Practice Group Support Manager - London

Our global group advises clients on a wide range of projects, from the most strategic, right through to day-to-day commercial agreements and regulatory change projects for corporate and institutional clients. Our work includes:

• large and complex M&A deals
• tax structuring
• trade and EU law
• corporate finance arrangements
• intellectual property, including trademarks and patents
• data and technology regulation
• investigations by competition authorities
• corporate restructuring and insolvency
• financial service regulation
• stock market listings
In undertaking all of this work our aim is to become the globally trusted advisor to our clients. The Role As a Practice Group Support Manager at Eversheds Sutherland, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring stakeholders receive a professional, efficient and proactive PA and administrative service. You will lead and manage diverse support teams up to 30 people with strategic vision, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability and continuous improvement. Your senior role involves engaging and building trust with stakeholders at all levels, driving effective communication and relationship management and aligning with the wider business strategy. You will drive initiatives for growth and collaboration within the team, enabling our people to excel in their roles and adapt to the dynamic needs of the firm. You will ensure the efficient use of resources and contribute to the firm's financial management through effective budget and cost-saving initiatives. Additionally, you will champion process improvements and the adoption of innovative technologies, ensuring operational efficiency and seamless adaptation to evolving business requirements. Your leadership will be instrumental in creating a dynamic, supportive work environment that aligns with Eversheds Sutherland's values and strategic objectives. Training and development: At Eversheds Sutherland, we are dedicated to the continuous development of our Practice Group Support Managers through a comprehensive suite of programs. These include advanced leadership training, specialised technical courses, soft skills workshops and personalised mentorship. You will benefit from performance coaching, cross-functional training and opportunities to attend prestigious industry events, all designed to elevate your leadership capabilities and professional growth. As a Practice Group Support Manager, you will also play a pivotal role in mentoring and developing Team Leaders and support staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and excellence. Your commitment to professional development will not only enhance your own career but also drive the success and growth of your team and the firm. Pro Bono, Community and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) opportunities: Beyond your daily tasks, we encourage you to contribute to Pro Bono, Community and D&I initiatives. Make a difference by using your skills to benefit our communities. Ambition for people, clients and communities: Our ambition extends beyond business success. We are equally committed to the growth and well-being of our people, clients and the broader community. Staying ahead: In this pivotal role, effective communication and influence are paramount. As a Practice Group Support Manager, you will take strategic charge, anticipate needs and drive initiatives forward with confidence and precision. From inception to completion, you will own tasks, identify areas for process improvement and adapt seamlessly to evolving technologies. Your proactive and visionary approach ensures that you stay ahead, fostering innovation and excellence not only within your team but across the entire practice group. By championing change and embracing new methodologies, you will lead the way in creating a dynamic and forward-thinking environment that aligns with Eversheds Sutherland's strategic objectives.,
• Strategic stakeholder communication: provide regular, high-level communication and liaison with stakeholders regarding daily support services, performance and feedback. Building robust relationships, promptly addressing team or individual issues, providing strategic solutions and escalating to the Senior Practice Group Support Manager or Head of Support Services as necessary
• Leadership development: mentor and support Team Leaders and PAs / TAs in their development, aiding in strategic decision-making and identifying effective solutions. Effectively delegate to develop and motivate others, providing stretch opportunities
• Advanced workload management: oversee the distribution of workloads within the support team(s), ensuring client service excellence for both internal and external clients. Manage re-allocation of support and source capacity from local and national support teams, regularly reviewing and addressing the support structure with the Senior Practice Group Support Manager
• Strategic meeting participation: attend and contribute to regular Partner and fee-earner team meetings to update on Practice Group support key focus areas and drive client service excellence. Deliver key messages in individual and team meetings
• Comprehensive performance management: consistently manage all support team check-ins through thorough preparation, leading meetings and ensuring development plans, areas of focus and specific training needs are identified and implemented. Provide regular constructive feedback
• Addressing underperformance: address underperformance in behaviours, values and performance, liaising with the Senior Practice Group Support Manager and ER as required
• Attendance and leave management: monitor holiday and sickness records for the team, escalating significant issues to the Senior Practice Group Support Manager and ER. Conduct return-to-work interviews as per the agreed process, keeping key stakeholders informed
• Strategic recruitment and retention: manage the support staff recruitment process, including establishing genuine recruitment needs, drafting robust business cases and liaising with the Senior Practice Group Support Manager and the Recruitment team. Lead the interview process, advocating for the Firm and hiring quality individuals who fit the Firm's culture. Ensure the retention of key talent within the team
• Onboarding and induction: ensure new joiners have all necessary arrangements in place, including IT setup, team introductions, and procedural guidance. Allocate a "buddy," follow the probation procedure and manage effective inductions, addressing training needs and skills gaps
• Stakeholder integration: integrate new stakeholders, ensuring they work effectively with their support teams
• Financial management: understand and apply Eversheds Sutherland's financial housekeeping principles and procedures, ensuring compliance with all financial policies and guidelines. Able to interpret and analyse financial information relevant to the team, to support internal and external clients. Maintain and manage the overtime process for the team, ensuring correct authorisation
• Utilisation review: review support services capacity to monitor trends, challenge working practices and address concerns promptly with the Senior Practice Group Support Manager and stakeholders
• Meeting management: manage regular support meetings, ensuring minutes and actions are circulated and key focus areas, objectives and firmwide actions are shared
• Hybrid team leadership: effectively manage and lead a hybrid team, ensuring sufficient office coverage and following up on non-attendance
• Collaboration and consistency: Work closely with other PGSMs and Team Leaders to ensure consistency and collaboration across all offices
• Role modelling and coaching: act as a role model for self-development and coaching of support staff. Attend and contribute to all PGSM/TL meetings and training sessions
• Fostering a positive environment: create an environment that encourages trust, open communication, innovative thinking and collaborative working
• Networking and training advocacy: advocate for attendance at networking events and training sessions, inspiring others to seek opportunities to increase responsibility and build their network and profile
• Technology utilisation: manage the utilisation and promotion of available technology, encouraging adoption and training. Conduct regular spot checks on quality and turnaround times, providing constructive feedback
• Process improvement: take responsibility for ensuring Firm and Practice Group procedures and processes are followed, actively seeking to continually improve these wherever possible
• Change management: embrace and champion any changes as directed by the Firm's management and IO teams, acting as a positive force and change agent within the team
• Embracing technology: continuously seek opportunities to embrace technologies that improve our ways of working and drive efficiency in day-to-day tasks
• Project management: lead and contribute to projects, ensuring they align with the Firm's strategic goals including managing timelines, budgets and resources, engaging stakeholders, identifying and mitigating risks and tracking performance to meet objectives
• Refining the support function: dedicate efforts to refining the support function, challenging the status quo where necessary to drive innovation and improvement
• Ownership and decision making: take responsibility for own actions and work to successfully resolve challenges. Make good decisions based on policy, procedure and experience
  
  Advanced people management: extensive experience in managing teams, including performance management, recruitment and fostering a culture of excellence and accountability
• Inspirational leadership: highly motivated with the ability to inspire and energise team members, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence
• Strategic personal brand: embodies a strong personal brand that not only aligns with but also elevates the Firm's values and purpose
• Proactive leadership: exhibits a high level of initiative and a proactive approach to strategic challenges, driving continuous improvement
• Autonomous and collaborative leadership: capable of leading independently while fostering a collaborative team environment
• Strategic stakeholder management: proven ability to manage and nurture high-level stakeholder relationships, ensuring strategic alignment with business objectives
• Superior communication: possesses exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Advanced influencing and negotiation skills: proven expertise in persuasion, influencing and negotiation, adept at managing complex conflicts and delivering constructive feedback
• Client service excellence: committed to delivering an outstanding level of client service, consistently exceeding expectations
• Results-oriented: demonstrates tenacity and strategic thinking, dedicated to achieving superior results and supporting the Firm's strategic goals
• Technology leadership: technically fluent and a proactive adopter of new and evolving technologies, driving digital transformation. An ambassador for self-serve technology, promoting the strategic sharing of information and the utilisation of innovative tools
• Project leadership: skilled in strategic project planning, implementation and delivery, ensuring alignment with the Firm's objectives
• Exceptional time management: demonstrates exceptional time management and prioritisation skills, ensuring efficient and effective workflow
• Professionalism and confidentiality: maintains the highest standards of objectivity and professionalism, ensuring confidentiality in all interactions
• Strategic delegation: proficient in delegating tasks strategically, ensuring optimal team performance and development
• Role model and mentor: acts as a role model and mentor, facilitating advanced problem-solving and collaboration within the team
  
  We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with 5,000+ colleagues in more than 30 countries. We're full service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we're equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we're purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We're ambitious for our clients, our communities - and for you. Whether you're starting out on your career or well established, whether you're a lawyer or in business services. If you're looking for what's next, we are too.
What to expect For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It's energetic, fast-moving and there's always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity. Focusing on your success and for what's next, will ensure you thrive too., At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.
• We're fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance
Diversity and inclusion At Eversheds Sutherland, "Inclusive" is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients' goals: together. We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations. Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process. We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.