Professional Development Specialist

Phelps Dunbar is seeking a Professional Development Specialist in one of our regional offices.  The Professional Development Specialist plays a key role in supporting the growth and success of the firm’s lawyer population. Reporting to the Director of Professional Development, this position will contribute to a broad range of professional development initiatives — from onboarding & integration, learning & development, performance management, and employee engagement. As a newly created role within a lean, collaborative department, this position is ideal for someone who thrives in an environment where they can help shape programs from the ground up, and who brings a high degree of adaptability and flexibility, understanding that programs, processes, and priorities are still being developed and refined.

This position can sit in any office, with a preference for Birmingham, Texas, New Orleans, Raleigh or Tampa.

All office locations include:

Alabama: Birmingham, Mobile

Florida: Destin, Pensacola, Tampa

Louisiana: Baton Rouge, New Orleans

Mississippi: Gulfport, Jackson (Flowood), Tupelo

North Carolina: Raleigh

Tennessee: Memphis, Nashville

Texas: Austin, Dallas (Southlake), Fort Worth, Houston

Onboarding & Integration

• Together with the Director of Professional Development and other internal departments, continuously assess onboarding and integration processes to reflect best practices and the evolving needs of the firm’s legal talent

• Assist with the coordination of integration and onboarding experiences for new associates, lateral lawyers, and newly promoted partners by developing and maintaining onboarding materials and managing logistics

Learning & Development

• Together with the Director of Professional Development, assess lawyer needs and support implementation of the firm’s training curriculum

• Identify and promote opportunities for both internal and external training programs, including on-demand learning offerings

• Contribute to the creation of resources that support career progression

• Manage PD content and resources on the firm’s intranet site

Performance Management

• Support the management of formal and informal performance feedback processes for salaried lawyers, including year-end reviews and ongoing feedback initiatives

• Manage logistics of the annual performance review process, including setting timelines and facilitating participation

• Leverage AI tools to summarize feedback at scale, analyze themes and trends, and craft meaningful developmental messages

• Contribute to the development of resources that help lawyers and their supervisors engage in meaningful and productive performance conversations at every stage of the career lifecycle

Employee Engagement

• Support the firm’s lawyer mentoring program, assisting with program design, participant matching, communication, and ongoing coordination

• Develop program resources, track engagement, and recommend enhancements based on participant feedback and industry best practices

• Analyze feedback from exit interviews to identify trends and opportunities for improving lawyer engagement and retention

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Four to six years of professional development, recruiting, human resources, or business development/marketing experience, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment

• Ability to travel to other offices as needed

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify themes and trends from data and translate findings into actionable insights

• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives with limited supervision

• Proficiency with AI tools and a proactive approach to integrating emerging technology into day-to-day work

• A genuine commitment to the development of others, paired with an equally strong drive for personal and professional growth

• A collaborative and proactive approach, with a desire to grow and take on increasing responsibility over time

• Willing to pitch in on a range of tasks, including administrative support, as needs arise