Divisional Supervisor

London, England, United Kingdom

7/22/2025

Type

Permanent - Full Time

Location

London

Job Role

Divisional Support

Withers

Job title: Divisional Supervisor

Reports to: Divisional Support Manager

Location: Hybrid

What are we looking for?

We’re seeking a confident, motivated individual with proven team leadership experience—or strong leadership potential. This role is ideal for someone who’s passionate about fostering excellence, streamlining operations, and building meaningful relationships with colleagues and clients. You’ll play a pivotal role in driving divisional success through effective supervision, innovative thinking, and a proactive approach to collaboration

The role of the Divisional Supervisor (DS) is to work with the Divisional Support Manager (DSM), the Regional Divisional Leaders (RDLs), Divisional Operating Officer (DOO), Divisional Finance Officer (DFO), fee earners, client services team, client relationship team and other divisional support staff, as well as business services teams to ensure the smooth, efficient and effective running of the division, managing all divisional support staff on a daily basis and discussing and keeping the DSM updated on any support staff issues that may arise.

Areas Of Focus And Responsibilities

Better ways of working:

• Champion business development and marketing within the division, identifying knowledge gaps and coordinating training.
• Promote consistent and efficient marketing efforts in collaboration with other DSs and the marketing team.
• Stay current with emerging technologies—especially AI—and encourage team adoption.
• Coach, mentor and implement better working practices aligned with firm-wide strategy.
• Optimise CR team performance to meet divisional goals and financial targets and eliminate bottlenecks including collaborating with the relevant teams to ensure efficient and prompt onboarding of clients.
• Promote financial hygiene and document housekeeping to mitigate risk.
  
  

General

• Fully support an allocated number of partners in the division
• Assess capacity, utilisation and performance of all divisional support staff to ensure consistency of support
• Arrange training where knowledge needs are identified
• Establish the highest professional standards of client service and develop a culture of excellence acting as a best practice role model
• Maintain own professionalism and seek to continuously update and develop personal knowledge and skills
• Identify potential problems and suggest innovative, practical solutions having regard to the firm's strategic direction
• Use a long-term perspective to pre-empt business needs seeking to understand the firm's long-term plans
• Lead by example, be ethical and put the firm first.
• Project confidence to have a positive impact on others
• Be open to change and focus on improvements
• Face up to tough issues and be willing to deal with problems with a positive attitude
• Seek to evolve the role making best use of technology to enhance working practices
  
  

Managing Information

• Authorise and monitor all absence via Select HR in accordance with the firm's policies including undertaking return to work interviews where necessary
• Coordinate divisional meetings, training, and support staff appraisals.
• Facilitate trainee and fee earner appraisal processes with HR and RDLs.
• Conduct performance reviews, track objectives, and identify development needs.
  
  

Divisional Support

• Collaborate with CS team, concierge, and records teams to maintain tidy environments and document discipline.
• Monitor the digital mailroom and ensure proper adherence to protocols.
• Uphold naming conventions and house styles with the support of ITSUs.
• Ensure daily coverage of the Divisional Support Hub.
• Offer solutions and ideas for new working practices and support the division during implementation
• Take an active role in collaborating with the marketing team and CS team to ensure CS team are responsible for and involved in the business development and marketing needs of the partners and fee earners in the division, including assistance with LinkedIn posts, marketing lists, events etc
• Ensure the CR team are working effectively and to the best of their ability to ensure the division hits its targets and bottlenecks are eliminated by means of regular catch ups with CREs and CRs
  
  

Managing resourcing and allocations:

• Manage workload and support coverage across teams, ensuring efficiency.
• Resolve staff performance issues diplomatically with DSM input.
• Oversee trainee rotation, vacation scheme students, and new starter training.
• Facilitate smooth handovers for leavers, joiners, and movers.
• Deputise for DS colleagues in their absence
• Have a clear understanding of all divisional support staff's workloads and manage workflow accordingly
• Continually review working practices, recognise and rectify inefficiencies
• Ensure teams work efficiently and cohesively to support the division and wider firm as necessary
• Proactively promote the use of DPC
• Actively encourage training for new starters and brief refresher training for existing employees
  
  

Support Team Recruitment And Development

• Collaborate with DSM on recruitment planning and talent management.
• Conduct first-round interviews and contribute to final selection.
• Lead onboarding, mentoring, and buddy systems for new hires.
• Review probation progress and provide consistent performance feedback.
• Promote relevant training and ensure system competence across support staff
• Mentor and welcome new members of the support team and assist with the onboarding process, including completing the onboarding request forms for IT and others outlining specific requirements and taking part in induction sessions for all new staff.
• Ensure that ITSUs also hold a session for all new joiners
• Mentor admin assistants, enlisting the help of buddies and mentors and prompting completion of daily task logs and training log
  
  

Communication

• Adapt communication style for different audiences and platforms.
• Present ideas persuasively and encourage firm-wide alignment.
• Liaise regularly with DOOs and RDLs and maintain open dialogue with DSM.
• Take ownership of key messages and drive action.
• Meet deadlines efficiently.
• Attend and contribute to DS meetings with forward-thinking ideas.
• Encourage others to get involved and set own opinions aside when necessary and consistently adopt a firm-wide approach
• Ensure fee earners are aware of who is covering in advance of support staff absences and that everyone has a point of contact to reach out to
  
  

What We Are Looking For

• Leadership experience or strong leadership potential.
• A passion for improving working practices and championing efficiency.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Technological savvy with an eye toward innovation.
• Confidence, resilience, and a solutions-focused attitude.
• Integrity and commitment to the firm's values
  
  

The Essentials

• 930am to 530pm but flexibility is a must
• 12 week probation period
• 12 week notice period
• Flexible benefit package including pension, private medical insurance, denplan, season ticket loan, discounted gym membership, lifestyle discount scheme, the ability to buy and sell holidays, flu jabs, doctors consultation service, cycle to work scheme, on site café plus more
  
  

About Withers

A law firm focused on people and collaboration. For the past 125 years, Withers has supported some of the world's most remarkable people and organisations at defining moments in their lives. We are the only international law firm focused on successful individuals and private capital, working closely with founders, investors and family offices. We also advise governments, charities, global brands and start-ups of all shapes and sizes. Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle many of the world's problems. It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice. Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, looking after their family, involved in a complex dispute or protecting their finances for the future. To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. We are agile, focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy. It is a truly flexible working culture that puts people first. Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

Information for recruitment agencies

Withers endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal opportunities employment statement

It is the policy of Withers to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion. Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.