Professional Development Manager

Sidley Austin LLP; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP seeks a Professional Development Manager for their London office to lead the development of business professionals across Europe and Asia Pacific. The role involves designing and delivering impactful learning experiences, collaborating with stakeholders, and shaping firmwide development initiatives to enhance performance and support a culture of excellence.

Benefits

Annual discretionary performance bonus

Non-contributory pension scheme

33 days paid time off

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Health club contribution

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified, with a minimum of four years' experience designing and delivering learning and development programmes.
• Strong experience consulting with internal or external stakeholders to identify learning needs and shape effective solutions.
• Confident in using Microsoft Office tools to design and deliver content.

Responsibilities

• Partnering with key stakeholders to assess development needs and identify skills gaps among business professionals across the region.
• Designing effective and engaging learning solutions, using best practices in adult learning and instructional design.
• Mentoring junior team members, sharing knowledge and supporting their professional growth.

Skills

Designing learning solutions

Consultation skills

Instructional design techniques

Analytical skills

Education

Degree qualified

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Summary

Sidley in London

We are proud to offer our lawyers and professional staff myriad opportunities to apply their talents toward important, challenging projects on a global stage. Our culture of collegiality attracts people with diverse skills and backgrounds who are dedicated to teamwork, collaboration and superior client service.

Sidley has built an inclusive, collegiate culture firmwide and we maintain an environment focused on teamwork and cooperation. Our London office has a relaxed, down-to-earth friendliness, with lawyers and business professionals at all levels treating each other with genuine respect. We value the skills and knowledge that each team member brings and believe in creating a work environment where everyone thrives.

We are located in a distinctive new development at 70 St. Mary Axe with panoramic views across London. Based in the in the heart of the City and close to Liverpool Street station with all the area has to offer - fantastic restaurants and bars, shopping and sporting facilities. You’ll find a great social scene within the office, with organised events including sailing and skiing weekends, seasonal parties and charitable team activities.

Inclusion

Sidley is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive culture. We recognise that bringing together individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthens the quality of our legal work and continues to position us as a trusted leader in the legal profession. Our commitment to inclusion not only enriches our workplace but also enhances our ability to fulfill our mission providing the highest quality legal services for our clients.

Role overview

At Sidley, our award-winning Learning & Development team plays a vital role in driving professional excellence across the firm. Through impactful training, personalised career development and continuous learning, we empower our people to grow with confidence, capability and purpose at every stage of their Sidley journey.

We are looking for a Professional Development Manager to join our London office and lead the development of our business professionals across Europe and Asia Pacific. This is a strategic, hands-on role where you will work closely with the Director of Professional Development – Europe & Asia Pacific, alongside a high-performing and global team, to design and deliver learning experiences that make a meaningful difference.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape firmwide development initiatives, enhance our inclusive, high-performance culture, and play a key part in supporting Sidley’s reputation for world-class client service.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key responsibilities

As our new Professional Development Manager, you will play a central role in the design, delivery and continuous improvement of learning initiatives for Sidley’s business professionals across Europe and Asia Pacific. Working closely with the Director of Professional Development – Europe & Asia Pacific and other global stakeholders, your responsibilities will include:

• Partnering with key stakeholders to assess development needs and identify skills gaps among business professionals across the region
• Designing effective and engaging learning solutions, using best practices in adult learning and instructional design
• Developing a range of learning formats including facilitator-led sessions, blended programmes, asynchronous content, simulations, knowledge checks and assessments
• Delivering and facilitating select learning programmes to support individual growth and team performance
• Leading programme implementation, managing timelines, deliverables and communication plans, while keeping stakeholders informed throughout
• Gathering and analysing feedback on learning initiatives; preparing summary reports and recommending enhancements to ensure relevance and impact
• Reviewing and refreshing existing content, tools and materials to reflect current trends, internal needs and industry best practice
• Working with external consultants, facilitators and subject-matter experts to co-create and deliver tailored programmes
• Collaborating closely with Learning & Development colleagues globally to ensure consistency, alignment and excellence in programme delivery
• Staying abreast of developments in professional development, learning technologies and instructional design trends
• Mentoring junior team members, sharing knowledge and supporting their professional growth
• Supporting ad hoc projects and initiatives across the Learning & Development function as required

Note: Occasional travel may be required to support regional learning and development initiatives.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each Essential Duty and Responsibility (the “Essential Duties”) satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the Essential Duties.

Qualifications

Candidate profile

We are looking for a confident and collaborative individual with a passion for developing others. You will have the ability to think creatively, consult effectively and adapt with ease in a global, fast-paced environment. Your experience designing learning solutions and working across teams will set you up for success in this role.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Degree-qualified, with a minimum of four years’ experience designing and delivering learning and development programmes
• Strong experience consulting with internal or external stakeholders to identify learning needs and shape effective solutions
• Proven ability to apply adult learning principles, instructional design techniques, and learning measurement strategies across a range of formats
• Confident in using Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) to design and deliver content
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail, including strong proofreading and reporting skills
• Clear communicator with the ability to build relationships, influence and collaborate effectively at all levels
• Analytical and solutions-focused, with sound judgement and the ability to adapt in a dynamic environment
• A strong team player who works well across teams, functions and time zones

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience in a large law firm or professional services environment
• Familiarity with behavioural assessment tools and how to integrate them into learning programmes
• Experience using learning management systems (such as Cornerstone)
• Experience working within a global team and across multiple time zones

Benefits

As part of our team, you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Annual discretionary performance bonus
• Non-contributory pension scheme – 5% employer contribution, with an additional 3% matched from you
• 33 days paid time off – inclusive of short-term sickness absence
• Private Medical Insurance
• Permanent Health Insurance
• Life Assurance – equivalent to four times your salary
• Health club contribution
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Free GP service and regular health checks