Law Firm Professional Development / Career Development - Big Law Senior Manager
Job Description
Our client, a top-tier large law firm, is seeking a Senior Career Development Manager to join its renowned Professional Development Department. This is an exceptional opportunity for a JD-trained professional with deep experience in both legal practice and attorney development to make a high-impact contribution to one of the nation’s most respected law firms. Candidates must have a minimum of three years of legal practice experience and at least three years of experience in law firm professional development—both in large law firm environments. A J.D. from a top-tier law school is also required.
Reporting to the Director of Career Development, the Senior Career Development Manager will play a central role in shaping and executing firmwide initiatives designed to foster attorney growth, engagement, and long-term success. This highly visible role will combine individual career advising, attorney coaching, and strategic program development across departments, practice groups, and offices. It offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, innovative environment that values continuous improvement and invests in the professional advancement of its people.
A key responsibility of this position is overseeing the firm’s external coaching program-managing engagements, expanding the coaching roster, evaluating outcomes, and identifying the evolving needs of attorneys across seniority levels. The role will also lead integration efforts for lateral associates, manage the firm’s career development planning process, and contribute to programming initiatives such as orientation, milestone conferences, and professional skills training. The successful candidate will demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of law firm career trajectories and the nuances of professional growth in complex legal settings.
To thrive in this role, candidates must possess outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to build strong relationships across a matrixed organization, and a passion for attorney development. Experience managing cross-functional projects, supporting learning initiatives, or working with learning management systems (LMS) is a plus. A commitment to excellence, collaboration, and client-focused talent development is essential.
The position offers a competitive salary range of $200,000 to $225,000+, year-end bonus eligibility, and access to the firm’s market-leading benefits. For the right candidate, this is more than a job, it’s a chance to help shape the future of talent at a top-tier law firm while advancing your own career.
J. Sheppard Associates is proud to represent exceptional legal professionals for career-defining opportunities like this.