Associate Director of Lawyer Talent Development – Partner Focus

King & Spalding is a leading global law firm with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the seamless delivery of legal services. We harness innovative technology and exceptional talent to meet the complex needs of our clients in a fast-paced and dynamic legal landscape. 

We are seeking an Associate Director of Lawyer Talent to join an innovative team that leads the firm’s lawyer recruiting, talent development, and inclusion initiatives globally. This role will focus on partner development, and in collaboration with the larger Lawyer Talent Development Team, practice group talent leaders, and others across the firm, help drive a culture of professional excellence and growth.
This position could be based in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, or Washington, D.C.  Some travel as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with the Talent Partner, the Chief Lawyer Talent Development Officer, and the Talent Leads and Talent Directors for each practice group to support the execution of critical Partner talent processes, including compensation, evaluations, promotions, professional development, and performance management.
• Support the Partners Committee (a firmwide committee that evaluates and sets compensation for Partners and Counsel and evaluates candidates for promotion to equity partnership).
• Develop and execute (in collaboration with others) strategic programs/services to assist in the successful transition into partnership (e.g., business/entrepreneurial skill-building and leadership development) and the continued growth of practices and profiles consistent with our dynamic progression model.
• Provide guidance and support on Partner and other lawyer personnel issues, including part-time arrangements, transfers, and leaves of absence.
• Identify, design, and implement improvements in these processes on a continuous basis in alignment with the firm’s strategy, and with consideration of metrics and data, market factors, and best practices.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Candidates with a J.D. are strongly preferred and at least 5 years of experience in lawyer development in a law firm preferred; other candidates with an undergraduate degree and at least 7 years of experience (preferably in a professional services firm) in a field such as organizational development, business development, or training will be considered. 
• Collaborative, innovative, driven to excel, and they are able to envision the big picture goal while also attending to the details necessary to effectively execute the work. 
• Takes initiative to identify and translate best practices from other firms and industries into viable firm initiatives.
• Driven to excel and passionate about strengthening firm’s lawyer development initiatives.
• Knowledge of law firm business model principles and legal industry trends and challenges.
• Able to assimilate information quickly in order to grasp larger concepts and details and apply it in other settings.
• Able to grasp quickly the culture and organizational structure of the firm.
• Desire for increasingly challenging projects and heightened responsibility/visibility
• Excellent communications (written and oral) and interpersonal skills with lawyers, all levels of administrative staff, and contacts outside the firm.
• Sophisticated analytical and quantitative abilities (e.g., able to collect and use data to make decisions, including ability to use tools such as Excel).
• Strong judgment and ability to respect, protect, and maintain highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Excellent facilitation, influencing, and organizational skills, with the ability to work proactively to obtain information and develop the consensus needed to make decisions.
• Strong attention to detail combined with ability to develop big-picture goals.
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively with professionals and staff at all levels.
• Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously without frequent prompting.

The firm offers a generous total compensation package with bonuses and raises awarded in recognition of individual merit-based performance. All full-time Business Services employees may participate in King & Spalding’s comprehensive benefit program including health and wellness plan, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts and a health savings account, a 401(k) plan, profit sharing plan, and a substantial Paid Time Off (PTO) program.

Pay Transparency Range:

Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC: The anticipated full-time annualized salary range $200,000 - $225,000. 

Qualified candidates with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the following laws if applicable:  City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act.

King & Spalding LLP (K&S) is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all state, federal, and local laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other status protected by applicable law. 

We are proud of our remarkably cohesive culture, which now encompasses more than 2,500 lawyers and business professionals worldwide. We seek to attract and develop the very best talent to work with us.