PA Services Manager, APAC (Melbourne or Sydney)

We are seeking an experienced and strategic PA Services Manager, APAC to lead the design, governance, and continuous improvement of our PA/TA service model across Asia-Pacific, while ensuring effective day-to-day operation of the function.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring a scalable, high-performing support function that aligns with firm strategy and delivers consistent, high-quality service across multiple offices.

This role can be based in our Sydney or Melbourne office and requires flexibility, including international travel across APAC and occasional participation in online meetings outside standard hours with our global team, including after 5:00 pm.

Key Responsibilities 

You will play a key role in shaping service delivery, driving operational excellence, and building capability across a dispersed team.

As PA Services Manager, APAC, your responsibilities will include:

• Operating Model and Governance
  Design and govern the APAC PA/TA operating model, including role clarity, service standards, and escalation frameworks
• Workforce Planning and Resource Management
  Lead capacity planning and workload distribution, including cross-office resource alignment and management of resourcing gaps
• Leadership and Performance Management
  Lead the PA/TA team across APAC, with direct accountability for performance, workload and team development. As the operating model evolves, establish and transition to a site-led management structure, with Site Managers accountable for local delivery. Partner with HR on employee matters.
• Data, Reporting and Insights
  Establish reporting frameworks and use data to drive workforce planning, performance, and service improvements
• Service Improvement and Transformation
  Identify inefficiencies and lead process standardisation and continuous improvement initiatives
• Talent and Capability Development
  Oversee onboarding and development pathways, build team capability, and drive engagement and retention

About You

You are a commercially minded leader with strong operational judgement and a proven track record of leading support services across complex, multi-site environments.

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• Experience within a law firm or professional services environment

• Familiarity with billing and invoicing platforms, ideally Aderant Expert

• Significant experience leading PA, TA, or similar support teams, including direct people management across multiple locations

• Proven experience delivering service transformation and operating model change

• Strong stakeholder management skills in complex environments

• Experience partnering with HR on performance and employee relations matters

• The ability to translate strategy into practical, scalable delivery models

• A data-driven approach with strong analytical capability

• Confidence in influencing senior stakeholders and leading dispersed teams

• Experience establishing performance and governance frameworks

• Excellent communication, organisation, and prioritisation skills in a fast-paced environment

• Mandarin language skills are advantageous

The successful individual must be willing and able to travel across our APAC offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

Applications

To be considered, please submit your application via the advertisement. This role is open to suitable candidates with full and unrestricted working rights in Australia.

Why join Pinsent Masons?

• We have a global reach and a local feel. With 30 offices and 1500 lawyers operating across Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, you'll be exposed to domestic, international and multi-jurisdictional high-profile work, yet be in an office where everyone knows your name. 

• We do things a bit differently. Legal services are at the core of our business; however, we have diversified into other areas providing complimentary services to clients through offerings like Brook Graham and Vario flexible services. 

• We like to be flexible. Our firm is professional but also relaxed, you can dress for your day and in your own style. We also promote practices that support wellbeing, mental wellness and work/life balance so that everyone can thrive at work and at home. 

• We're lots of fun and very inclusive. Proud of our leading reputation for diversity and inclusion, we have created an open environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work. You'll also have plenty of opportunities to participate in, and even run, social activities, diversity and inclusion networks, and charitable initiatives. 

Diversity and Inclusion

At Pinsent Masons we value diversity and inclusion. We are committed to creating a better workplace where all our talent can succeed and feel like they belong. We want to attract, retain and develop people at all levels and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates whatever your ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability/long term condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristics protected by local law in the jurisdictions in which we operate.