Manager of Professional Development 

Human Resources Department
Status: Exempt
Reports To: Manager of Professional Development
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Salary Range: $118,800 - $178,000
Email Resume Here to Apply 

Summary: 

The Manager of Professional Development will work alongside the Managing Partners for Legal Personnel (MPLPs), Practice Group Assigning Partners (PGAPs), Multi-Practice Assigning Partners (MPAP), and Directors of Professional Development on all aspects of attorney professional development, and develop, implement, and assist in leading professional development strategies firm wide. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Assist in identifying associate career development needs, and design and manage the implementation of programs relating to attorney career development. 

• Work closely with MPLPs, PGAPs and MPAPs to help associates with integration and advancement issues such as navigating firm resources, seeking out appropriate breadth and depth of work experiences, maximizing firm, practice group and office resources, successfully managing interpersonal conflicts, and proactively addressing career advancement concerns with both associates and senior lawyers. 

• Provide confidential advice and guidance to attorneys at varying levels of seniority on all aspects of career growth and development, including career planning and management, time and project management, work/life balance, transitions to/from leaves, and potential next steps in their professional careers. 

• Meet with associates in our Washington, DC office to welcome them to the firm and provide them with resources available to them through the Professional Development Department. 

• Provide support to the MPLPs, Assigning Partners and Directors regarding associate needs including staffing and utilization. Provide ongoing analysis of workloads and track skills and experiences needed to make recommendations on staffing needs. 

• Identify individual associate training gaps and propose solutions. 

• Create and maintain relationships within the firm at all levels, establishing a reputation as a trusted advisor for career advice and guidance. 

• In collaboration with other members of the Professional Development team, oversee the administration of performance evaluation processes, focusing on the Senior Associate and Counsel Evaluation processes and working closely with the Evaluation Committee. 

• Oversee attorney personnel change processes 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 Directors of Professional Development to develop a robust system for measuring the effectiveness and ROI of coaching programs (internal and external), utilizing data-driven insights to inform strategy, suggest adjustments, and make improvements. 

• Develop and implement strategies to create a pipeline of external opportunities for associates, both by collaborating with others on secondment opportunities and keeping abreast of potential in-house roles for associates looking to transition out of the firm. 

• Assist Director with Washington, DC budget for initiatives and programs. 

• Manage and supervise the more junior members of the Professional Development team in the Washington DC office. 

• Monitor current trends and best practices in legal talent and professional development and implement new innovations, as appropriate, to ensure the firm’s efforts are innovative and cutting edge. 

• Uphold high standards of confidentiality, discretion, and integrity, particularly with respect to all sensitive and/or confidential firm and client information to which this position will have access. 

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 establishing, developing, and managing robust career development functions in a national or international, multi-office environment. 

• Expert 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. 

• Passion for driving change and delivering innovative solutions. 

• Excellent written and verbal skills. 

• A highly organized and self-directed approach along with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and strong 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, or a related field or a J.D. preferred.