Manager, Professional Development - M&A

Description/Job Summary

The Professional Development Manager (PDM) of M&A is a high-profile role within the M&A practice and central to all aspects of the practice's 's legal talent development efforts. The PDM is responsible for managing a range of M&A associates' development activities including assigning, mentoring, various practice and firm-wide initiatives and overall talent engagement.

The PDM will be responsible for the assigning process of mid-senior associates in the New York and DC offices and, professional development programs across all STB US offices with M&A associates present. This is a highly visible role within the M&A practice and is an integral part of the broader STB Legal Talent Department. In this role, the PDM will work closely with the staffing partner for the M&A practice and members of the Legal Talent Department.

Responsibilities/Duties

Staffing (New York and DC Offices and only for associates permanently working in the M&A practice)

• Work closely with the staffing partner to allocate assignments and structure deal teams for mid-senior associates by assessing associate availability, experience, skills and utilization
• Build rapport with mid-senior associates by means of in-person meetings, telephone calls and Zoom meetings
• Help maintain an equitable level of utilization across the practice
• Collaborate with the Manager of Corporate Staffing for Junior Associates in the M&A practice to integrate staffing efforts across deal teams on an ongoing basis and during the rotation process
• Balance business needs of the group with individual associate development taking into account utilization, client service and the associate's own professional development goals
• Aggregate and analyze various associate metrics including hours and availability
• Consult with the staffing partner and members of the Legal Talent Department regarding cross-departmental staffing, secondments, etc.
• Assist with coordination and tracking of associate vacation schedules, leaves of absence and related coverage

Professional Development Support

• Performance Reviews
  • Coordinate with the Legal Talent Department to prepare evaluations and support the delivery of developmental objectives for associates
  • Participate in the relevant meetings with the M&A practice leadership to discuss associate evaluations
  • Coordinate with and assist the Legal Talent Department in obtaining associate feedback within prescribed timelines
  • Assist with intake of orally communicated evaluations of associates on an as needed basis
  • Liaise with Associate Director, Professional Development on key takeaways from DEI pipeline building discussions
• Mentoring & Engagement Related
  • Support the head of practice with ensuring that attorneys in the practice have strong mentoring connections and team-based interactions
  • Develop a professional relationship with all associates, including an understanding of their respective professional aspirations, experiences, strengths and development areas
  • Work closely with the Legal Talent Department to pair associates with mentors and partner advisors (New York Office only)
  • Ensure mentors are connecting with associates and engaging in dialogue about ongoing professional development goals
  • Liaise with Coordinator of Associate Life and the relevant branch office Legal Talent Department member on the progress of mentoring relationships
• Plan a variety of team building and mentoring related events within the practice to foster connectivity
• Serve as a resource and point of contact for active feedback loop among associates, firm leadership and the partners in the practice
• Departmental Lunches & Training Programs
  • In collaboration with the Training Partner(s) arrange recurring monthly practice lunches for all associates
  • Provide the Training Team with insights and recommendations for relevant practice-specific training curriculum, and advise on incorporation of practice-specific development needs into firm-wide development programs (i.e. STBReady, STBAdvance)
• Support integration of lateral hires or other business professionals from departmental/office transfers
• Coordinate with other business professionals dedicated to the practice KM, DEI and Training efforts
• Work on a variety of ad hoc projects as needed

Required Skills

• 5+ years of relevant experience
• Strong interest and experience in professional development
• Ability to interact well and build professional relationships while maintaining confidentiality; collaborative approach to working with others of all seniority levels
• Ability to self-direct, manage multiple priorities, analyze needs and implement solutions
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for both long and short-term projects and responsibilities
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to track, analyze, collect data, and prepare reports
• High proficiency with all MS Office Suite products, including Excel and comfortable working in web-based databases/software, e.g. viDesktop

Preferred Skills

• Prior experience in a law firm
• Coaching experience and certification, or interest in obtaining certification

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of related experience in a law firm, or JD with prior experience as an Associate in a large law firm

Details

Salary Information

The estimated base salary range for this position is $175k to $250k at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. This role is exempt meaning it is not overtime pay eligible.