Senior Director of Professional Development

With eleven offices across the United States, 450+ professionals and 350+ business professionals, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (www.manatt.com), is a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm known for quality and an extraordinary commitment to clients. The Firm’s groundbreaking approach—bringing together legal services, advocacy and business strategy—differentiates Manatt from its competitors and positions the Firm to provide a distinct and compelling value proposition.

We are seeking a Senior Director of Professional Development to strategically manage firmwide professional development initiatives, including but not limited to, training and learning, performance management and core competencies, and advancement, all in alignment with the firm’s strategic goals.

We are looking for an experienced visionary leader and creative thinker with strong organizational and interpersonal skills, a passion for fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, and a proven ability to excel at aligning professional development initiatives with broader business objectives within a professional services environment. This role will report to the Chief Human Resources Officer and manage the firm’s Professional Development team.

Responsibilities:
-Develop and implement a data-driven strategic vision for professional development (including but not limited to, training/learning, performance management and advancement), integrating needs assessments, best practices and emerging/innovative trends and leveraging analytics to forecast needs and measure ROI on initiatives, ensuring alignment with the firm's broader goals and business priorities.
-Engage with firm, business professional and practice group leadership to align training and professional development initiatives with business needs and priorities, providing clear communication on program updates and outcomes.
-Facilitate the advancement process for attorney and consulting professionals, lead training initiatives across the firm, and refresh an orientation/onboarding program.
-Lead teams responsible for Attorney Professional Development, Consulting Professional Development, eLearning and Application Training, and Performance Management and Advancement, fostering cross-functional collaboration between team members to ensure the Professional -Development team collectively delivers cohesive, impactful professional development programs and utilizes efficient and thoughtful processes.
-Develop, oversee and support the Attorney Professional Development and Consulting Professional Development teams in designing, implementing, and delivering training programs, mentorship and/or coaching opportunities, orientation and onboarding initiatives, individualized learning plans, and leadership development pathways tailored to the needs of firm employees at all levels (including but not limited to specialized programs for the Summer Associate Program, the Summer Analyst Program, New Consultant and Associate Classes, as well as attorney, consulting, business and administrative professionals at all levels within the firm), fostering professional growth, career development, engagement, inclusivity and retention. On the legal side, this includes overseeing compliance with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements, including tracking, reporting, and obtaining state accreditations critical to the firm’s operations.
-Develop, oversee and support the Application Training and eLearning team in designing, developing, implementing, delivering, and evaluating/assessing training modules/programs tailored to the continuing education needs of attorney, consulting, business and administrative professionals, as well as training for software rollouts, systems updates and technology best practices, ensuring alignment with the firm’s business needs and goals.
-Oversee the Learning Management System and all other digital tools used in the delivery, engagement and tracking of training, performance management and all professional development initiatives.
-Develop, oversee and support the Performance Management and Advancement team in designing, implementing and facilitating the performance evaluation processes, including real-time feedback mechanisms and structured review cycles, in alignment with core competency models, as well as facilitating the advancement process for associates and consultants.
-Provide hands-on leadership for the Professional Development team by developing goals and accountability measures, providing mentorship and fostering career growth, ensuring team members are fully equipped to execute strategic priorities effectively.
-Create and manage the Professional Development budget, including forecasting, resource allocation, vendor negotiations, cost management, and expense approvals, as well as the Professional Development internal intranet webpage, ensuring alignment with firm strategic objectives.
-Partner and collaborate with other firm departments, including but not limited to Business Development, Marketing, Communications, Strategic Growth, Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion, Information Technology, and Accounting to align professional development initiatives with broader talent management strategies, including inclusivity, employee engagement, retention, and satisfaction.
-Lead change management efforts as needed related to training, performance management, and advancement processes, ensuring seamless transitions and strong adoption.

Qualifications:
-Bachelor’s degree required. JD or advanced degree in a relative field is highly preferred.
-15+ years of experience in professional development, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment.
-Demonstrated success in leading a professional development team with responsibility for learning/training development and implementation, eLearning and application training, performance management and advancement processes, orientation and onboarding programs, and change management initiatives in alignment with firm goals.
-Prior experience managing people and teams, with a proven ability to foster collaboration, drive high performance, and align team efforts with organizational objectives.
-Expertise in leveraging learning technologies, including Learning Management Systems (LMS), eLearning platforms, and virtual training tools, to enhance engagement and outcomes in professional development programs.
-Deep understanding of industry best practices in professional development, training, performance management and advancement within the legal and/or professional services sector.
-Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to align professional development and performance initiatives with the firm’s long-term objectives.
-Outstanding sense of client service, with demonstrated ability to instill this value across diverse teams.
-Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on presenting complex ideas clearly, simply and persuasively to a wide range of audiences.
-Creative, flexible, and proactive approach to problem solving, with a willingness to adapt and innovate in response to evolving needs and challenges.
-Ability to function in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment, prioritize multiple projects on a daily basis, adjust to shifting priorities, all with a “can-do” “roll up the sleeves” attitude.
-Strong planning, project management, analytical and organizational skills.
-Ability to foster teamwork, collaboration and inclusiveness, building strong relationships across the firm, earning respect, trust, and confidence.
-Ability to work independently and as part of a team with a proactive and positive style that fosters collaborative working relationships.
-Deep personal commitment to integrity, excellent judgment, and the highest standards of ethics.
-Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint. Ability to quickly get up to speed and master new applications and software is critical. Familiarity with HRIS systems (including Workday and Vi) and advanced reporting tools is a plus.
-The base annual pay range for this role is between $225,000-$300,000. The base pay to be offered will vary and depend on skills and qualifications, experience, location and will also take into account internal equity. A full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits dependent on the position will also be offered.

This job description is a general description of the types of responsibilities that are required of an individual in this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the responsibilities, duties and skills that may be required for this position.

EEO/AA EMPLOYER/Veterans/Disabled

Manatt is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex or gender (including gender identity, gender expression, status as a transgender or transsexual individual, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (over 40), genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, sexual orientation, political activity or affiliation, genetic or and any other protected classes or characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the American Disabilities Act, applicants may request accommodations needed to participate in the application process.

This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment.

Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, this employer uses E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).

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