Chief Operating Officer

We're a future-focused international legal practice with over 1,500 legal experts across 26 locations. We help clients across eight core industry sectors to succeed in tomorrow’s world. Our national firms combine the very best of Osborne Clarke with an understanding of the local business environment and in-depth legal expertise in each jurisdiction.

Osborne Clarke Belgium ("OC Belgium") was founded in 2013 and has experienced continued growth ever since. Today, our office in Brussels includes a team of over 40 lawyers and 16 business support colleagues.

Our multidisciplinary team based in Brussels has significant experience in advising leading and emerging players in the Tech, Media & Comms, Life Sciences, Financial services, Retail, Real Estate and Energy & Utilities sectors.

We are looking for an experienced and committed Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our firm as the head of our management team. As COO at OC Belgium you will be responsible for overseeing the overall business strategy as well as the day-to-day operations. With your expertise you continue to improve our operational efficiencies, pushing innovation and growth as part of the Executive Committee, which is mandated by the Partnership.

• Minimum 10 years of operational management experience, ideally at least 2 of which would have been spent in another law firm;
• Comfortable working effectively with legal professionals in an international environment;
• Thorough understanding of business support functions such as human resources, finance, business development, marketing, and others;
• Ability to analyse and interpret data and metrics to assess performance;
• Evidence of competence in strategic planning, budgeting, financial reporting and business development;
• Exceptional interpersonal, leadership and communication skills;
• Problem-solver, reliable and talent for organisation;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and either French or Dutch, with a good command of the other national language.

• Design and implement business strategies, plans and procedures – short and long term;
• Ensure that all resources, systems and people are in place to achieve the goals set forth by the Executive Committee and Partners;
• Formulate individual key focal points and objectives for Managers and Business Support together with HR and the Executive Committee;
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Managers (Finance, HR, IT, BD & Marketing) and Business Support and ensure active participation of the Managers in the development and protection of OC Belgium's vision and strategy;
• Meet with and report to the Executive Committee on the daily operations and the firm's/individual's key objectives;
• Motivate and inspire Managers to develop and detail OC Belgium's central strategic policies that promote our company culture. Be jointly responsible for operationalising and commercialising these policy frameworks and the implementation thereof;
• Direct management on the preparation and delivery of weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports and operating statements (turnover, timesheets, costs, investments, returns, etc.). Oversee the work of our Finance team in relation to the compilation of budgets in line with the aforementioned statements and the monitoring of liquidity needs against budget;
• Maintain and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders and partners;
• Ensure and analyse OC Belgium's forecasts and results as part of the global OC network. Work together in close collaboration with other OC jurisdictions;
• Ensure the development, organisation and qualitative assurance of commercial, operational processes in order to provide, in line with the policies, a highly innovative and commercially oriented and effective service to clients;
• Contribute to a positive and sustainable work environment, with a focus on diversity and inclusion.