Chief Operating Officer

About the Role

KLR Executive Search Group partners with a leading New England full-service law firm to recruit a seasoned Chief Operating Officer (COO) to manage daily business functions and administrative operations. Located in New Hampshire with additional offices in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, the firm enjoys a solid regional presence and continues to grow in key markets. This executive-level position is critical as the current CEO/Executive Director plans retirement.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct daily operational activities across all firm locations, ensuring alignment, effective communication, and consistency throughout the New England offices.
• Act as a strategic collaborator with firm executives, practice leaders, and administrative managers on operational priorities, personnel resource planning, and growth strategies.
• Lead and manage administrative departments including Finance, Human Resources, IT, Facilities, and Operations, supporting recruitment, succession planning, compensation, retention, and fostering a cooperative team culture.
• Drive initiatives to streamline business processes across departments and offices, enhancing workflows, documentation standards, coordination, service quality, and overall efficiency.
• Guide implementation and enhancement of technology systems such as accounting platforms, HRIS, AI solutions, collaborating with IT and Finance leaders to improve integration, data accuracy, reporting capabilities, and best practice adherence.
• Collaborate with Finance to enhance financial analyses, budgeting, forecasting, and performance monitoring to support operational decision-making.
• Use financial and operational metrics to guide staffing, technology, infrastructure, and workspace planning to meet short and long-term objectives while identifying efficiency gains and cost management opportunities.
• Ensure strong policies, procedures, internal controls, and administrative standards across all offices, maintaining compliance and operational risk management.
• Work with departmental leadership to foresee risks and execute practical solutions, emphasizing compliance, training, transparent communication, and effective change management during new initiative rollouts.

Qualifications

• Extensive executive management experience within complex organizations, notably law firms, professional services, or similar sectors.
• Demonstrated leadership in overseeing or collaborating with Finance, HR, IT, Facilities, and Operations departments.
• Proven success in leading operational enhancements, process reengineering, systems deployment, financial analysis, and comprehensive business reporting.
• Excellent skills in communication, relationship building, and leadership, with a track record of fostering consensus and teamwork.
• Preference for candidates based locally or willing to relocate to New Hampshire, overseeing multiple offices in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.