Manager, Work Allocation

White & Case LLP•Washington, DC

35d•$136,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Our People team is responsible for managing and enhancing all aspects of human resources and employee experience. Our team oversees talent acquisition, including recruiting, interviewing and onboarding new hires, ensuring that the Firm attracts and retains top legal talent and business services professionals. We develop and implement HR policies, manage employee relations, and administer compensation and benefits programs to ensure a fair and supportive work environment. Additionally, the People team focuses on training, professional development, work allocation, mobility and fostering a positive workplace culture. We also handle performance management, employee engagement, and compliance with labor laws and regulations. Through our comprehensive HR strategies and initiatives, the People team ensures that the Firm’s workforce around the world is motivated, skilled and mobilized to deliver on the Firm’s objectives. We are looking for a Work Allocation Manager to join our Washington DC or New York office. This new position presents an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the development of legal talent for our practices. The Work Allocation Manager will engage directly with associates to understand their interests and objectives in order to provide access to the experiences and relationships they need to build their careers. This role is heavily people focused, built on establishing strong working relationships with several key stakeholders across the Firm. The Work Allocation Manager will seek to ensure that the associates are appropriately staffed and utilized, while balancing the pursuit of a rich and well-rounded associate experience with the immediate needs of the business. The successful candidate will be a team player who is ambitious, focused on client service, and passionate about their work. They will be eager to take on the challenges of excelling in a global law firm and high-performance culture. This individual will have exemplary academic credentials, as well as a genuine interest in associate development and matter/resource management. Prior experience in a professional services setting, preferably a law firm, is required. We offer high-quality work, a competitive salary package and an opportunity to be part of a truly global organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Prior experience in associate development, work allocation, and/or resource management, ideally within a large professional services environment
Strong commercial and business awareness
Outstanding skills in diplomacy and negotiation
Strong project management skills
Client service focus
Strong judgment
Proactive and resourceful; takes initiative
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Persistent and resilient
Persuasive; ability to drive change through influence
Strong technology skills
Excel proficiency is required

Nice To Haves

Experience working with resource management software is a plus

Responsibilities

Support associates through balanced, transparent and consistent work allocation and targeted professional development
Manage staffing requests and collaborate with Staffing Partners
Monitor and report on work allocation KPIs to practice leadership
Conduct regular check-ins with associates to discuss career interests, professional development needs, and collect feedback
Ensure matters are appropriately staffed in an efficient and timely manner by monitoring current and anticipated lawyer utilization and assessing individual capacity
Maintain clear, effective lines of communication, keeping all stakeholders informed on initiatives, developments, business issues, and other critical topics
Escalate sensitive or high-risk staffing situations to the Associate Director, Work Allocation
Liaise with the Regional Section Head and Staffing Partners to monitor associate performance (and feedback), development and career aspirations
Gain exposure to the broader functions of the People Advisory team and work closely with the respective People Advisory Manager to collectively support associates and partners
Help drive Firm engagement initiatives
Work closely with the Senior Manager, Junior Associate Experience regarding junior associate development
Work closely with Learning & Development and the Professional Support Lawyer(s) to ensure associates are receiving appropriate training opportunities