Senior Director of Attorney Engagement & Optimization

With eleven offices across the United States, 450+ professionals and 350+ staff professionals, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP is a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm known for quality and an extraordinary commitment to clients. The firm’s groundbreaking approach—bringing together legal services, advocacy and business strategy—differentiates Manatt from its competitors and positions the firm to provide a unique and compelling value proposition.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Director of Engagement & Optimization which will be part of the Practice Management team, reporting to the Firm’s Chief Financial Officer.  The position is responsible for collaborating with Business Unit and Group Leaders as well as non-partner attorneys, consulting professionals and paralegals on facilitating communication, training/professional development, work assignment management and will also play a pivotal role in the Firm’s Summer Associate program. This position can be based out of our Los Angeles, New York or Washington D.C. offices.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Firm Management on developing and implementing non-partner attorney, consultant and paralegal communications.
• Liaise and partner with Business Professionals to develop and support non-partner associate, consultant and paralegal engagement programs and initiatives.
• Evaluate pipeline of non-partner, consultant and paralegal associate work opportunities and workload projections across all Business Units and support and develop a work assignment process to ensure effective utilization of resources; develop processes and procedures, as needed.
• Partner with Business Unit Leaders to ensure comprehensive understanding of the experience and capabilities across all relevant areas of practice of each non-partner attorney, consultant and paralegal to enhance client assignments and professional development, while ensuring effective utilization of resources.
• Partner with Business Unit Leaders to identify professional development and training needs for all non-partner attorneys, consultants and paralegals and ensure work assignments in line with development and needs. Interface with the Professional Development teams who will coordinate and collaborate with non-partner attorneys, consultants and paralegals as well as Business Unit Leaders to develop, facilitate and deliver appropriate training.
• Partner with Practice Management on workflow and utilization of non-partner attorneys, consultants and paralegals and collaborate with the Professional Development team on year-end review, compensation and advancement processes.
• Serve as Business Professional representative on Associate Leadership Committee.
• Lead the approval process for the hiring of, or replacement for, non-partner attorneys, consultants and paralegals to assess need, making recommendations to senior leaders on whether to proceed based on effective utilization of resources, anticipated workflow and other criteria and, upon the approval for hiring, collaborate with Practice Management, Strategic Growth and Professional Development colleagues, as appropriate, to determine annualization targets as well as levelling, compensation, and rates.
• Take an active role in the Summer Associate Program, including but not limited to, being the point person for the Summer Associates, Summer Chairs, Work Allocation Coordinators and Mentors; strategically plan the Summer Associate target numbers and interview all potential Summer Associates.
• Manage and provide hands-on leadership for the Engagement & Optimization team by providing work direction with clear performance expectations, developing goals and accountability measures, providing mentorship and fostering career growth, ensuring team members are fully equipped to execute strategic priorities effectively.
• Assist with additional projects as needed.

Qualifications

• JD degree preferred; Bachelor’s degree in Business, Organizational Development, or related field required.
• A minimum of ten years’ experience in a client-centered professional services environment, preferably a law firm.
• Ideal candidate will have strong business acumen, analytical and financial skills, professional development experience, and the ability to develop and implement operational processes and plans.
• Requires understanding of the levers critical to the successful operation of a client-centered professional services environment, preferably a law firm.
• Must have fluency with Excel, MS Word and PowerPoint.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to gather information from a broad range of sources and to influence others to make changes.
• Strongly collaborative and a proactive communicator across functions and levels.
• Executive presence and polish, with the ability to build effective relationships with attorneys, consultants and paralegals and influence people at all levels, including Equity and other Partners and Business Professional leaders.
• Self-motivated with proven ability to anticipate problems and move things forward with limited direction.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.
• Understand client service within a professional services organization, and is driven to exceed expectations.
• Demonstrated management and leadership experience.
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities and meet varying deadlines.

The base annual pay range for this role is between $250,000 - $300,000. The base pay to be offered will vary and depend on skills and qualifications, experience, location and will also take into account internal equity.  A full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits dependent on the position will also be offered.

EEO/AA EMPLOYER/Veterans/Disabled

Manatt is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex or gender (including gender identity, gender expression, status as a transgender or transsexual individual, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (over 40), genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, sexual orientation, political activity or affiliation, genetic or and any other protected classes or characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the American Disabilities Act, applicants may request accommodations needed to participate in the application process.

This employer will provide the Social Security Administration  (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security  (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking  adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or  to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the  choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid,  this employer uses E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).