Asset Management Practice Development Lead

Ropes & Gray LLP; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 258,000; Full time

Job summary

Ropes & Gray LLP in New York is seeking a Practice Development Manager to support the Registered Funds group within Asset Management. You will partner with group leaders and finance to shape strategy, drive accountability, and ensure efficient operations across the practice.

The role requires eight+ years in a large firm or professional services, strong leadership, communication, and project-management skills, plus experience with talent planning, knowledge management, and AI-enabled

Qualifications

• Exemplary leadership skills.
• Ability to establish credibility with Ropes & Gray partners, to bring to bear the right mix of confidence, tact, and persistence in working with the firm’s lawyers.
• Confidence and professionalism to interact credibly and diplomatically with all levels in an organization, including partners and firm management - tailoring communications effectively for different groups and stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen, project management, analytical skills, and proven attention to detail.
• Ability to develop and successfully execute comprehensive project and operational plans from broadly stated objectives.
• Desire to learn.
• Ability to identify and solve problems, work independently, and take initiative.
• Excellent presentation, writing and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to roll-up sleeves and get things done.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with people at all levels. Positive, can-do attitude.
• Ability to work collaboratively with professional staff in a multi-office environment.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality of the firm’s internal and personnel affairs.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with practice and specialty group leadership, partners and other key stakeholders to develop a vision and strategic Registered Funds group plan with clear and achievable goals focused on competitive differentiation, market/brand reputation, talent, and profitability.
• Support Registered Funds leadership with the daily operations of the group, including preparing for, designing, and running substantive initiatives and meetings that maintain focus on group priorities.
• Identify opportunities for improvement, innovation, and efficiency in business operations, matter management, infrastructure, methodologies, and develop solutions and plans for corresponding action.
• Relentlessly execute and track progress on initiatives in support of the firm and Registered Funds and Asset Management group strategies.
• Focus on Registered Funds talent/needs by working with SGLs, PGLs, partners and Attorney Talent to manage partner and counsel transitions that include: evaluating the overall talent needs for the PG; on-boarding and integrating lateral partners and counsel; preparing business cases for partner promotions; integrating promoted partners; planning for partner retirements/succession planning. Collaborate with partners to draft candidate sponsor memoranda, and integration plans.
• Work with SGLs, PGLs and partners to identify and execute on Registered Funds group knowledge management needs in collaboration with Legal Knowledge Management team.
• Collaborate with SGLs, PGLs and partners to focus on Registered Funds innovation through product development and thought leadership campaigns. Partner with attorneys, Legal Knowledge Management, Business Development and Marketing teams to drive knowledge marketing product development and distribution.
• Work with the Business Development, Public Relations and Events teams to raise attorney profiles by: identifying speaking opportunities, conferences, sponsorships, and writing opportunities to further implement knowledge marketing efforts.
• Strategize approach for and oversee the preparation of various legal ranking submissions. Develop and oversee processes to track Registered Funds experience.
• Facilitate sharing of practice area developments and information with appropriate business support teams.
• Monitor current trends and best practices in legal and professional services management; communicate the impact of new innovations, developments, and regulations.
• Collaborate with Finance colleagues to analyze Registered Funds practice financial performance (revenue, profitability, realization, utilization, WIP, A/R); work with SGLs, PGLs and PDD to drive performance, growth, leverage, realization, and profitability. Prepare and manage PG budgets.
• Manage Practice Development Specialists, Experience Analysts and Coordinators through coaching, mentoring and delegation of practice group projects and routine tasks.
• Support the development and implementation of AI-enabled practice development practices—particularly around identifying new product development, strategic planning workflows and lateral hiring market research and onboarding workflows, building scalable processes and ensuring team proficiency in AI tools.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Confidentiality

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree. JD or MBA preferred but not required.

Job description

Ropes & Gray LLP in New York is seeking a Practice Development Manager to support the Registered Funds group within Asset Management. You will partner with group leaders and finance to shape strategy, drive accountability, and ensure efficient operations across the practice.

The role requires eight+ years in a large firm or professional services, strong leadership, communication, and project-management skills, plus experience with talent planning, knowledge management, and AI-enabled