Job Summary
The Professional Development Manager will focus on the development of attorneys across CA offices. This role will be involved in all areas of legal talent management, including supporting office leadership in integration, the performance review process, and partnering with other attorney talent teams within the firm to support recruiting and other functions.

As an integral member of the firm’s Learning & Professional Development Team, the Manager will be involved in all facets of attorney coaching, training, and professional development, including career development, mentoring, professional skills training and other skill development programs that support the professional development and career success of attorneys. The primary focus will be CA attorneys.

The Professional Development Manager will work closely with the members of the firm’s Talent Team and will collaborate with all the Office Managing Principals, Office Litigation Managers, and Office Administrators to ensure attorneys’ developmental needs are addressed through the firm’s competency, level-based professional development system.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Recruiting and Integration
– Coordinate with the Sr. Manager of Onboarding/Integration, Talent Acquisition Managers, HR Regional Managers, and Office Administrators to facilitate orienting and integrating new attorneys.
– Support the summer associate program, as requested.

Professional Development
– Collaborate with talent teams in the office-level performance management, as requested. Serve as a manager of performance process for offices as needed. Performance management includes providing direct support on talent management, collection of feedback, synthesizing feedback, reviewing feedback with stakeholders. Completing HRIS process in relation to feedback.
– Provide 1:1 professional development advising around professional skills such as timeline management, deadline management and communication. Track progress.
– Be a resource for associates, Of Counsel and Principals regarding day-to-day questions.
– Support the development of individual development plans with associates.
– Facilitate attorney meetings/training sessions related to professional development topics in coordination with the appropriate Litigation Training Coach.
– Design and develop PD programming for attorneys at different career development stages, including training in skills fundamental to leadership, management, mentoring and teamwork, client service and business development, presentation skills, creative problem solving, innovation, and design thinking,
– Recommend ideas for local mentoring program implementation, program enhancements, discussion topics, training and resources.
– Contribute to other PD initiatives and complete special projects on various issues as needed.

Skills and Educational Requirements:
The successful Professional Development Manager must be solution-driven and have outstanding project management skills demonstrated across multiple locations and matrixed organizations, strong knowledge of and proven proficiency in adult learning.

The candidate should also demonstrate:
– Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively and collaboratively on a team.
– Excellent attention to detail, organizational, interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills.
– Ability to build trust and gain buy-in from firm leaders and other key stakeholders.
– Ability to take ownership of multiple projects and see them through to completion.
– Thinks creatively about new ideas/concepts and solutions to existing challenges; expresses opinions about creative choices and strategic decisions.
– Ability to create a climate that enables others to excel.

Education/Certifications:
– Bachelors’ degree is required, JD or Masters in relevant field is highly preferred.
– 3+years of attorney professional development experience required.
– Coaching certification a plus.
– Significant experience in a large law firm is preferred. Demonstrated success establishing, developing, and managing robust training and career development functions in a national or multi-office environment is a plus.

Please send resumes to Jill Tomarken @ jtomarken@friedmanwilliams.com