Director of Operations (Winnipeg)

About Powell Litigation

Powell Litigation is a civil litigation firm serving clients across the Greater Toronto Area in complex, high‑stakes disputes, typically involving $250,000 or more at risk. We are courtroom‑tested trial lawyers focused on serious civil cases, not general practice. The firm has 20 team members and is growing. We are looking for a Director of Operations who will run the internal machine so the managing lawyer can focus on business development and high‑value cases.

Role Summary

Your mission is simple: Run the firm’s operating rhythm and reporting so that lawyers are fully utilized, intake is tight, and the owner only touches operations through a small number of structured meetings each week. You are the point person for making sure the right meetings happen, the right numbers are tracked, and the right problems get surfaced early.

Key Responsibilities

1. Run the management cadence: Lead and complete weekly one‑on‑one meetings with lawyers and key staff. Arrange and coordinate a different lunch‑and‑learn presenter each week (internal or external). Be the first point of contact for routine accounting and status questions from the team (e.g., confirming whether payments have landed) by ensuring information is organized and visible.
2. Own intake execution and pipeline visibility: Oversee the intake system to ensure:
   • Daily follow ups are completed.
   • Retainers are sent the same day to clients who decide to proceed.
   • Monitor lead handling quality and elevate breakdowns early.
3. Own firm reporting and finance coordination: Produce a weekly run chart that clearly shows:
   • Number of new leads.
   • Number of new consultations.
   • Number of new retainers signed and paid, broken out by referral vs paid ads.
   • Number of cases closed.
   • Utilization rate for each lawyer.
   • Caseload for each lawyer.
   • List of major upcoming litigation events with projected cost and current funds in trust.
   Coordinate preparation of the monthly profit and loss statement with internal staff and external bookkeeper or accountant, and ensure it is delivered on time.

What Success Looks Like

Within your first 3 to 6 months: Weekly one‑on‑ones and lunch‑and‑learns happen consistently and on schedule. Intake follow‑up and same‑day retainer standards are being met and tracked. The weekly run chart is delivered on time, accurate, and used in decision‑making. The monthly P&L is consistently prepared and reviewed on a clear timeline. The owner spends the vast majority of their time on business development and key cases, not day‑to‑day operations.

Qualifications

5+ years in operations or firm management, ideally in a law firm or professional services environment. Demonstrated experience running recurring management meetings and enforcing operational rhythms. Strong analytical and reporting skills; comfortable building and maintaining simple dashboards and reports. Familiarity with basic accounting concepts and working with P&L statements. Excellent communication and people skills; able to hold others accountable in a professional, respectful way. Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and comfortable working in a quick‑moving, litigation‑focused environment.