Staff Learning & Development Manager

Benesch Law; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

Benesch Law is seeking a Staff Learning & Development Manager in Cleveland, offering a hybrid work model and a salary range of $118,000 to $149,000 per year. This role is pivotal in managing performance and learning strategies for the firm's staff.

Candidates should have a Bachelor's Degree in HR or a related field and at least 7 years of progressive HR experience. Key responsibilities include designing training programs, managing performance reviews, and facilitating professional development initiatives.

The firm prides itself on its positive work environment and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of HR experience, including 5+ years in learning and development.
• Knowledge of coaching principles and performance management.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the firm's performance management and learning strategy.
• Administer and evaluate firm-wide learning programs.
• Design and implement career pathing frameworks for support staff.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Facilitation skills

Presentation skills

Microsoft 365 proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in HR or related field

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Teams

Job description

At Benesch we pride ourselves on exceeding expectations and building trust not only with our clients but with our employees – Benesch’s #1 asset. Committed to providing the highest level of legal service, we also aspire to create a positive work environment for our employees. Our firm continues to earn placement on Chicago and Cleveland’s Top Workplaces list, along with Cleveland’s NorthCoast 99 Top Workplaces rankings. We also advance on the AmLaw 125 list, placing us among the top 125 law firms in the country.

Benesch is proud to announce the opening for a Staff Learning & Development Manager in our Cleveland office. This position is hybrid and offers work‑from‑home flexibility.

Position Summary

Do you thrive on being involved in all facets of professional learning & development? Do you find excitement in providing career development, advising, and professional skills training? If you have experience in law firms, corporate or academic environments and want to take your skill level to the next level, the Staff Learning & Development Manager is the opportunity for you! The role is a key member of the Human Resources team, responsible for leading and executing the firm’s performance management and learning strategy for staff. It oversees the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of performance review processes, professional development programs, and non‑timekeeper staff skill‑building initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Partners with leadership to identify skill and competency gaps among support staff and establishes learning and development initiatives that build capability and confidence.
• Administers the firm’s annual performance management process for support staff, including communications, training for managers, cycle coordination, and follow‑up to ensure consistency and quality.
• Manages the design, coordination, and evaluation of firm‑wide learning programs for support staff, including workshops, skill‑building sessions, and professional development opportunities.
• Administers the firm’s SkillPath learning subscription, including user setup, curation of recommended learning paths by role/level, and regular reporting on enrollments, completions and utilization trends to HR leadership.
• Partners with managers to promote SkillPath content aligned to performance and development goals, monitoring course completion and incorporating learning data into talent discussions and coaching conversations.
• Manages the Bundle 1:1 coaching program end‑to‑end, tracking enrollment, session utilization and feedback, and escalating low participation to department leaders.
• Generates key takeaways, themes and future development opportunities upon an individual’s completion of the individual coaching program.
• Designs and facilitates HR‑specific and managerial trainings that can be delivered via the firm’s LMS platform.
• Assists with maintenance and update of the Benesch Learning Center, including reviewing learning modules, designing new on‑demand learning content, updating content in the Center, running and analyzing reports, and promoting staff engagement with the Center.
• Provides administrative and logistical support to training programming as needed, including calendaring, reviewing content and collecting program information from presenters, serving as an attendance monitor, handling invitee communications, managing technology coordination, and assisting with catering or room reservations.
• Manages relationships with external training providers and consultants, as well as with software vendors, to ensure quality programming.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of training programs with collection and analysis of feedback.
• Tracks training engagement and assures all training records are thorough and stored properly.
• Leads the design and implementation of career pathing frameworks for support staff, helping define competencies, growth criteria, and development plans that promote retention and advancement.
• Stays informed on best practices in learning, performance management, and organizational development, sharing recommendations to strengthen the firm’s people programs.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

The Staff Learning & Development Manager should hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Learning & Development, Organizational Psychology, Business, or a related field, with a SHRM or HRCI certification preferred. A minimum of seven years of progressive human resources experience, including at least five years focused on learning and development, training, or organizational development, is required. Proven experience managing performance processes, facilitating employee development within a professional services or multi‑office environment is required. A strong understanding of coaching principles and performance management in a professional services setting is essential. The role requires outstanding interpersonal, facilitation, and presentation skills, along with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization. Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, as well as familiarity with learning or talent development platforms, is expected.

The salary range for this position is $118,000 to $149,000 per year. Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Base pay is only one part of the Total Rewards that Benesch provides to compensate and recognize staff professionals for their work. Full‑time positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benesch is an equal‑opportunity employer. We strongly value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (where the applicant is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations), medical condition, protected veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require special assistance or an accommodation during the process due to a disability should contact the Benesch Human Resources Department by phone at 216‑363‑4578 or email Christine Watson at [e-mail].