Asset Management Practice Development Manager

Ropes & Gray LLP; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ropes & Gray LLP is seeking a Practice Development Manager to serve as trusted advisor to the Practice Group Leaders and Director of Practice Development within the Asset Management group. You will set strategy, drive accountability, and ensure operational efficiency across Registered Funds and related professionals.

The role requires eight+ years of leadership in large professional services, with strong communication, organizational, and confidentiality skills; willingness to travel

Qualifications

• Experience in asset management/registered funds or in a mid-sized to large law firm preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree; JD or MBA preferred but not required.
• Prior people management experience, coaching, mentoring and delegation skills.

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

Credibility with partners

Communication

Project management

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Strategic planning

Confidentiality

Collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree

JD or MBA preferred

Job description

Ropes & Gray LLP is seeking a Practice Development Manager to serve as trusted advisor to the Practice Group Leaders and Director of Practice Development within the Asset Management group. You will set strategy, drive accountability, and ensure operational efficiency across Registered Funds and related professionals.

The role requires eight+ years of leadership in large professional services, with strong communication, organizational, and confidentiality skills; willingness to travel