Associate Development Manager

Ryder Reid Legal Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm in London is seeking an experienced Associate Development Manager to lead the development, engagement, performance and progression of legal talent within a high‑performing litigation practice.

You will work with partners, Legal Talent and Professional Development teams to shape the associate experience from onboarding through to career development, performance reviews and retention.

Qualifications

• Experience managing staffing and work allocation in a large law firm.
• Knowledge of legal talent, professional development or attorney/associate management.
• Strong stakeholder management with senior leaders.
• Excellent communication, coaching and discretion handling sensitive matters.

Responsibilities

• Manage associate staffing and work allocation processes.
• Monitor utilisation, workload distribution and development opportunities.
• Analyse associate metrics and support productivity objectives.
• Partner with practice leaders to identify hiring needs and workforce planning.
• Coordinate onboarding, integration and exit interviews.
• Collaborate on legal skills, professional development and training programmes.
• Support diversity, inclusion and wellbeing initiatives across the practice.

Skills

Staffing management

Talent management

Professional development

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Analytical skills

Communication

Job description

A leading international law firm is seeking an experienced Associate Development Manager to join its London office. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in the development, engagement, performance and progression of legal talent within a high-performing litigation practice. Working closely with practice leadership, Legal Talent and Professional Development teams, you will help shape the associate experience from onboarding through to career development, performance management and retention. The OpportunityAs Associate Development Manager, you will act as a trusted advisor to partners and associates, ensuring effective staffing, equitable work allocation and meaningful professional development opportunities across the practice group.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing associate staffing and work allocation processes
• Monitoring utilisation, workload distribution and development opportunities
• Analysing associate metrics and supporting productivity objectives
• Partnering with practice leaders to identify hiring needs and workforce planning priorities
• Supporting the associate performance review process and facilitating feedback discussions
• Providing coaching and development support to associates
• Identifying high-potential talent and helping address performance or development challenges
• Coordinating onboarding, integration and exit interview processes
• Collaborating on legal skills, professional development and training programmes
• Working with licensing and compliance teams to support professional accreditation requirements
• Supporting diversity, inclusion and wellbeing initiatives across the practice

About You

We are interested in speaking with professionals who bring experience from a large law firm or complex professional services environment, particularly those with expertise in talent management, professional development or resource management. You will likely have:

• Experience managing staffing and work allocation processes
• Knowledge of legal talent, professional development or attorney/associate management
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build credibility with senior leaders
• Excellent communication and coaching abilities
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential matters with discretion
• Strong analytical and organisational skills
• The ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Desirable Experience

• Work allocation or resource management within a law firm
• Career coaching, talent development or performance management experience
• Previous legal practice experience combined with professional development responsibilities

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a prestigious global firm renowned for its collaborative culture, commitment to professional development and investment in its people. You will have significant visibility with senior stakeholders and play a direct role in shaping the careers of lawyers at all stages of their development.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to all enquiries.