Manager, Recruitment and Professional Development

Dentons; Calgary; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dentons Canada in Calgary seeks a Manager, Recruitment and Professional Development to lead law student recruitment, student programming, and associate development in our Calgary office.

Reporting to the Director Talent, Alberta, this on-site role coordinates programs that support recruitment, onboarding, retention, and engagement of students and associates, while collaborating with leadership and national teams on talent initiatives.

Qualifications

• JD or LL.B required and 4+ years of legal practice or talent development experience.
• Experience with student/associate recruitment and development is a strong asset.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Calgary law student recruitment process and communications.
• Administer Calgary student program including onboarding and rotations.
• Support associate training programs and performance reviews.
• Collaborate with national teams on AI and tech enablement in talent programs.
• Support talent processes like performance, promotion, and compensation decisions.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Relationship-building

Discretion

Education

JD or LL.B

Job description

Dentons is designed to be different. Our Firm leads the way in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. We challenge the status quo and deliver consistent results as well as uncompromising quality and value to our clients. Our global presence is renowned as a firm with over 21,000 individuals in more than 200 offices serving clients across 80+ countries.

Dentons is committed to its people and communities. We are consistently recognized as an employer of choice having received numerous awards including being selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2026). Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2026), and Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2026).

This role is an opportunity for you to join Canada's Global Law Firm, a firm that offers opportunities to build your career while growing your skills and deepening your expertise.

OVERVIEW

Dentons is seeking a Manager, Recruitment and Professional Development to support the delivery and execution of law student recruitment, law student programming, and associate development initiatives in our Calgary office.

Reporting to the Director Talent, Alberta and working closely with the Calgary Office Managing Partner and their leadership team, the Manager, Recruitment and Professional Development, Calgary is responsible for the coordination, administration and implementation of talent programs and processes that support the recruitment, development, integration, retention, and engagement of students and associates. This role is an in-office position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Recruitment & Law School Engagement

• Manage and coordinate all aspects of the Calgary law student recruitment process, including scheduling, logistics, application review, participation in interviews, and candidate communications
• Support recruitment activities, including interviews, careers fairs, student outreach, Firm events, and law school campus engagement initiatives
• Maintain relationships with law schools, career services offices, and student organizations

Student Program Management

• Support the administration and day-to-day operations of the Calgary student program
• Manage onboarding, orientation, training logistics, and scheduling for summer and articling students
• Manage student program logistics, including rotations, evaluations, feedback delivery, hireback processes and development sessions
• Provide mentorship and guidance to law students in Calgary

Associate Professional Development Support

• Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of associate training programs and professional development initiatives
• Support the Office Managing Partner, Director Talent, Alberta, and the wider management team in the recruitment of associates
• Support Director Talent, Alberta, and Department Managers in identifying underperformance trends and coordinating development planning
• Manage the annual associate performance review process in Calgary
• Manage the Calgary Associate Mentoring Program
• Collaborate with national teams to support the responsible use of AI and legal technology enablement of our lawyers and in our talent programs, ensuring alignment with Firm policies, data governance standards, and emerging best practices

Talent Processes and Operational Support

• Collaborate with the Director Talent, Alberta, in the coordination and execution of associate talent processes, including performance, promotion, compensation, and bonus decisions
• Prepare and implement action plans arising from the Firm's engagement survey, or as required to align with national talent strategy
• Assist with the preparation, and tracking of the Calgary talent budget
• Contribute to the implementation of firmwide and regional talent initiatives
• Promote best-in-class diversity and inclusion outcomes in alignment with our IDEA strategy

QUALIFICATIONS

The candidate must have:

• A JD or LL.B; and
• 4+ years of legal practice or relevant talent/professional development experience.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience with student and/or associate recruitment and development (strong asset)
• Demonstrated interest in talent functions, including people development, performance management, policy development, succession planning, compensation, inclusion and diversity, and recruitment
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, with a high level of attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

This position is a replacement role.

The salary for this position will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications. Dentons is committed to equitable and competitive compensation. This target range falls within our internal salary ranges, which are based on comparable roles in the external market. We strive to hire, promote, and transfer individuals at the entry point of the range, with consideration given to prior experience, relevant skills, and market conditions.

We recognize that rewarding exceptional talent goes beyond salary. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes inclusive and flexible benefits that support the wellbeing and development of our people. This includes extended health and mental health benefits, paid time off, retirement savings plans, a fitness subsidy, parental leave top-up, and more.

In addition, our learning and development programs - such as mentorship opportunities, employee networks, and leadership development initiatives - are designed to support personal and professional growth.

At Dentons, all candidate screening, assessment, and hiring decisions are made by people. From time to time, we use AI-enabled tools to assist in enhancing our recruitment process and materials; however, these tools do not screen candidates or make hiring decisions.

Note: Availability of benefits and programs may vary depending on your location and employment type and may be subject to eligibility criteria. Dentons reserves the right to modify or discontinue offerings, in whole or in part, at its discretion and without prior notice.

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Dentons Canada, inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) are not just ancillary values, they are foundational to our business. We believe that IDEA is essential to the shared success of our team and our clients. Our forward-thinking and inclusive culture supports the professional development of all our people, enhances the leading services we offer to our clients, and informs our commitment to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. As a testament to our commitment to IDEA, we have been recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employer's for 16 consecutive years (2011-2026), as well as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2026) for the ninth time.

Dentons Canada is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome your application. All employment decisions, including hiring, will be made without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable human rights legislation.

We are committed to providing you with an inclusive, barrier-free, and accessible workplace to support your success. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, for example as a result of a disability, please contact us at [e-mail].