Director of Operations

Rinke Noonan is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to help lead the firm into its next chapter of growth and continued excellence. For nearly 60 years, Rinke Noonan has built a strong reputation for sophisticated legal work, trusted client relationships, and a collaborative, team-oriented culture. As the firm continues to evolve, we are looking for a thoughtful and highly capable operational leader who can partner closely with firm leadership, strengthen the systems and people that support the practice, and help turn firm priorities into coordinated action. This is a highly visible leadership role with broad responsibility across operations, finance, people, technology, and organizational infrastructure. The role is well suited for someone who enjoys bringing clarity to complexity, building trusted relationships, continual improvement, and helping strong professionals work together effectively. The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, financial and operational acumen, strong people leadership, and the ability to influence across a professional-services environment where collaboration and shared decision-making are important. Rinke Noonan is looking for a leader who can understand the organization, ask good questions, build credibility, develop others, and create the structure and follow-through that allow the firm to operate effectively and sustainably. The person joining Rinke Noonan will also benefit from a thoughtful transition with the current Director of Operations, creating an opportunity to learn the firm's history, relationships, systems, and operating rhythms while gradually establishing independent leadership. Position Responsibilities The Director of Operations is accountable for five primary areas: Integrated Execution: Translate firm direction and leadership decisions into clear priorities, ownership, timelines, and coordinated action across committees, practice areas, and administrative functions. Operational Leadership: Ensure the firm has effective structures, systems, processes, resources, and accountability, including appropriate oversight of finance, technology, vendors, facilities, HRIS, documentation, and process improvement. Strategic Partnership: Serve as a thought partner to the Managing Partner and firm leadership by identifying operational implications, risks, opportunities, and connections across the firm once strategic direction has been established. Financial Oversight: Partner with Finance and firm leadership to understand financial performance, support budgeting and planning, oversee key recurring processes, and connect staffing and operational decisions to financial impact. People Leadership: Lead and develop administrative staff and leaders, strengthen role clarity and delegation, partner on hiring and performance management, and address people and organizational issues with appropriate accountability including corrective action, discipline, and termination decisions. The Director of Operations also participates in Rinke Noonan's governance structure in defined roles across standing committees, helping connect decisions to execution while respecting established decision rights and committee ownership. Qualifications We are particularly interested in experienced operational leaders who have worked across functions and can lead through influence as well as formal authority. Candidates should have: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Management, or a related field. 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, administration, human resources, or business management. Meaningful people-management experience, including responsibility for delegation, performance management, employee relations, corrective action, discipline, termination, employee development, and accountability; Experience leading complex, cross-functional operational work and translating leadership direction into coordinated execution; Financial fluency sufficient to understand business performance, participate in budgeting and planning, and connect operational decisions to financial impact; Sound judgment and discernment in complex situations involving competing priorities, stakeholders, risk, and shared decision authority; A demonstrated ability to build credibility and influence experienced professionals who may not report directly to them; Strong communication skills, including the ability to address difficult issues directly, receive feedback constructively, and maintain discretion and confidentiality; A systems-oriented approach to improving processes, clarifying ownership, reducing key-person dependency, and building sustainable operating practices; Experience developing capable teams and creating accountability without becoming the default problem-solver; Demonstrated judgment, discretion, and confidence in handling sensitive employee relations and human resources matters, including difficult performance, discipline, and termination situations; Comfort overseeing functions such as finance, technology, vendors, facilities, or governance without needing to be the technical expert in every area; and Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and business management systems. Additional preferred qualifications include: A master’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Management, or a related discipline; and SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or a similar professional certification. Leadership experience in professional services, a partnership, or another decentralized environment with multiple influential stakeholders is strongly preferred. Law-firm experience can be valuable, but it is not required if the candidate brings strong professional-services leadership, operational judgment, financial fluency, and the ability to learn the firm's business and governance model quickly. Leadership Approach and Values Rinke Noonan values professionalism, development and growth, teamwork, service, and transparent communication. The Director of Operations should model these values in how they lead, communicate, make decisions, and work across the firm. Compensation and Benefits Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience Pay Range: $110,000 - $130,000 a year Compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, demonstrated leadership capability, and the level of responsibility appropriate for the person hired. Rinke Noonan offers a competitive benefits package, including: 100% employer-paid health insurance for employee and family coverage; Employer-funded Health Savings Account (HSA); Employer-paid life insurance; Employer-paid long-term disability insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP); Profit Sharing Plan; 401(k) Retirement Plan; Paid Time Off (PTO); Paid holidays; Professional development opportunities; and Opportunities for discretionary bonuses. #J-18808-Ljbffr