Professional Development Manager (Law Firm)

Coda Search│Staffing; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Coda Search│Staffing partners with a leading global law firm in NYC to hire a Professional Development Manager who will shape talent strategy across key practice groups, focusing on development, workforce planning, and analytics.

The role blends data analysis with cross‑functional project leadership, partnering with practice group leaders, Finance, HR and firm leadership to drive retention, performance reviews, and talent initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 6+ years of experience in legal talent management, HR, employee relations or practice management within a large law firm or professional services organization.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting talent data, workforce metrics, and financial reporting.
• Experience working with HRIS, talent management, and reporting systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and reporting tools;
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Practice Group Leaders to develop and execute talent management strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Monitor attorney headcount, utilization, hiring needs, and retention trends, providing actionable insights to firm leadership.
• Produce and analyze talent metrics, dashboards, and reports related to attorney performance, staffing, promotions, attrition, and workforce planning.
• Collaborate closely with the Finance team to develop reporting, forecast headcount, analyze productivity metrics, and support strategic decision-making.
• Lead talent-related initiatives, including performance review processes, succession planning, and attorney development programs.
• Oversee and continuously improve legal talent systems, ensuring data integrity, process efficiency, and successful implementation of new technologies and enhancements.
• Identify retention risks and partner with leadership to develop strategies that enhance attorney engagement and long-term retention.
• Manage special projects related to legal talent, organizational planning, and operational improvements.

Skills

Analytics

Excel

Project management

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

HRIS

Talent management systems

Reporting systems

Job description

Coda Search is partnering with a leading global law firm with offices located in NYC. The team is seeking to hire a Professional Development Manager for one of its practice groups, where they will be supporting the strategic management and development of legal talent across key practice groups. Partnering closely with Practice Group Leaders, Finance, HR, and firm leadership, this individual will play a critical role in developing talent, workforce planning, talent analytics, and headcount analysis.

This is a highly visible position that blends talent strategy, data analysis, and cross-functional project management.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Practice Group Leaders to develop and execute talent management strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Monitor attorney headcount, utilization, hiring needs, and retention trends, providing actionable insights to firm leadership.
• Produce and analyze talent metrics, dashboards, and reports related to attorney performance, staffing, promotions, attrition, and workforce planning.
• Collaborate closely with the Finance team to develop reporting, forecast headcount, analyze productivity metrics, and support strategic decision-making.
• Lead talent-related initiatives, including performance review processes, succession planning, and attorney development programs.
• Oversee and continuously improve legal talent systems, ensuring data integrity, process efficiency, and successful implementation of new technologies and enhancements.
• Identify retention risks and partner with leadership to develop strategies that enhance attorney engagement and long-term retention.
• Manage special projects related to legal talent, organizational planning, and operational improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• 6+ years of experience in legal talent management, HR, employee relations or practice management within a large law firm or professional services organization.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting talent data, workforce metrics, and financial reporting.
• Experience working with HRIS, talent management, and reporting systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and reporting tools;
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.