Manager, Professional Development

Overview

Foley & Lardner LLP is a great place to work because of what we do and how we do it. Here, your unique perspectives, experiences, and abilities will be embraced and developed, so you can excel. Being a part of Foley means having the opportunities and resources necessary to gain experience, advance professional goals, and forge meaningful connections. It’s a place where you can build your career and enjoy professionally satisfying work. We have over 2,300 people who are #HappyatFoley, and we think you will be too.

The Manager of Professional Development will work with the Senior Manager of Professional Development, Director of Professional Development, Chief Talent Officer, other members of the Talent team, and various firm leaders to design and implement innovative programs and approaches to developing and engaging our attorneys over the arc of their careers. Responsibilities will cover a range of professional development areas, with a focus on feedback and evaluations, mentoring, flexible work arrangements, office transfers, leaves of absence, and more.

Responsibilities

• Manage and facilitate the evaluation and review process for all associates, senior counsel, special counsel, patent and public affairs professionals
• Develop and participate in relevant training programs and professional development opportunities to enhance the evaluation experience for evaluators and evaluatees alike
• Analyze evaluation comments and data to address concerns, ensure consistency, and improve the overall quality of the feedback provided through the formal evaluation process
• Oversee the Talent Systems Analyst and systems that run many aspects of the talent functions, including the learning management system and the systems that power attorney recruiting, performance management, work utilization, surveys, and other key areas that contribute to attorney professional development as well as business professional training tracking
• Manage relationships with the talent management system vendor(s) and keep up to date on relevant systems and software
• Drive the firm’s feedback and feed forward initiatives, including fostering best practices around real time feedback and through forward-looking career development conversations
• Assist with the development of competency models that establish benchmarks and set clear expectations for associates and senior counsel to progress in their careers
• Evaluate, coordinate and manage firm-wide mentoring programs, including creation and oversight of mentor-related communication, training, and events
• Oversee and facilitate Foley Engage, a work utilization tool that captures associate availability and interest areas and pairs them with existing productivity data to support intentional staffing decisions on new matters
• Counsel attorneys on various lifecycle events, including flexible work arrangements, office transfers, and leaves of absence; oversee flexible work arrangement and transfer requests; work with HR/Benefits as necessary; help develop programs and initiatives to support attorneys embarking on and returning from leave
• Assist with departure process including exit interviews of departing attorneys and other performance management initiatives, as needed
• Present on various topics, including feedback, mentoring, core competencies, and other areas, as needed
• Ensure all career development training and initiatives are designed and implemented to promote equity, providing every attorney at the firm with the strategies, resources, and support needed to achieve professional success and advancement
• Monitor trends in professional development, including with regard to development-related technologies and tools, in order to propose new and innovative solutions that improve the attorney experience and the firm’s feedback models
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required, JD preferred
• Minimum of five (5) years of legal practice in a large law firm and/or experience working in professional development required
• Expertise with the viGlobal (now Aderant) talent management software preferred
  
  

In support of transparency and equity in the workplace, Foley provides salary ranges for all positions. The figures below represent the full compensation range of this position. The actual offered amount will be between the range minimum and midpoint based on the following factors: education, experience, geographic market, and internal pay equity at Foley.

• Milwaukee - $113,500 to $170,300
• Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston - $124,900 to $187,300
• Boston, Washington D.C. - $136,200 to $204,400
  
  

Foley offers a comprehensive benefit program which currently includes Paid Time Off; Paid Holidays; Medical, Dental and Vision insurance; 401(k) Retirement; Disability and Life insurance; Adoption Assistance; Backup Care for Dependents.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer/M/F/Vet/Disabled.

About Foley & Lardner

Foley is an Am Law 50 law firm consistently ranked among top-tier practices. With over 1,100 lawyers in 26 offices across the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia, our market-leading platform includes Corporate, Intellectual Property, and Litigation. Adding depth to our bench strength, we focus on four primary sectors: Energy, Health Care & Life Sciences, Innovative Technology, and Manufacturing. We look beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and act as trusted business advisors to deliver creative, practical, and effective solutions.

For nearly two centuries, Foley has maintained its commitment to the highest level of innovative legal services and to the stewardship of our people, firm, clients, and the communities we serve. While respecting our roots, we’re also continuously looking to modernize all aspects of our business and elevate who we are and what we do, which keeps us focused on the future.