Global Director Talent Development

About the role

The Global Talent Development Director works closely with the Chief Talent Officer to provide leadership for the firm’s training and development functions across global offices, supporting the firm’s strategic goal of maintaining a supportive, diverse, and inclusive culture of excellence for attorneys and business services professionals. The role partners with firm and practice group leadership to oversee attorney onboarding, development programs, mentoring, diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives, CLE and CPD, compliance, special events, and related talent initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Learning & Development Lead and oversee training and development initiatives for lawyers and business service professionals (“BSP”), including the Dechert’s Critical Skills Institute and programs for first year associates, newly qualified lawyers, newly elevated partners, counsel, and partners.
• Direct the Partner Development program, including New Partner Orientation and training initiatives for Income and Equity partners.
• Ensure adherence to CLE and MCLE requirements across all jurisdictions.
• Orientation and Onboarding Lead the planning and delivery of lateral associate and BSP orientations and outreach to lateral partners to support the integration of new attorneys.
• Diversity & Inclusion Lead and support diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives related to employee development, engagement, retention, and advancement, partnering with firm leaders and key stakeholders to integrate D&I considerations into talent programs and practices.
• Play a leadership role in supporting the Practice Group Engagement Liaison Partners (“ELP”) Program through data analysis, reporting, consultation, and follow-up, including preparing productivity and performance reports and coordinating monthly meeting agendas for the Talent Team, Engagement Liaison Partners, and Practice Group Directors.
• Performance Management Play a leadership role in reviewing associate evaluations and identifying related issues.
• Manage the firmwide anonymous and confidential upward feedback program.
• Support the firm’s counsel promotion process by collaborating with firm leadership, preparing reports and materials, and ensuring a seamless and consistent review process.
• Coaching and Mentoring Supervise coaching initiatives, including tracking success metrics in terms of retention rates, in-house and client placements, career progression of participants, and/or other indicators.
• Lead the firmwide mentoring program, ensuring innovation and data-driven analyses of effectiveness. This includes training for mentors and mentees, and strategic and specific launching points for effective mentoring discussions.
• Other Functions Manage Dechert’s Stars program, including Diversity Champion, Legal Innovators, and Exceptional Teachers Awards process.
• Lead on research and preparation for presentations by firm partners and other firm leaders, including the annual State of the Firm Address, presentations to new and summer associates, and orientation presentations.
• Manage the firm’s responses to surveys, including Vault, Am Law Midlevel, Chambers, Great Place to Work and other publications.
• Collaborate with the Global Marketing team to provide talent-related information for requests for proposals.
• Act as liaison between firm leadership and associates by partnering with the Global Associates