Director of Professional Development

Hunter Recruiting; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hunter Recruiting seeks a Director of Professional Development to oversee design and delivery of initiatives that enhance capabilities, career growth, and long-term success of its professional workforce.

The role partners with senior leadership while maintaining hands-on responsibility for developing programs. Must have JD and extensive experience in attorney professional development within the legal field.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate Degree required.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in attorney development, professional development, legal education, Human Resources, talent management, or a related discipline in the legal field.
• Demonstrated experience creating and managing professional development programs for attorneys or other highly skilled professionals.
• Strong background in coaching, mentoring, and leadership development.
• Proven ability to work directly with senior executives, organizational leaders, and high-level professionals.
• Law firm experience is required for this position.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, relationship-building, and influencing abilities.
• Strategic and analytical approach with the ability to translate ideas into practical programs and execute initiatives from conception through implementation.
• Experience leading teams and managing budgets, resources, and complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Establish and execute a comprehensive professional development strategy that supports organizational and talent objectives.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and practice or department leaders to assess development needs and translate those needs into effective programs and initiatives.
• Design and oversee training, mentoring, coaching, career development, and leadership development programs for attorneys and other professionals.
• Create structured and scalable development resources that address the needs of professionals at varying stages of their careers.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership regarding employee development, performance, retention, succession planning, and career advancement.
• Expand and strengthen organizational coaching and mentoring capabilities.
• Oversee professional onboarding and support the successful integration of new and lateral hires.
• Develop appropriate measurements and reporting processes to assess program participation, effectiveness, and overall impact.
• Lead, mentor, and develop members of the professional development team while overseeing departmental budgets and resource allocation.
• Evaluate emerging trends, tools, and best practices to identify opportunities to improve learning, professional development, and talent management programs.

Skills

Attorney development

Legal education

Coaching

Mentoring

Leadership development

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Executive collaboration

Education

Juris Doctorate Degree

Job description

Relocation package would be considered for non-local candidates

We have a well-established professional services organization seekinga Director of Professional Development to oversee the design and delivery of initiatives that enhance the capabilities, career growth, and long-term success of its professional workforce.

This position will serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership while maintaining hands‑on responsibility for developing and implementing professional development programs. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of legal and professional development and will be comfortable working with high-performing individuals and organizational leaders.

The Director will oversee development efforts across the professional lifecycle, including onboarding, early-career development, coaching and mentoring, leadership preparation, career progression, and advancement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish and execute a comprehensive professional development strategy that supports organizational and talent objectives.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and practice or department leaders to assess development needs and translate those needs into effective programs and initiatives.
• Design and oversee training, mentoring, coaching, career development, and leadership development programs for attorneys and other professionals.
• Create structured and scalable development resources that address the needs of professionals at varying stages of their careers.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership regarding employee development, performance, retention, succession planning, and career advancement.
• Expand and strengthen organizational coaching and mentoring capabilities.
• Oversee professional onboarding and support the successful integration of new and lateral hires.
• Develop appropriate measurements and reporting processes to assess program participation, effectiveness, and overall impact.
• Lead, mentor, and develop members of the professional development team while overseeing departmental budgets and resource allocation.
• Evaluate emerging trends, tools, and best practices to identify opportunities to improve learning, professional development, and talent management programs.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate Degree required
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in attorney development, professional development, legal education, Human Resources, talent management, or a related discipline in the legal field.
• Demonstrated experience creating and managing professional development programs for attorneys or other highly skilled professionals.
• Strong background in coaching, mentoring, and leadership development.
• Proven ability to work directly with senior executives, organizational leaders, and high-level professionals.
• Law firm experience is required for this position
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, relationship‑building, and influencing abilities.
• Strategic and analytical approach with the ability to translate ideas into practical programs and execute initiatives from conception through implementation.
• Experience leading teams and managing budgets, resources, and complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.