Attorney Development Manager - Des Moines, IA

Fredrikson & Byron; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Parental leave

Job summary

Fredrikson & Byron seeks an experienced Attorney Development Manager to shape professional growth and success across the firm. You will work with chairs, HR, and leadership to onboard attorneys, design programs, coach peers, and drive retention and career progression.

You will partner with practice leaders to identify development needs, coordinate CLE training, monitor milestones, and guide performance conversations while protecting confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• J.D. and prior large law firm practice experience strongly preferred.
• Five or more years of relevant experience.
• Experience designing and implementing learning and professional development programs.
• Demonstrated success coaching professionals.
• Experience with learning management systems and adult learning principles.
• Strong project management, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence attorneys and firm leadership while maintaining confidentiality.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office required; Microsoft Planner/Lists/Smartsheet a plus.
• Professional coaching certification or formal coaching training is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary development resource for associates and staff attorneys within assigned practice groups.
• Build trusted relationships with attorneys, supervisors, and practice leadership.
• Conduct regular development meetings focused on goal setting, career planning, and professional success.
• Provide coaching on professional skills, career progression, firm expectations, and workplace effectiveness.
• Support supervisors with guidance on attorney development and performance conversations.
• Monitor attorney development milestones and proactively identify opportunities and trends.
• Partner with Division and Department Chairs to identify development needs and create learning strategies.
• Design, coordinate, and continuously improve attorney training programs.
• Collaborate with attorneys and subject matter experts to develop learning content.
• Coordinate internal and external learning opportunities, including CLE programming.
• Measure program effectiveness through participation data and feedback.
• Coordinate associate advancement and attorney career progression processes.
• Manage the annual attorney performance review process.
• Partner with Division and Department Chairs and Human Resources on attorney performance, retention, staffing, and workforce planning.
• Assist with attorney onboarding, integration, mentor assignments, leaves of absence, secondments, and attorney transitions.
• Maintain confidential attorney development records and provide data-driven insights.
• Partner with the ADRC on firm-wide initiatives.

Skills

Coaching

Project management

Adult learning

Communication

Facilitation

LMS

Relationship building

Analytics

Microsoft Office

Confidentiality

Education

J.D. degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Who We Are:

Fredrikson & Byron is the premier Midwest-based law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally, and globally.

Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Attorney Development Manager to help shape the professional growth and success of our attorneys throughout their careers. This role is an integral member of our Attorney Development & Practice Management team, partnering closely with Division and Department Chairs, Human Resources, and Firm leadership to support attorney onboarding, professional development, performance management, career progression, and retention.

Reporting to the Director of Attorney Development & Practice Management, this position serves as a trusted advisor to attorneys and firm leadership, helping attorneys navigate each stage of their careers while developing innovative programming, meaningful coaching opportunities, and scalable talent initiatives that strengthen the Firm.

This role blends strategic talent management with hands-on coaching, program development, and relationship building, making it an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys developing people, influencing organizational culture, and partnering with legal leaders to build exceptional attorney experiences.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Serve as the primary development resource for associates and staff attorneys within assigned practice groups.
• Build trusted relationships with attorneys, supervisors, and practice leadership.
• Conduct regular development meetings focused on goal setting, career planning, and professional success.
• Provide coaching on professional skills, career progression, firm expectations, and workplace effectiveness.
• Support supervisors with guidance on attorney development and performance conversations.
• Monitor attorney development milestones and proactively identify opportunities and trends.
• Partner with Division and Department Chairs to identify development needs and create learning strategies.
• Design, coordinate, and continuously improve attorney training programs.
• Collaborate with attorneys and subject matter experts to develop learning content.
• Coordinate internal and external learning opportunities, including CLE programming.
• Measure program effectiveness through participation data and feedback.
• Coordinate associate advancement and attorney career progression processes.
• Manage the annual attorney performance review process.
• Partner with Division and Department Chairs and Human Resources on attorney performance, retention, staffing, and workforce planning.
• Assist with attorney onboarding, integration, mentor assignments, leaves of absence, secondments, and attorney transitions.
• Maintain confidential attorney development records and provide data-driven insights.
• Partner with the Attorney Development & Retention Committee (ADRC) on firm-wide initiatives.

Our Ideal Candidates Will Have:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• J.D. and prior large law firm practice experience strongly preferred.
• Five or more years of relevant experience.
• Experience designing and implementing learning and professional development programs.
• Demonstrated success coaching professionals.
• Experience with learning management systems and adult learning principles.
• Strong project management, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence attorneys and firm leadership while maintaining confidentiality.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office required; Microsoft Planner, Lists, or Smartsheet experience is a plus.
• Professional coaching certification or formal coaching training is a plus.

Benefits:

Our comprehensive benefits options include medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short- and long-term disability, employee resource benefits (inclusive of counseling, coaching, and caregiving guidance), paid parental leave, parenting classes, pre-tax parking and transportation options, and much more! Our retirement plan includes financial planning, Social Security/Medicare planning, 401(k)/Roth investment options, and a firm-paid profit-sharing contribution. Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms and conditions.

Compensation offered will depend on the candidate's experience, skills, education, professional background, and overall qualifications.

About Fredrikson:

Fredrikson & Byron is a leading Midwest law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally and globally. With a reputation as the firm \"where law and business meet\", our attorneys bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to work with clients and operate as business advisors and strategic partners as well as legal counselors. To best serve our clients, we provide innovative solutions to legal needs while reflecting inclusion and diversity as core values. We offer highly competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits in a collaborative work environment. The firm's 425 attorneys serve clients from offices in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Mexico and China. Learn more at fredlaw.com or LinkedIn.

Fredrikson is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Fredrikson does not discriminate in its recruiting, hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, and any other characteristics protected by applicable local, state, and/or federal laws.

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