Senior Director of Professional Development

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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 firms 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 firms 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 appro als, 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:


Bachelors 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,