Chief of Staff, Business Administration

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Summary

The Chief of Staff, Business Administration, working in collaboration with and in support of the firm’s strategic initiatives, provides senior-level administrative, operational, and strategic support to the Chief. The role is designed to help advance departmental priorities, enable effective decision-making, and ensure disciplined execution across initiatives sponsored by the Chief.

Serving as a trusted partner, the Chief of Staff, Business Administration helps manage competing priorities, coordinates cross-functional efforts, prepares materials that support executive decision-making, and ensures follow-through on key commitments. This role requires strong judgment, discretion, organizational acumen, and the ability to operate effectively within a complex, matrixed professional services environment.

Location

This position is located in our New York office and requires regular in-office presence.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Prioritization & Execution
  • Develop a strong understanding of the Chief's role, departmental objectives, and operational priorities to support effective planning and execution.
  • Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the firm’s business strategy, operating model, and strategic priorities to help align initiatives sponsored by the Chief with broader Firm objectives.
  • Provide strategic context and perspective to support effective execution, ensuring initiatives are positioned and sequenced in a manner that advances Firm- and practice-level goals.
  • Track progress against key initiatives and commitments, highlighting risks, dependencies, and follow-up needs to ensure accountability.
  • Prepare briefing materials, presentations, and summaries that enable informed, efficient decision-making.
  • Assist with prioritization of requests and initiatives to help protect focus and align efforts with strategic goals.
  • Support the coordination and execution of special projects and initiatives on behalf of the Chief.
     
• Operational Enablement & Coordination
  • Serve as a central point of coordination between the Chief, senior Firm leadership and internal business professional teams to ensure timely communication and delivery of key workstreams.
  • Facilitate meetings by preparing agendas, coordinating materials, documenting outcomes, and monitoring follow-through on action items.
  • Support department-wide planning activities, including goal-setting, budgeting cycles, and operational reviews, as applicable.
  • Coordinate internal events, leadership meetings, and departmental forums to ensure effective logistics and execution.
     

• Stakeholder & Relationship Management
  • Collaborate closely with Firm leaders, including Practice Group Leaders (PGLs) and Vertical Chairs, to support alignment, information-sharing, and coordinated execution of cross-functional priorities.
  • Serve as a connector between the Chief, Firm leadership, and key governance stakeholders to facilitate alignment on strategy, initiatives, and execution expectations.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the business drivers, challenges, and priorities of core practices and verticals to anticipate needs and tailor support accordingly.
  • Build effective working relationships with peers across departments to support collaboration and information flow.
  • Manage sensitive communication and information with professionalism and discretion.
     
• Executive Support & Representation
  • Partner closely with the Chief’s Executive Assistant to ensure alignment across calendars, meetings, and priorities.
  • Represent the Chief in meetings or discussions as delegated, primarily for information gathering, coordination, and follow-up purposes.
  • Ensure consistent preparation and follow-through related to internal leadership engagements.
     
• Governance, Communication & Confidentiality
  • Support governance processes, reporting cadence, and documentation associated with departmental initiatives.
  • Maintain a high degree of confidentiality across all aspects of the role.
  • Apply sound judgment when handling sensitive issues, escalations, or time-sensitive matters.

Desired Skills   

Demonstrated experience supporting senior leaders or executive-level teams. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Proven organizational and project management capabilities. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. High level of professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence. Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills. Comfort leveraging technology and productivity tools to improve efficiency and workflow effectiveness.

Occasional travel may be required.

Minimum Education            

• High School Diploma or GED.
   

Preferred Education            

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, management, communications, or a related field.

Certificates

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA) is a plus.
   

Minimum Years of Experience  

• 8 years’ experience in professional services, legal, financial, or other complex corporate environments with experience supporting senior business leaders strongly desired.

Essential Job Expectations

All DLA Piper employees are expected to demonstrate excellence in how we serve our clients and develop our people, upholding our firm values as part of our culture. Specific expectations include:

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and external audiences.
• Produce high-quality work and respond to correspondence in an efficient, timely, and professional manner.
• Meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and commit to meeting high standards.
• Comply with firm policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidences as required in a law firm environment.
   

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: This is primarily sedentary work, requiring occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects. The role involves sitting for extended periods, with occasional walking and standing, and occasional travel, both domestic and international.

Work Environment    

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement combining remote and in-office work. The specific arrangement will be determined at the time of hiring and may be modified at the firm's discretion.

Disclaimer    

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm’s discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.
 

Application Process     

Interested candidates must apply directly online. Application materials sent via email will not be accepted.
 

Accommodation    

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position or participate in the selection process. For accommodation requests, please contact careers@us.dlapiper.com.

Agency applications will not be considered.

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position.

This job description provides a concise overview of the role and is not intended to describe all work elements that may be performed. It should not serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions. Job duties, requirements, and expectations may be modified at the firm's discretion at any time. This job description does not alter the at-will nature of employment.

We are committed to excellence in how we serve our clients and develop our people.

The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $250,000 - $300,000 per year depending on the candidate’s geographic market location.

The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

Applicants who are not based in the jurisdiction in which this position is posted and who apply for this role are doing so voluntarily and are not eligible for relocation assistance. Any relocation benefits, if any, are provided only where a relocation is required at the firm’s direction and in accordance with applicable policy and law.

DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Job applicant poster viewing center.