Director of Partner Recruiting & Integration

Blank Rome LLP; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Disability insurance

Job summary

Blank Rome LLP is seeking a Director of Partner Recruitment and Integration to lead lateral partner recruitment and onboarding. You will work with firm leadership, practice groups, and clients to align growth objectives with integration success.

The role blends strategic recruitment with structured integration programs, including onboarding plans and 36-month reviews, and requires a strong track record in Am Law environments. Hybrid work from NY or Philadelphia offices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of Am Law firm experience in lateral partner recruitment.
• Proven ability to onboard and integrate partners.
• Strong knowledge of partner economics and business planning.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead lateral partner recruitment and integration strategy.
• Collaborate with firm leadership to set growth priorities.
• Develop sourcing plans and maintain a candidate pipeline.
• Oversee onboarding, integration, and 36-month post-hire reviews.
• Monitor market trends and provide strategic insights.

Skills

Am Law experience

Relationship management

Executive stakeholder engagement

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Web-based conference tools

Job description

Job Overview

Blank Rome continues to grow, and so does our Partner Recruiting & Integration team! We’re excited to expand our team and welcome new talent to support the firm’s continued growth.

The Director of Partner Recruitment and Integration leads the development and execution of the firm's full lifecycle lateral partner recruitment and integration strategy. In this role, you will work closely with prospective and lateral partners, internal stakeholders, and firm leadership to identify, recruit, onboard, and integrate top legal talent into the firm, driving alignment with business objectives and fostering long-term success.

The Director serves as a strategic partner to firm leadership, Practice Group Leaders, and office leadership to identify growth opportunities, recruit top legal talent, and support the successful integration of lateral partners and their practices. This role is responsible for ensuring alignment between recruitment and integration strategies, the firm's business objectives, and the long-term success of lateral partner hires.

This role has a hybrid working arrangement. Potential candidates must live within commuting distance of our New York or Philadelphia office to be onsite 3 days per week. In this role, you will report to the Chief Operating Officer.

Essential Functions

• Drive the development and execution of the firm's lateral partner recruitment and integration strategy.
• Partner with firm leadership, Practice Group Leaders, and office leadership to identify strategic growth opportunities and lateral hiring priorities.
• Develop and execute proactive sourcing strategies to identify, attract, and recruit high-performing lateral partners and practice groups aligned with the firm's strategic objectives.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective lateral partner candidates across targeted markets, practices, and regions.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with legal recruiters, search firms, and industry contacts to enhance the firm's visibility and access to top talent.
• Manage the full lifecycle lateral partner recruiting process, including candidate identification, evaluation, interviews, due diligence, business plan review, offer development, and acceptance.
• Coordinate candidate presentations, interviews, stakeholder communications, and feedback collection throughout the recruiting process.
• Collaborate with firm leadership and internal stakeholders to evaluate partner opportunities, assess strategic fit, and support informed hiring decisions.
• Monitor legal industry trends, competitive activity, and market opportunities to provide insights and recommendations that support the firm's growth objectives.
• Exhibit and articulate a thorough understanding of BR's practices, brand, clients, markets, culture, and strategy via superior communication with candidates, lateral partners, and key stakeholders.
• Work closely and directly with prospective and lateral partners to shepherd them through the recruitment, onboarding, and integration processes.
• Design custom, comprehensive onboarding and integration plans for each lateral partner prior to arrival. Ensure alignment of integration strategies with individual lateral partner goals and key business objectives identified during the recruitment process.
• Regularly review and maintain integration plans for all laterals during their first 36 months at the firm. Collaborate closely with BD, Practice Management, Practice Group Leaders, and firm Leadership to assess execution of plans. Identify integration opportunities and challenges and address proactively with key stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the Managing Director of Partner Recruitment & Lateral Integration, drive continuous improvement for recruiting, onboarding, and integration processes, leveraging metrics and technology platforms to support best practices, data-driven analysis, and regular reporting to firm leadership.
• Develop, maintain, and report on recruiting and integration metrics, candidate pipeline activity, partner onboarding progress, and long-term integration outcomes.
• Oversee the pre-arrival onboarding process, ensuring the seamless transition of all lateral partners, their teams, and clients to the firm. Liaise effectively with various department leads including Operations, BD, Value & Innovation, Technology, PR, Client Intake, and HR to facilitate transition.
• Evaluate and enhance existing Integration Partner program and ensure Integration Partners are executing on their responsibilities.
• Take lead with the management and development of the Manager of Partner Onboarding and Integration.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, innovations, and developments in partner recruitment, onboarding, and integration practices.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.
• Work additional hours as needed to fulfill job requirements.

The above essential functions represent the general nature and level of responsibilities for this position and is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. The firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion.

Skills/Qualifications

• 10+ years of Am Law experience, with significant direct experience in lateral partner recruitment, strategic talent acquisition, onboarding, and integration.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Deep knowledge of lateral partner recruitment and partner integration best practices.
• Deep understanding of the lateral partner market, law firm economics, partner business planning, and strategic law firm growth initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing partner recruitment strategies and managing complex lateral hiring processes.
• Strong relationship management skills with the ability to build credibility and influence among firm leadership, partners, candidates, and search firms.
• Demonstrated ability to employ creative approaches to evaluate and enhance existing processes, framework, and protocol to promote successful partner recruitment and integration.
• Experience leveraging recruiting and integration metrics to support data-driven decision-making, process improvements, and reporting.
• Energized by the opportunity for innovation.
• Solid understanding of law firm economics; experience in collaborating on financial modeling a plus.
• Ability to act with a high degree of integrity and good judgment at all times; a reflection of the firm's brand, culture, and mission.
• Excellent professional interpersonal skills and ability to interact with and influence professionals of all levels.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly responsive with exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Desire to contribute within a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to remain poised under pressure and lead by example to cultivate a positive, highly responsive, and effective team environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
• Proficient in web-based conference call/web-sharing applications.
• Work outside of standard hours as required to manage time-sensitive matters.
• Willing and able to travel to all the firm's offices as necessary to support recruitment efforts, facilitate onboarding and integration, build internal relationships with partners and administrative leaders, and gain an understanding of the unique characteristics and culture of each office.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $225,000 - $275,000. Actual salaries will depend on a candidate's geographic location, relevant experience, and skillset. The salary range listed is just one component of Blank Rome’s total compensation package for employees. Other monetary rewards include annual discretionary bonuses based on performance and profit-sharing contributions based on eligibility and firm profitability.

In addition, Blank Rome provides a comprehensive suite of benefits to promote health and financial security, including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life, accident, and disability insurance plans. The firm also provides the opportunity to participate in 401(k) retirement benefits, commuter benefits, and well-being programs.

About Us

Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 16 offices and 800 attorneys who provide comprehensive legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industries and are recognized for their commitment to pro bono work in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Rome’s culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of our clients and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. Our commitment to our core values and dedication to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment, allows the firm to attract and retain the brightest in the industry.

EEO Statement

Blank Rome is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, marital or family status, or any other status protected by law.

Our core values of respect for the individual, the community, and the law are clearly demonstrated in our ability to recruit and develop a diverse group of exceptionally talented attorneys and business professionals who enable us to best serve our clients and our communities.