Director, Business Operations - Global Regulatory & IP

About the role

Hogan Lovells Cadwalader is seeking a Director, Business Operations to serve as a senior business and strategic operations leader for the firm's nearly $1 billion Global Regulatory & Intellectual Property Practice. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and partnering closely with the Practice Group Leader, Deputy Practice Group Leader, and Practice Leadership Team, the Director provides strategic counsel, operational leadership, and oversight of key practice management initiatives that support the practice's global growth, profitability, and long-term success.

Working across Finance, Marketing & Business Development, Talent, Knowledge Management, Legal Project Management, Technology, and Operations, the Director leads the execution of strategic priorities and practice-wide initiatives that enhance performance, improve operational effectiveness, and strengthen the firm's competitive position.

This role drives organizational alignment, oversees complex cross-functional projects, and champions innovative, scalable solutions that support a dynamic global practice. With responsibility spanning 16 practice areas worldwide, the Director influences decision-making at the highest levels of the practice and serves as a critical connector between practice leadership, firm management, and business services teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with practice leadership to develop, execute, and monitor strategic priorities that support growth, profitability, and market leadership.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on business performance, operational strategy, organizational effectiveness, and resource allocation.
• Lead strategic planning activities, business reviews, governance processes, and practice-wide initiatives.
• Develop executive reporting, key performance metrics, and business insights that support data-driven decision-making.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement, workflow optimization, and scalable business solutions.
• Lead transformational initiatives involving technology, artificial intelligence, automation, pricing, legal project management, and service delivery innovation.
• Establish governance structures, success measures, and accountability frameworks to ensure effective execution of strategic initiatives.
• Facilitate leadership alignment, communications, and change management efforts across a complex global organization.
• Partner with finance and business leaders to evaluate financial performance, identify opportunities, and support strategic investment decisions.
• Develop executive communications, presentations, strategic updates, and stakeholder engagement plans that advance practice priorities.
• Build strong partnerships across firm leadership and business services functions to drive collaboration and achieve business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA, JD, master's degree, or other advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within a law firm, professional services, consulting, or similarly complex global organization.
• Demonstrated success advising senior executives and influencing strategic business decisions.
• Significant experience leading large-scale strategic initiatives, organizational transformation, and change management efforts.
• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional programs and build strong executive stakeholder relationships.
• Strong understanding of professional services business models, practice management, financial performance, and profitability drivers.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, business judgment, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Executive presence with excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, drive alignment, and deliver results in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Experience supporting Regulatory or Intellectual Property practices preferred.

Additional information

Work Expectations: This is an exempt position requiring the flexibility to support business priorities, leadership initiatives, global stakeholders, and client needs across multiple time zones. This role requires a regular in-office presence, consistent with the firm's expectation of four days per week in the office.

Pay and benefits

In D.C., the expected base salary range for this role is $202,230 - $242,160 per year. This range reflects a good-faith estimate of pay at the time of posting; the actual compensation offered may vary depending on factors such as the candidate's qualifications. This position is eligible for additional forms of compensation, which may include annual discretionary bonuses.

Employees in this role are also eligible for benefits offered by the firm, subject to applicable plan terms and conditions, which currently include medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; and paid time off. Please review this link for more information regarding employee benefits in the United States.

This job description sets forth the responsibilities of this position and may be changed from time to time as shall be determined.