Office Administrator, Houston

About the role

The Office Administrator will oversee day-to-day operations of the Houston office and serve as the primary point of contact, ensuring administrative functions run smoothly so lawyers can focus on the practice of law.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to Partners-in-Charge and firm leadership, providing insights and recommendations on office operations, performance, strategic priorities, and business challenges.
• Partner with leadership to align administrative support and services with client and practice needs.
• Oversee daily office operations to ensure efficient, high-quality service delivery while identifying opportunities to enhance operational effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain standards of operational excellence, client service, and responsiveness.
• Lead and manage a team of administrative and legal support professionals, including work allocation, performance evaluation, employee development, and training initiatives.
• Oversee staffing strategy including recruitment, workforce planning, and maintaining appropriate staffing levels.
• Partner with Human Resources to address employee relations matters, performance concerns, and organizational changes.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture that supports engagement and retention.
• Lead and support change management initiatives, including implementation of new service delivery models, technologies, and operational improvements.
• Ensure seamless onboarding and offboarding processes, including coordination of logistics and cross-functional support.
• Cover office-wide activities in alignment with firm policies and best practices while supporting the execution of client-facing and internal events, conferences, and firm-sponsored initiatives.
• Oversee facilities operations, including space planning, workplace design, construction, renovations, relocations, and lease-related matters, while partnering with building management to ensure a safe and functional environment.
• Maintain responsibility for workplace health, safety, security, and compliance with firm policies, including risk management, business continuity planning, and incident response.
• Manage the office administrative budget, including forecasting, expense approval, cost control, and identification of cost optimization opportunities.
• Oversee vendor and service provider relationships, including procurement activities, contract negotiation, and performance management in alignment with firmwide strategies.
• Manage community relations and charitable giving initiatives, including budget oversight, sponsorships, and engagement with local organizations.
• Ensure compliance with firm policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Leverage data and metrics to monitor performance, inform decision-making, and improve operational outcomes.
• Collaborate with peers across offices and participate in firmwide initiatives, working groups, and projects to drive consistency, best practices, and alignment with global strategies.
• Support partner meetings and office leadership activities, including coordination of agendas and logistics.
• Perform other duties and lead special projects as required to support office and firm objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Prior law firm or professional services experience is required.
• Minimum of ten years of work experience, including at least five years of supervisory experience, is preferred.
• Ability to work discreetly with confidential information and sensitive situations.
• Ability to quickly identify and analyze issues and problems, recommend and implement solutions, and respond effectively to sensitive inquiries and complaints.
• Demonstrates a proactive focus on operational excellence, client service, efficiency, and cost management.
• Exhibits excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Acts as a self-starter with a high energy level and a do-what-it-takes attitude.
• Data-driven and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to multi-task with strong organizational skills.
• Exercises flexibility and sound judgment in all situations.
• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure and during high-priority or emergency situations.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and consistent follow-through.
• Serves as an ambassador of goodwill, a catalyst for change, and maintains local office culture while embracing the needs of a global legal practice.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and direct the work of others.
• Maintains responsiveness and the ability to be available outside regular business hours in emergencies or high-priority situations.

Benefits

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Benefit packages include access to three medical plans, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Employees can also access pre-tax benefits such as health savings and flexible spending accounts. Norton Rose Fulbright helps provide financial security by allowing employees to participate in a 401(k) savings plan and profit-sharing plans if eligible. Full-time employees are eligible to access fertility benefits designed to support fertility and family-forming journeys. In addition to the Firm’s health and welfare benefits above, we offer a competitive paid time off plan, which provides a minimum of 20 days off based on your role and tenure with the firm. The firm offers a generous paid parental leave benefit allowing parents to take a minimum of 14 weeks of paid leave to bond with your newborn, or adopted child(ren). Employees are also entitled to 11 Firm holidays.

Equal Opportunity

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal laws and their implementing regulations that require the collection and recording of certain data and information. The information we receive will not be used to make any decision regarding employment and will be kept separate from your application. Similarly, self-identification information is kept confidential and used only in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Norton Rose Fulbright is committed to providing reasonable accommodation as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation to complete your application, please contact us.hr />hr />E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce. Equal Employment Opportunity Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the firm, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c).