Senior Work Allocation Manager (Resource Management)

Career Legal; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Legal is looking for a Senior Work Allocation Manager to enhance its central resourcing function in Birmingham. This role requires a blend of leadership and hands-on experience in resource management. You’ll lead a small team while fostering partnerships across practice groups and ensuring effective workload distribution.

Your proven experience in resource management within a legal or professional services environment will be key to balancing strategic oversight and day-to-day delivery. The position offers a hybrid work model with three days in the office.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Resource Management or Workforce Management.
• Strong leadership capability in a legal or professional services environment.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small team of Work Allocation Managers.
• Build trust-based relationships with Partners and practice groups.
• Ensure continuity and quality in work allocation during peak times.
• Support embedding structured work allocation within a new practice area.
• Guide allocation decisions using data and awareness of workload distribution.
• Maintain oversight of capacity and workflow trends.
• Engage with stakeholders to understand evolving resourcing needs.
• Get involved in projects related to technology adoption for work allocation.

Skills

Resource Management

Workforce Management

Influencing Senior Stakeholders

Data and Commercial Awareness

Relationship Building

Job description

We’re working with a well‑regarded, UK Law firm that is seeking a Senior Work Allocation Manager to lead and evolve its central resourcing function, playing a key role in driving utilisation, fairness and strategic allocation across core practice groups.

Hybrid - 3 days in office per week with travel to other offices within this.

This is a highly visible, relationship‑heavy role combining people leadership with strategic oversight of work allocation. Leading a team of two Work Allocation Managers, you will also remain hands‑on, stepping into day‑to‑day allocation where needed. The position will play a central role in embedding work allocation into a new practice group and building trusted partnerships across the firm.

Key duties

• Leading and developing a small team, providing guidance and stepping into delivery when additional support is needed.
• Building strong, trust‑based relationships with Partners and practice groups, acting as a key point of contact for resourcing matters.
• Remaining hands‑on with work allocation where required, ensuring continuity and quality during peak or complex periods.
• Supporting the rollout and embedding of structured work allocation within a new practice area, helping shape how it operates.
• Using data and commercial awareness to guide allocation decisions, ensuring a balanced and effective approach to workload distribution.
• Maintaining oversight of capacity and workflow trends, proactively responding to changing demands across teams.
• Leading ongoing dialogue with stakeholders to understand evolving needs and refine the resourcing approach.
• Getting involved in a range of projects, including the introduction of new technology with a work allocation element, helping to shape implementation and adoption.

The suitable Senior Work Allocation Manager will bring proven experience in Resource Management or Workforce Management within a legal or professional services environment, alongside strong leadership capability. You will be highly relationship‑focused, confident influencing senior stakeholders and comfortable balancing strategic oversight with hands‑on delivery.