm is seeking an experienced Operations Manager, Middle East. Reporting to Operations Director UK, US & EMEA, you will be responsible for 12 direct reports.

Primarily you will be in charge of coordination and facilitation of operational activities to enable the effective and efficient day-to-day running of the offices and to ensure that high levels of service are provided to all clients, partners and staff; Manage the office secretaries as well as have overall responsibility for Client Services and Office Services (comprised of day to day building management, facilities management, internal office moves, workplace safety, security, business continuity and emergency planning, records management, mail and print.) You will also oversee the implementation of global or regional operations and facilities initiatives, including any future office relocation.

They are seeking someone encompassing the following qualities and experience:
• Overall management responsibility for the local Office Operations and Secretarial support.
• Strong people leadership including coaching, managing performance and building a highly engaged team.
• Effective relationship management with Operations Director UK, US & EMEA, the local Office Managing Partner and partners to maximise the running of the office.
• Achievement of budget, other strategic KPI’s, costs and service levels for the office to ensure that a superior professional service is provided to all clients.
• Alignment with other the firms' global processes, policies and procedures, where appropriate.

Requirements

They are seeking someone encompassing the following qualities and experience:
• Overall management responsibility for the local Office Operations and Secretarial support.
• Strong people leadership including coaching, managing performance and building a highly engaged team.
• Effective relationship management with Operations Director UK, US & EMEA, the local Office Managing Partner and partners to maximise the running of the office.
• Achievement of budget, other strategic KPI’s, costs and service levels for the office to ensure that a superior professional service is provided to all clients.
• Alignment with other the firms' global processes, policies and procedures, where appropriate.

Qualifications, skills and experience:
• Extensive leadership experience (not exclusively legal experience) at a senior level.
• Proven experience in initiating activities that contribute to meeting an organisation’s strategic objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen.
• Solid experience in managing a corporate office, preferably within a professional services environment.
• High level of experience in driving and influencing.
• Ability to define, set and drive business goals at a strategic and operational level, and assist team members in achieving the same.
• Advanced people management skills with a demonstrated ability to build leadership capability and drive a cohesive team capable of delivering services of the highest standard.
• Proven project management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Able to confidently get message across to senior audiences, presents with clarity, energy, confidence and enthusiasm.
• Able to make complex decisions to ensure the firm objectives are met.

Preferable:
• Exposure to property lease management including rent reviews, option exercising and lessor management.
• Knowledge of property management including fit outs.

Competencies Personal Leadership:
• Energises those around them, simplifies complexity and makes quality decisions
• Brings perspective and a constructive approach to high pressure situations and directs attention to solutions
• Makes sound commercial decisions based on a clear understanding of the business
• Acts decisively even on the basis of incomplete information

Collaborates with others:
• Develops innovative solutions by valuing diversity of thought, expertise and experience
• Brings a positive energy to the way they work and inspires this in others
• Draws on internal networks to bring people with the right skills and expertise together to develop solutions

Builds High Performing Teams:
• Builds highly engaged teams that are diverse and inclusive and can excel in a range of situations
• Creates an environment that encourages personal accountability, and builds the confidence of others by highlighting their strengths and achievements

Focuses on Clients:
• Always acts with the firm’s clients in mind
• Prioritises initiatives that will positively impact the client experience and their business
• Develops solutions that balance client needs and the sustainable profitability of the firm
• Takes active steps to cultivate and maintain an excellent reputation in the market

Innovates:
• Leads and influences change
• Seeks out market trends and introduces relevant ideas for competitive advantage
• Envisions ways for the firm to differentiate itself and is driven to achieve this

Achieves results:
• Makes things happen in a complex environment
• Remains focused on long term objectives and broad firm issues

About the Company

MENA Recruit came to fruition in response to a growing need for international legal talent in London and Dubai. Its initial focus began in the Legal sector, evolving as a service provider for other sectors such as Administration, Marketing, Business Development, HR, IT, Finance and C-Suite positions.

Over the last two decades, with roots firmly planted in the Middle East and operations expanding into the APAC region, MENA Recruit has gained intuitive industry knowledge and expertise. With its unique, people-focused approach, the firm has yielded competitive advantage for its clients and rewarding careers for the professionals it has supported throughout the years.

The company is dedicated to delivering the highest quality of talent and service to its clients while working tenaciously towards helping them achieve higher retention rates. For this reason, MENA Recruit is considered by both candidates and clients as a consultant in the truest sense of the word, offering guidance to both people and organizations on how to adapt to the constant change in market conditions and how to anticipate present and future challenges.

Presently, MENA Recruit provides services to organizations and professionals in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

With such an extensive global reach, strong brand value, decades of expertise, and an innovative approach towards business challenges, it’s clear why MENA Recruit is the partner of choice for both in-house recruiters and candidates internationally.