Talent Development Manager - London, United Kingdom - Milbank LLP

Description

The Role:

This role will initially support our Global Projects, Energy and Infrastructure practice in the London office (with some further support to additional practice areas where support is required). The role will be critical in ensuring that we deliver timely and effective support to promote the professional and personal growth of our lawyers and their careers at the firm.

This position will sit within the team, working directly with the partners, associates and trainees. They will also work closely with other Talent Development Managers in the London Office, as well as with the wider Talent Development team in New York. A career at Milbank means complex work, unique challenges and inspiring results. It also means real collaboration and a supportive environment where you'll learn and grow professionally and personally - and even have some fun along the way

Responsibilities:

• Build a comprehensive knowledge of the practice group - the work, people, deal flow and clients;
• Build a comprehensive understanding of the associates, counsel and trainees in the group, in terms of key strengths, specialist knowledge, professional development goals and overall performance;
• Work closely with the partners in coordinating the allocation of counsel, associates and trainees to ongoing and new matters, suggesting assignments based on the workload of the department and the developmental needs of each lawyer;
• Coordinating annual leave planning and study leave planning to ensure that deals are suitably resourced and that breaks can be taken;
• Assist with, and monitor, workload to ensure that utilisation is optimised, including reviewing financial analytics and considering team weighting and leverage;
• Ensure that annual and interim performance reviews are completed for counsel, associates, and trainees;
• Work closely with partners to ensure that appropriate developmental and training needs are identified and communicated during performance reviews; attend all evaluation meetings to ensure consistency in the form of delivery;
• Ensure any interim counsel, associate and trainee development conversations are conducted as required (for example, post secondments, feedback meetings outside the review cycle, after significant matters have completed etc.) and those are recorded, as appropriate.
• Provide advice, coaching and guidance to associates and trainees on their career goals;
• Discuss themes among the team with partners and propose actions to optimize team performance and cohesion;
• Work in conjunction with the Training Partner(s), Practice Support Lawyers and the Professional Development team on the creation of training programmes and ad hoc training events, including being an active member of the London Office Professional Development Committee;
• Work with external training providers to create and deliver bespoke team training and development initiatives;
• Ensure that tailored induction programmes are created for new hires, and support the induction of new trainees into the team at seat rotation;
• Involvement in developing and facilitating ad hoc events to foster greater cohesion and communication within the team;
• In conjunction with the Recruitment Manager and partners, support the recruitment of lateral hires and trainees;
• Work with the HR team to ensure any associates recruited with overseas legal qualifications complete the SQE and any other requirements to be admitted to practice in England and Wales;
• In conjunction with HR, ensure any illness in the team is dealt with supportively and effectively, including signposting medical and other support available from the firm and ensuring alternative team resourcing where necessary.
• In conjunction with the HR Manager, manage the exit procedures for departing associates (appropriate handover, etc); conduct exit interviews;
• Provide active support to the Firm's diversity and inclusion initiatives;
• Attending and contributing to regular firm-wide professional development and talent management meetings; and
• Ad hoc project work, as required e.g. benchmarking, research, change management projects.

Experience:

• Minimum of five years' previous experience as a practising lawyer
• (Ideally gained in Project Finance or another Finance team);
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the confidence and ability to influence at all levels, building effective working relationships and using personal networks;
• Very good attention to detail;
• Excellent communication (written and oral) skills, coupled with the ability to listen;
• Able to meet deadlines, prioritise and demonstrate strong organisational skills;
• Strong analytical and numerical skills;
• Strong IT skills, especially Word and Excel, and generally comfortable manipulating data;
• Resilient, self-motivated and proactive;
• Comfortable with change, eager to innovate and resolve problems;
• Team player, with a commitment to delivering an excellent service to colleagues; and
• A coaching qualification would be helpful.

About Milbank LLP:

Milbank LLP is an elite, international, law firm with over 700 lawyers and 160 partners, based in 12 offices. With over 150 lawyers based permanently in London, it is now the second largest office in the Firm and consists of one of the most talented groups of lawyers of any US law firm in London. We advise on large-scale, high-end, complex matters usually involving multiple jurisdictions across a wide range of legal practice areas including banking & finance, litigation, corporate and tax.

Driven to deliver exceptional results for our clients, we push boundaries and challenge assumptions. That's been core to our ethos since our founding in 1866. It fuels how we work and define ourselves, and it informs our growth and evolution as a firm. We keep impressive company. Our clients are market leaders, global innovators and paradigm-shifting entrepreneurs that advance emerging industries. Surrounding ourselves by the best inspires and challenges us constantly to reimagine what's possible.

Our London office building is among the top 1% of sustainable office buildings in the United Kingdom. It is equipped with the latest technology and communal hubs to support our fully collegiate approach to working.

Our Hybrid Working Policy provides the option to work away from the office for up to 40% of your contractual hours.

The Firm reserves the right to vary or amend the duties and responsibilities of the role at any time, in line with the needs of the business. At Milbank LLP we are committed to treating all our people fairly and with dignity and respect. We recruit and develop our people based on their experience, abilities and qualifications, without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, ethnicity, religion/belief, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.