Sr. Manager, Lateral Partner Recruiting

Goodwin Procter Boston; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Retirement & Savings Plan

Paid vacation, sick time off, and holi

Professional development and career机会

Job summary

Goodwin Procter Boston is seeking a senior partner recruiting advisor to lead end-to-end searches for lateral partners across assigned industry sectors and practices. You will map markets, source directly, engage search firms, assess candidates, coordinate interviews, build business cases, and support offers and onboarding.

The role requires deep industry knowledge, senior-level credibility, and a data-driven, collaborative approach to partner recruitment across a global firm.

Qualifications

• BA, BS or equivalent.
• 10+ years of recruiting experience, preferably with major law firms.
• Experience with executive/partner recruitment and onboarding.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end lifecycle of assigned lateral partner searches.
• Develop sector recruitment plans and sourcing strategies.
• Coordinate with search firms and manage candidate evaluation and offers.
• Deliver high-quality candidate experience and reporting to leadership.

Skills

Executive presence

Strategic thinking

Project management

Candidate relationship building

Education

BA, BS or equivalent

Job description

Join Goodwin's Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team - all business professionals at the firm - you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do. Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the "Best Business Team" by The American Lawyer. This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers.

What You Will Do

Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted recruiting advisor for assigned industry sectors and related practices; develop a deep understanding of each sector's teams, leadership, internal talent pipeline, clients, growth priorities, competitive position, and candidate criteria. Translate firm, industry, and practice growth objectives into global sector recruiting plans and targeted strategies for specific searches, with clear priorities, market positioning, timelines, and recommended sourcing approaches. Own and drive the end-to-end lifecycle of assigned lateral partner searches, including search launch, market mapping, direct sourcing, search firm engagement, candidate assessment, interview coordination, feedback synthesis, business case development, committee materials, pre-hire diligence, offer support for transition planning, and onboarding. Conduct market mapping of priority candidates at peer and aspirational firms and reverse searches based on current, target, and aspirational clients to build proactive, diverse pipelines for direct outreach. Evaluate inbound and proactively sourced candidates against strategic, financial, cultural, and market criteria; identify strengths, risks, and gaps and provide clear, well-supported recommendations. Develop high-quality financial and strategic business cases, including practice economics and analysis, and prepare persuasive presentations for Leadership Committees, as applicable. Build strong, collaborative relationships with industry and practice leaders, practice management, client development, finance, conflicts, integration, and other cross-functional partners to advance searches efficiently and surface issues early. Deliver a high-touch, responsive, and consistent candidate experience that reflects the firm's brand, culture, and commitment to excellence from initial contact through onboarding. Develop and maintain productive relationships with legal search firms and talent networks; identify search firms with relevant sector and market expertise, communicate priorities clearly, and manage performance and candidate flow. Produce timely, decision-useful reporting, including monthly industry pipeline reports, weekly search-specific candidate updates, market compensation data, trend reporting, and annual hiring analysis, including lost-offer insights. Monitor competitive firms, partner movement, compensation, client developments, and broader market trends; translate intelligence into recruiting opportunities, risks, and recommended actions. Create and maintain sophisticated industry and opportunity messaging, including sector decks, bespoke search materials, candidate presentations, and concise industry reference materials that clearly differentiate the firm in the market. Maintain complete, accurate, and current information in recruiting systems, pipeline trackers, evaluation reports, and related data sources; ensure documentation supports transparency, continuity, and reliable analysis. Identify and implement process, technology, analytics, and workflow improvements that enhance the quality, efficiency, consistency, and transparency of partner recruiting. Apply sound judgment and common sense throughout the recruiting process, protect highly sensitive information, and ensure compliance with firm policies, confidentiality protocols, and applicable requirements. Represent the firm effectively in the lateral partner market and contribute to a collaborative, one-firm culture that is collegial, accountable, inclusive, and committed to professional excellence.

Who You Are

BA, BS or equivalent. Minimum of 10 years of recruiting experience, preferably with major law firms, along with experience and interest in partner recruiting. Significant experience with all aspects of senior executive or partner-level recruitment, including needs identification, search strategy, market mapping, direct sourcing, search firm management, candidate evaluation, business case development, offer support, transition planning, and onboarding. Ability to develop deep industry-sector knowledge and connect firm strategy, client and market dynamics, competitive intelligence, and talent needs to practical recruiting plans. Strategic thinking combined with operational rigor and the ability to translate broadly stated business objectives into clear priorities, executable plans, and measurable results. Strong research, market intelligence, and analytical capabilities, including the ability to assess practice economics, interpret financial and pipeline data, identify trends, and develop well-supported recommendations. Executive presence and credibility, with the ability to operate effectively in a partnership-driven, consensus-based environment and advise senior partners and firm leaders with confidence and discretion. Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and create clear, concise, persuasive memos, business cases, reports, and market-facing materials. Superior interpersonal and relationship-building skills and the ability to engage effectively, professionally, and confidently with candidates, partners, search firms, and colleagues at all levels of the firm. Consultative, collaborative, and client service-oriented approach, with a commitment to delivering responsive, high-quality work and an exceptional stakeholder and candidate experience. Excellent project management, organization, and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize and advance multiple complex searches and initiatives in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Proactive, resourceful, and self-directed, with sound judgment, critical thinking, creative problem-solving skills, and the ability to anticipate needs and operate effectively through ambiguity. Demonstrated record of innovation and continuous improvement in recruiting practices, processes, technology, and analytics. Demonstrated proficiency and comfort using AI-enabled tools as part of daily work to enhance productivity, efficiency, and quality. Expected to leverage AI to streamline workflows, support research and analysis, and improve written work and deliverables while applying appropriate judgment and adhering to firm policies and confidentiality requirements. Unquestioned integrity and discretion in handling highly confidential and sensitive information. Collaborative, team-oriented mindset and a commitment to accountability, inclusion, professional excellence, and the firm's values.

Benefits and More

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement & Savings Plan
• Emergency back-up child and adult care
• Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Employee recognition and reward programs
• Employee wellness and assistance programs
• Employee discounts and perks

This position is eligible for overtime: No

The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience: $160,000.00 - $210,000.00

Professional career paths at Goodwin offer you more - and less - than you might expect. You’ll find less hierarchy and more meritocracy. You’ll have more chances to work across departments and offices, and fewer roadblocks to getting the job done. We believe people are happiest when they're not limited by a 'that's how we've always done it' approach, so we encourage a more imaginative and collaborative working environment. Our Global Operations Team - what we call our GO Team - brings a level of professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment to work each and every day. Goodwin embraces responsible and ethical use of AI in the Hiring Process.