The Professional Development Senior Manager develops, implements and oversees attorney development, morale, engagement, and performance management initiatives firmwide. Partners with the Global Director of Professional Development and manages a team to execute projects, including lawyer evaluations, upward feedback, exit interviews, industry surveys, and overseeing the Global Associates Committee and talent awards program. Works closely with senior leadership to develop firmwide initiatives, meetings, and presentations.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: •Manage firmwide performance management processes, including bi-annual evaluations of associates and counsel and upward feedback for senior lawyers. •Manage exit interview process for associates, including conducting interviews and supervising bi-annual reports to identify opportunities to improve retention and engagement. •Oversee firmwide associate/partner mentoring program, including designing curriculum and relevant trainings. •Lead Global Associates Committee, including partnering with Committee co-chairs on initiatives related to associate morale. •Oversee firmwide peer-nominated Talent Awards program, recognizing individuals who champion diversity, innovation, and teaching. •Work as part of a team to oversee various aspects of special retreats, trainings, and morale events. •Work closely with Global Talent leadership to drive talent initiatives and serve as project manager on various talent programs.
• Oversees work related to attorney satisfaction surveys, articles and other submissions. • Work closely with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team and Diversity Committee on priorities relating to performance and engagement. • Supervise and mentor junior team members. • Partner with Global Professional Development Director on managing the department budget. • Perform any and all duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Department and Firm.
PHYSICAL EFFORT / WORK CONDITIONS For Other Exempt Staff •This position operates in a professional office environment which is generally free of hazards and exposure to adverse environmental conditions. •This position requires regular attendance on-site at a Dechert location with some travel to different sites using various modes of private and commercial transportation. Incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends. •This position routinely operates standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopy machines, fax machines and filing cabinets, and requires frequent communication with the firm’s employees and partners as well as third parties. •This position is mainly sedentary. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to read, sit and type for sustained periods of time; to walk, stand, reach, and bend; to open and close filing cabinets and access and retrieve materials in file rooms; to lift, carry and move files or other items of light to moderate weight; to operate equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. •This position requires a normal audio range, with or without correction. It also requires the normal visual range, with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
QUALIFICATIONS/ KSA’s:
• Bachelor's degree required. • Seven plus years of related experience in law firm professional development, including lawyer performance management. • Use best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to improve solutions/services. • Solve complex problems; take a broad perspective adapt existing and develop new solutions. • Work independently. • Act as a resource for colleagues with less experience; direct the work of other staff members. • Excellent verbal and written communication, organization, problem-solving, analytical, and management skills. • Ability to work with a team of highly-skilled professionals in situations that require diplomacy and confidentiality. • Outstanding presentation skills; confident speaking before large groups. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook) and other relevant technology tools, online learning, video streaming and videoconferencing. • Strong project management and organizational skills and detail orientation. • Ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple concurrent projects to coordinate own work.
Dechert LLP is a leading international law firm with 27 offices in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1875, the firm has more than 900 lawyers allowing us the resources to deliver seamless, high-quality legal services to clients wherever they do business.