Recognition Manager

The Recognition Manager will play a key role in strengthening Dechert’s global reputation through strategic awards and legal directory activity. This role combines strong editorial judgment, exceptional writing skills, detailed project management abilities and an ability to engage with senior stakeholders at all levels of the firm.

Working within the firm’s global Marketing team, the individual’s primary responsibility will be to help drive and expand Dechert’s global awards program and maintain the firm’s position among the most respected and competitive accolades in the legal profession. Responsibilities include developing compelling submissions that showcase the achievements of the firm, its practices, lawyers and clients. In particular, responsibilities include assessing award criteria, curating nomination selection, interviewing, writing and editing materials from external consultants.

The Recognition Manager will also act as strategic lead on the firm’s approach to legal directories. The individual will liaise with Chambers and Legal500 on strategic, editorial and budget questions, will stay attuned to industry trends to gather and share best practices and process updates, and co-manage relationships with external consultants. Responsibilities also include managing the reporting and promotion of directory rankings results.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Awards

• Assess award criteria and engage with senior stakeholders to select nominee lawyers, teams and matters to be profiled.
• Manage the production of large, complex submissions, interview lawyers to elicit key insight, produce engaging submission essays in journalistic form, secure approvals from relevant stakeholders and ensure that deadlines are met.
• Oversee input from external contributors, editing drafts and ensuring quality of output ahead of submission deadlines.
• Develop a strategy to enhance the profile of client legal teams through awards submissions.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with chiefs, practice leaders and key senior partners across the global firm, and coordinate with colleagues to amplify the effect of award successes externally.

Directories

• Act as strategic advisor on the firm’s approach to directory submissions, staying attuned to industry trends to gather and share best practices and process updates.
• Train new joiners within Client Development on directories best practices.
• Manage relationships with external consultants on submission preparation.
• Gather and distribute directory ranking results, working collaboratively with Communications colleagues to promote ranking successes.
• Liaise with Chambers/Legal500 on strategic, editorial and budget questions.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• A natural storyteller, with multi-year experience in a writing and editorial role, exceptional writing skills and a proven ability to distil complex subject matter in a clear, compelling way.
• Previous experience with legal awards is desirable; experience at a major legal directory or in a law firm role with significant involvement in directory strategy, submission processes and rankings reporting is imperative.
• Resourcefulness and strong project management and organizational instincts, with the ability to prioritize and balance competing demands in a dynamic and complex environment and work well with tight deadlines.
• Capacity to exercise independent, sound judgment and show a high degree of discretion, particularly in handling sensitive information within a professional services environment.
• Ability to work effectively on international projects with colleagues located across multiple time zones.
• Flexibility to adjust hours to meet operating needs.

At the time of this posting, the salary range for this position in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. is between $120,000 – $145,000 annually. Actual compensation is commensurate with job related knowledge, skills, experience, and location of the position.