Chief Operating Officer

Miller Johnson is searching for an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) located in Grand Rapids, MI. The COO will serve as a key firmwide leader of business operations, focused on driving and managing day-to-day operations, building high-performing administrative functions that support and enable growth and profit, and delivering financial performance ahead of competitors. The COO will also add rigor and discipline to business practices and will actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the firm’s competitive position and revenue growth by seeking operational improvements and ensuring excellence in the performance of the business staff. Reporting to the firm’s Managing Member the COO will lead a team of 100+ support personnel through four direct reports and will be a strong and collaborative business partner to the Management Committee, retiring CEO/Advisor, Vice President of Growth and Analytics, firm partners, and other members of business leadership.

The Chief Operating Officer will lead all areas of business and administrative operations of the firm, including Finance & Accounting, Human Resources and Training & Development, Marketing/Brand Communications, and Information Technology.

As the COO your responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating with the Managing Member and the Management Committee to thoroughly understand the firm’s vision for revenue and profitability growth, identify short-term and long-term operational objectives to advance that vision, and effectively marshal and direct the scaling of administrative resources necessary to surpass those objectives.
• Ensuring that Miller Johnson attracts and develops experienced and talented administrative staff who consistently execute on the firm’s core initiatives and make significant contributions to its central goals.
• Proactively identifying and recommending innovative methodologies, new technologies, practice management tools, artificial intelligence, and industry best practices that will support Miller Johnson’s vision, strategy, and objectives, enhance its brand, and provide a competitive edge.
• Building and maintaining strong lines of communication across the firm and ensuring that Miller Johnson’s different constituencies are regularly and appropriately apprised of the firm’s operations and financial performance.
• Safeguarding and fostering a down-to-earth, collaborative culture that is committed to professional excellence and client service, pursuing the firm’s DE&I objectives, and implementing engagement strategies and initiatives to support overall team member engagement levels >70%.
• Overseeing office space planning, lease negotiations, and building operations.

To be successful in the role you must possess:

• A minimum of 15 to 20 years of broad-based, executive and operational leadership; experience leading Human Resources and Information Technology, and exposure to Finance/Accounting and Brand/Communications.
• Growth mindset; ideally within the legal industry or other professional service business.
• Has successfully scaled business with revenues greater than $50M and less than $500M
• Sharp business acumen, strategic finance, and analytical skills; the ability to develop comprehensive short- and long-term strategic operating and business plans and programs from broadly stated objectives;
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to inspire and influence others; capable of generating buy-in across all levels of the organization.
• Experience leading successful change management initiatives and background driving continuous improvement, innovation, and optimization of business operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of diversity and inclusion best practices with a proven record of implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives through to execution.
• Proven success in recruiting, mentoring, managing, and developing staff.
• An undergraduate degree in business administration or a related field is required; MBA or other advanced degrees are preferred.
• Forward thinking, growth-oriented approach coupled with highly developed diplomatic skills and ability to understand the political subtleties endemic to a professional services firm.
• Collaborative, curious, consensus builder, adept at leading change, who can take a strong stand, when necessary, while being open-minded and flexible
• Motivating and open communication style.
• A positive, nimble, and entrepreneurial spirit that is energized by being part of an ambitious, collegial leadership team.
• Superb interpersonal skills, including excellent listening skills, combined with the ability to work effectively in fast-paced, consensus-driven, multi-authority professional services shareholder structure.
• Encourages calculated risk-taking in decision making and initiatives that support the firm’s growth.
• Service-oriented, responsive, and committed to excellence.
• Outstanding professional and personal ethical standards and integrity.
• A team-oriented personality that is consistent with the firm’s culture and core values.
• Passionate about helping Michigan grow while providing our clients meaningful solutions and peace of mind.

Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C. (Miller Johnson) is a rapidly growing, dynamic, highly respected firm known for providing its clients meaningful solutions and peace of mind at a great value. With double-digit growth over the past two years, Miller Johnson has grown to more than 130 attorneys in offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Detroit and 80-plus practice areas. We were founded by six attorneys in 1959 and have grown to be one of the largest law firms in Michigan. The firm’s award-winning attorneys are highly regarded in their respective practice areas, and many have been with the firm for most, if not all, of their legal careers. With preeminent practices in business and corporate law, employment and labor law, litigation, education, and personal legal services, the firm works in partnership with its clients to promote their success by providing innovative, solution-oriented, cost-effective services.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (‘DE&I’) are fundamental to Miller Johnson’s culture. Miller Johnson is a founding member of the Managing Partners Diversity Collaborative Agreement, a formal commitment between Grand Rapids law firms and the Grand Rapids Bar Association to work together to promote and achieve greater diversity and inclusion in the West Michigan legal community through education, hiring, retention, and promotion.

MJ Action has committed to providing at least $1 million in legal services each year in partnership with individuals and public interest organizations. These efforts encourage wide-ranging support for business, financial, protective, and personal needs of individuals and entrepreneurs. Miller Johnson has assisted human trafficking survivors with domestic and family law issues, helped first-time entrepreneurs form businesses and protect intellectual property rights, pursued trailblazing litigation, formed non-profit organizations, and counseled clients through a host of small business and corporate matters, such as hiring their first employees.

If you are ready to work with an innovative and growing organization, please apply today