Allocation & Development Manager (Wash, DC or NYC)
We are looking for a Work Allocation & Development Manager to join our Washington DC or New York office. This new position presents an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the development of legal talent for our practices. The Work Allocation & Development Manager will engage directly with associates to understand their interests and objectives in order to provide access to the experiences and relationships they need to build their careers. This role is heavily people focused, built on establishing strong working relationships with several key stakeholders across the Firm.
The Work Allocation & Development Manager will seek to ensure that the Associates are appropriately staffed and utilized, while balancing the pursuit of a rich and well-rounded associate experience with the immediate needs of the business.
The successful candidate will be a team-player who is ambitious, focused on client service, and passionate about their work. They will be eager to take on the challenges of exceling in a global law firm and high-performance culture. This individual will have exemplary academic credentials, as well as a genuine interest in associate development and matter/resource management. Prior experience in a professional services setting, preferably a law firm, is required.
We offer high-quality work, a competitive salary package and an opportunity to be part of a truly global organization.
Duties and Accountabilities
Resource Management
- Support associates through equitable, transparent and consistent work allocation and targeted professional development
- Manage staffing requests and collaborate with Staffing Partners
- Monitor and report on equitable work allocation KPIs to practice leadership
- Conduct regular check-ins with associates to discuss career interests, professional development needs, and collect feedback
- Ensure matters are appropriately staffed in an efficient and timely manner by monitoring current and anticipated lawyer utilization and assessing individual capacity
- Maintain clear, effective lines of communication, keeping all stakeholders informed on initiatives, developments, business issues, and other critical topics
- Escalate sensitive or high-risk staffing situations to the Americas Senior Manager, Allocation & Development
Practice Management
- Liaise with the Regional Section Head and Staffing Partners to monitor associate performance (and feedback), development and career aspirations
- Gain exposure to the broader functions of the People Advisory team and work closely with the respective People Advisory Manager to collectively support associates and partners
- Help drive Firm engagement initiatives
- Work closely with the Senior Manager, Junior Associate Experience regarding junior associate development
- Work closely with Learning & Development and the Professional Support Lawyer(s) to ensure associates are receiving appropriate training opportunities
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Prior experience in associate development, work allocation, and/or resource management, ideally within a large professional services environment
- Strong commercial and business awareness
- Outstanding skills in diplomacy and negotiation
- Strong project management skills
- Client service focus
- Strong judgment
- Proactive and resourceful; takes initiative
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Persistent and resilient
- Persuasive; ability to drive change through influence
- Strong technology skills
- Experience working with resource management software is a plus
- Excel proficiency is required
- Flexibility with working outside of standard business hours to address staffing requests, as needed