Manager of Legal Professional Development

New York, NY

Summary

The Manager of Professional Development will work with the Professional Development team, Managing Partners for Legal Personnel (MPLPs), Practice Group & Multi-Practice Assigning Partners (Assigning Partners), and Practice Group Chairs in all areas of legal talent management, including onboarding and orientation, career development, mentoring, professional skills training, and other development initiatives that support the professional and career success of associates firmwide.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Create and maintain relationships within the firm at all levels, establishing a reputation as a trusted advisor to the Practice Group Chairs, MPLPs, Assigning Partners and associates.
• Work closely with the PD Directors, MPLPs, Assigning Partners, and Practice Group Chairs to address the career and general professional development needs of associates.
• Regularly check in with associates at all levels of seniority to provide advice and coaching on all aspects of career growth and development, including career planning and management, time and project management, work/life integration, transitions to/from leaves and potential next steps in their professional careers.
• Meet with associates to welcome them to the firm and provide them with resources available to them through the Professional Development team.
• In collaboration with other members of the Professional Development team, lead the associate and interim review processes firmwide and support the counsel and senior associate evaluation processes as they relate to lawyers in your assigned practice groups, including by reviewing evaluation information, following up on files and attending professional development meetings.
• Identify individual associate development gaps coming out of the evaluation processes and propose solutions.
• Leverage knowledge of assigned practice groups and associate needs to recommend developmental trainings and resources.
• Support stakeholders by providing data and recommendations for utilizing associates in a way that furthers their career development.
• Participate in our Integration Liaison Program, through which new associates receive level-specific support, guidance and advice that is key to their career progression and growth.
• Oversee the processing of attorney personnel changes, including by managing junior team members who maintain department databases, focusing on integrating information kept in various technology platforms, and collaborating with other departments as we share information.
• Collaborate with Firm committees, Recruiting and Professional Development to update and enhance new associate orientation, lateral and entry-level associate integration, mentoring and other talent development programs.
• Manage, supervise and develop the more junior members of the Professional Development team, providing appropriate growth opportunities and guidance.
• Monitor current trends and best practices in legal talent and professional development – implement new innovations, as appropriate, to ensure the firm’s efforts are innovative and cutting edge.
• Participate in multi-office professional development projects on a variety of topics.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

• A minimum of five years of broad-based career development experience. Significant experience in legal, consulting, or other professional services organizations preferred.
• Demonstrated success in robust career development functions in national or international, multi-office environments.
• Understanding of best practices in professional development and career development.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively in a consensus-driven organization and to create consensus-based support for strategies and processes.
• Dynamic energy level. Passion for driving change and delivering innovative solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• A highly organized and self-directed approach to work with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Impeccable attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Sound judgment.
• An undergraduate degree required; an advanced degree in organizational development, human resources, social sciences, a related field or J.D. preferred.
• Coaching experience and certification a plus.

Salary range: $128,000.00-$160,000.00, plus bonus.

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