Associate Development Manager

ABA Search, Inc.; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ABA Search, Inc. is seeking a staffing and talent-management professional for a hybrid role in San Diego. You will partner with practice leaders to allocate associates, monitor workloads, and support development goals.

The role emphasizes performance reviews, coaching, onboarding, and collaboration with Talent, Education, and Wellness teams to enhance associate success. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in staffing within a large law firm or professional services organization, with 7+ years for

Qualifications

• 5+ years of direct staffing and work allocation experience in a large law firm or professional services organization
• 7+ years for senior-level with 2+ years of exempt/management experience
• JD degree preferred
• Substantial experience in work allocation, talent management, career coaching, professional development, and/or personnel management
• Ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders and communicate effectively

Responsibilities

• Coordinate staffing with practice group leaders and partners to allocate associates across matters
• Monitor workloads and development, aiding equitable distribution aligned with client needs and professional goals
• Track associate metrics, utilization, and availability to support productivity targets
• Collaborate with Legal Talent to identify hiring targets and staffing needs
• Support the associate performance review process and deliver timely, quality reviews
• Facilitate coaching and feedback with Professional Development teams
• Lead mentoring and training initiatives and ensure timely feedback between partners and associates
• Assist with onboarding, orientations, and integration of new hires; conduct exit interviews to improve associate experience
• Develop and implement legal and professional skills training programs
• Work with Licensing and Compliance to ensure licensure and continuing legal education requirements
• Partner with Diversity and Inclusion to promote an inclusive culture and attorney development
• Coordinate with HR and Wellness teams to promote associate wellbeing
• Proactively manage relationships with internal stakeholders and maintain confidentiality

Skills

Staffing

Talent management

Career coaching

Professional development

Personnel management

Interpersonal communication

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

iManage

Job description

COMPANY PROFILE:

Our client is a large, internationally recognized law firm with deep roots in technology and venture capital work, built over decades of representing emerging companies from formation through exit. The firm maintains a substantial corporate and M&A practice alongside well-regarded private equity, intellectual property, cybersecurity and privacy, securities, and litigation groups. It is known for a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture and for strong internal support for attorney development, wellbeing, and an inclusive workplace, and it is regularly recognized by outside organizations for those efforts.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS of our Client

Our client offers a competitive compensation and benefits package based on experience and location. This is a hybrid role based in San Diego, CA, offering flexibility to work both onsite and remotely.

THE ROLE YOU WILL PLAY

• Work with practice group leaders and partners in charge of staffing to manage the work allocation process for associates in the group
• Monitor associate workloads and professional development, helping allocate new matters to ensure an equitable distribution of assignments consistent with client needs and individual professional development goals
• Track, aggregate, and analyze associate metrics, including availability information and utilization rates, partnering with practice group leaders and associates to support productivity goals for individuals and the practice group
• Coordinate with practice group leaders and other supervising partners to identify staffing needs and hiring targets, partnering with the Legal Talent team to ensure hiring efforts support the goals and needs of the group
• Support the associate performance review process, working with practice group leaders and Associate Review Committee members to ensure quality reviews are delivered in a timely fashion
• Help monitor associate evaluations, prepare review delivery scripts, and facilitate the delivery of formal reviews; work with associates to implement feedback received, collaborating with Professional Development team members to provide coaching where necessary
• Meet regularly with practice group leaders to identify high-performing associates and associates who may be having specific challenges, so that appropriate mentoring, training, and other actions can be taken in a timely manner; facilitate frequent feedback between partners and associates
• Partner with Legal Talent and other internal administrative departments to facilitate successful attorney on-boarding and integration, including conducting department orientation for new hires and building robust onboarding schedules; help conduct exit interviews to leverage departing associate feedback to improve the associate experience
• Collaborate with Professional Development and Legal Education team members to develop, enhance, and implement legal and professional skills training programs and initiatives that support associate development
• Collaborate with the firm's Attorney Licensing and Compliance team to ensure associates obtain and maintain their licensure requirements and engage in continuing legal education aligned with development goals
• Collaborate with the firm's Diversity and Inclusion team to champion and implement initiatives and events, promote best practices in commitment to an inclusive culture, and serve as a resource for diverse attorneys
• Collaborate with HR/Wellness teams to promote the wellness of associates

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• Following onboarding, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage, and other firm applications
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
• Ability to travel, as required
• 5+ years of direct experience with staffing and work allocation in a large law firm or professional services organization, or 5+ years of combined law firm professional development and prior law practice experience, preferably in a large law firm environment
• Senior-level candidates should have 7+ years of applicable experience in the field, including 2+ years of exempt/management experience in relevant roles
• JD degree preferred
• Substantial experience in work allocation, talent management, career coaching, professional development, and/or personnel management preferred
• Ability to establish rapport and build relationships and credibility with internal stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal, oral (listening and speaking), and written communication skills
• Ability to respect and maintain highly sensitive or confidential information
• Excellent people management skills, including serving as a mentor or coach
• Professional demeanor and the ability to use initiative, diplomacy, and tact
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions based on a set of principles rather than rules
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with multiple constituencies
• Detail-oriented, organized, and driven, with the desire to take ownership of projects and responsibilities while also working collaboratively in a team-oriented environment
• Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks quickly and efficiently

ABOUT ABA Search

At ABA, we value professionalism, honesty, and hard work. We are positive, innovative thinkers who use creativity to turn challenges into opportunities. We love to learn and continuously seek new ways to deepen our expertise in the Legal and Life Sciences industries. We are passionate about staffing and committed to the success of our clients and candidates. That is what makes us “the name to know in recruitment.”