As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we’re proud to recruit and retain top talent who bring energy, insight, and a singular focus on delivering exceptional experiences – for our clients and each other.

As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.We’re intentional about building a workplace that’s both high-performing and supportive, ensuring that everyone is empowered to do their best work and reach their full potential. These values shape how we collaborate, lead, and succeed – across teams, time zones, and career paths.

Whether you’re pursuing a role in law or business services, explore what’s possible and make your mark with Gowling WLG.

The Manager, Practice Operations and Initiatives leads the execution of strategic priorities and operational improvements across the Firm's practice groups. Reporting to the Senior Practice Director, you will lead complex initiatives, strengthen governance, and develop reporting and analytics that enhance practice performance.

The role translates approved priorities into structured plans, coordinates cross-functional stakeholders, monitors progress and outcomes, and drives continuous improvement and adoption. Strategic direction, practice performance accountability and final decision-making remain with the Senior Practice Director.

Lead and coordinate a portfolio of strategic and operational initiatives approved by the Senior Practice Director and practice leadership.

Translate Firm and practice priorities into project charters, business cases, implementation plans, timelines, responsibilities, measures and expected outcomes.

Manage initiatives from scoping through implementation and evaluation, monitoring milestones, dependencies, resources, risks and outcomes, and escalating issues as appropriate.





Support the consistent implementation of practice group and Firm priorities across practices and offices.

Develop and maintain practice-management processes, tools and governance frameworks that promote consistency and accountability.

Coordinate practice leadership meetings, including agendas, materials, decision records and follow-up on commitments and action items.

Maintain dashboards and reports on practice performance, strategic initiatives and operational priorities.

Analyze revenue, billings, collections, productivity and utilization metrics.

Identify trends, variances, risks and opportunities, and develop practical recommendations to support leadership decision‑making.

Partner with Practice Directors, Practice Group Leaders, Department Chairs and Business Services teams, including Finance, People & Culture, Marketing and Business Development, Legal Talent, Knowledge Management, and Innovation and Technology.

Lead continuous‑improvement and change‑management activities by coordinating communications, stakeholder engagement, implementation support and post‑implementation follow‑up.

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Management, Finance or a related discipline.

Minimum 5-8 years of relevant experience in operations, project management, business management or professional services; law firm experience is considered an asset.

Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic or operational initiatives from planning through implementation.

Strong financial acumen and experience preparing,



analyzing and presenting financial and operational reports and performance metrics.

Robust project‑management, change‑management, planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders and deadlines.

Excellent written and verbal communication, relationship‑building and stakeholder‑management skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.

Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with reporting, business intelligence and project‑management tools is preferred.

Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

Bilingualism is considered a strong asset.

Gowling WLG’s total rewards program is designed to foster a culture where high performance and personal well‑being go hand‑in‑hand. 100% employer‑paid health, dental, and mental health coverage, plus an annual lifestyle spending allowance

20+ vacation days and hybrid work flexibility.

Parental leave top‑up for 26 weeks (after 12 months of full‑time employment)

Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match.

Financial protection through short & long‑term disability, life, accident & critical illness insurance

Employee & Family Assistance Program, guided CBT, and an internal network of 120+ trained Mental Health First Aid responders

Perks and preferred pricing programs, referral bonuses and more

Gowling WLG employees have the potential to exceed this range based on tenure and performance.

This employer may use tools within our applicant tracking system that include artificial intelligence–supported features, such as automated candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.

📌 Operations Coordinator (Temporary Full-Time (Ottawa)
🏢 Gowling WLG
📍 Ottawa