Attorney Career Development Manager

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation•Palo Alto, CA

8d•$119,000 - $178,250•Hybrid

About The Position

Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm has approximately 1,100 attorneys in 17 offices: 13 in the U.S., two in China, and two in Europe. Our broad spectrum of practices and entrepreneurial spirit allow exceptional opportunities for professional achievement and career growth. The firm is seeking a dynamic and emotionally intelligent Attorney Career Development Manager to join our growing career development team. This position will support our Technology Transactions Department and can be located in our Boston, Palo Alto, San Diego, Seattle, or Washington DC offices. This hybrid role will follow the in-office norms of the groups in their office. This position is ideal for someone interested in helping attorneys grow and develop successful and rewarding careers. In addition to helping attorneys with their development goals, this person will also collaborate with the professional development and attorney recruiting teams on diversity and inclusion efforts, training and development initiatives, and recruiting matters. This full-time, exempt position reports to the head of the career development team. We are looking for someone who will thrive in this highly interactive role and who is flexible, creative, and collaborative. The attorneys we work with are friendly and hard-working, and they depend on us to support them in their work for their clients.

Requirements

3+ years in a law or other professional services firm is preferred
Bachelor’s degree is required; JD or graduate degree is a plus
Experience in coaching or staffing professionals is a plus
Motivated self-starter with a strong interest in attorney development and career coaching
Strong client service orientation with ability to influence and guide others
Ability to work flexible hours (including evenings and weekends, as needed) in a fast-paced, environment
Excellent judgment and discretion with respect to confidential and sensitive information
Highly organized and can work independently to drive projects to completion
Tech savvy with solid Excel skills (beyond information tracking), or the ability to quickly learn
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work in a dynamic and complex environment to meet deadlines and daily requirements

Responsibilities

Meet individually with associates regularly to become a trusted advisor on their career development and goals, including career planning and management, time and project management, work/life balance, transition to/from leave and potential career next steps
Become a trust advisor to partners on talent management and development initiatives
L iaise with practice group leaders and career development members on an ongoing basis to monitor associate performance, identify candidates for advancement, and address performance or utilization issues
Collaborate with the partners, career development committee, and HR on the associate review process to ensure the delivery of useful and meaningful performance evaluations to encourage associate growth and development
Collaborate with partners on staffing requests as needed to meet client needs and attorney development goals
Collaborate with HR, attorney recruiting, and professional development on attorney onboarding, integration, and retention programs
Gather and summarize informal feedback on associate performance to assist the partners in identifying areas for development and improvement
Collaborate with the practice group leaders, practice management director, and attorney recruiting on the firm’s strategic hiring goals
Prepare reports on attorney productivity, engagement, and other matters
Collaborate with professional development on training programs and initiatives to support attorney development
Other projects as needed