Talent Manager, Disputes Resolution

Baker & McKenzie Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 161,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Bonus eligibility

Job summary

Baker McKenzie is seeking a Regional Talent Management professional to support the North America Disputes group and regional programs. The role partners with the Practice Group Leader and Business Manager to align talent development with strategic goals across the Americas.

You will drive performance management, matriculation, and integration of lateral hires, coordinating with mobility, HR, and leadership teams to foster a high-performing culture in a complex, matrixed environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Talent, OD, Management, or related field.
• JD or law firm experience preferred.
• Extensive experience in Talent Management, preferably in a professional services environment.
• Experience across multiple locations and jurisdictions.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Strong coaching, collaboration, stakeholder management.
• Ability to influence senior leaders.
• Prioritizes teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate annual performance reviews and mid-year check-ins for NA Disputes.
• Identify solutions and programs for underperforming and high-potential talent.
• Coach partners on performance issues and participate in improvement meetings.
• Escalate high-risk employee relations to HR.
• Support promotion process from Associate to National Partner/Counsel.
• Advise on annual matriculation for Associates.
• Facilitate talent mapping and pipeline discussions.
• Complete business justifications and approvals for hires.
• Coordinate integration of lateral partners and new joiners.
• Lead regional career conversations; align training with leadership.
• Onboarding: host orientations and support learning tools.
• Mobility coordination with Global Mobility and HR.
• Oversee paralegal time management and work allocation.
• Follow-up on surveys to improve engagement.
• Collaborate with HR on people-related issues.

Skills

English fluency

Communication

Coaching

Stakeholder management

Collaboration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Talent/OD/Management

JD or law firm experience preferred

Job description

Location Type

Hybrid

Business Unit

Business Professionals

Function

People

Full Time or Part Time

Full Time

Description & Requirements

The North America Dispute Resolution Group (NA Disputes) will work collaboratively with the NA Disputes Practice Group Leader (PGL) and the PG Business Manager (BM). This role aims to accelerate practice group and individual lawyer performance and development, aligned with North America's strategic direction, vision, and values in a highly matrixed organization.

While this position will primarily support a practice group, it will also help with some regional (North American) activities, including the regional Associate Committee and regional professional development programs; such as RISE, a sponsorship program focused on a particular cohort group. The PG TM team works together to ensure the processes and programs that support the lawyers in NA are effective, current, and supportive of the high-performing culture at Baker McKenzie.

The role-holder will be a key member of the PG TM team, assisting with the deployment and coordination of the NA mentoring program and various surveys for associates. The individual also will act as a liaison across the Americas region to facilitate communication and alignment for Mexico and Latin America Disputes practices. They will be expected to work collaboratively with regional teams across other functions in North America, including recruiting, human resources, mobility, ID&E, leadership & learning, other regional practice group talent managers, and office administration, as necessary to support the Disputes practice group and its members. They will operate as a Talent Management business professional for the PGL and BM, understanding the strategic needs of their people and coordinating with the appropriate business professionals to execute.

Main responsibilities:

Performance Management:

• Support and coordinate the annual performance review and mid-year check-ins for NA Disputes;
• Work with the PGLs and the BM to identify and implement solutions and programs for underperforming as well as high-potential talent on a routine and ongoing basis throughout calendar andfiscal years; and
• Coach partners on associate performance issues and sit in on meetings with associates to discuss improvement plans, as necessary
• Sit in on performance review meetings when appropriate
• Escalate high-risk or employee relations situations to Human Resource Managers

Matriculation:

• Support and coordinate the promotion process from Associate to National Partner/Counsel, working with the Business Manager for the practice group to compile materials for candidates
• Advise on the annual matriculation process for Associates advancing class years

Talent Mapping:

• Facilitate discussions with PGLs to support the talent mapping/pipeline process
• Coordinate with PG Business Manager to complete the business justification ("Hire Request") and shepherd through the approval process

Integration:

• Serve as a key liaison to support and facilitate integration of lateral partners, associates, and incoming first-year associates
• Develop and coordinate a one-year integration plan for lateral partners
• Oversee ramping up and down of attorneys from temporary departures/leaves of absence
• Coordinate nomination for internal and external programs, assess and identify lawyer training needs, and address them in partnership with PGL & Leadership and Learning team
• Lead regional career conversations program focusing on high-level conversations between attorneys and firm leaders to support desired career path. Work with knowledge management to ensure practice-specific training is appropriate and well-attended

Coaching and Counselling:

• Provide individual career development coaching and counselling sessions and work with individuals on their development plans and business plans
• Coach attorneys through performance issues.

Onboarding:

• Host practice group orientations for new lawyers and be available as a resource
• Liaise with other functional teams to support new joiners in learning firm tools, technology, operations, and strategies
• Coordinate regional associate integration mentoring program for North America

Mobility:

• Liaise with Global Mobility and office-based Human Resources on mobility requests

Paralegal Management: Oversee, among other things,

• Time management
• Work allocation

Organizational Development:

• Follow-up on internal feedback surveys and campaigns; focus on improving engagement
• Close coordination with office-based Human Resources to support the PGLs and BM on people-related issues
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and experience:

• A bachelor’s degree focusing on Talent, Professional Development, Organizational Development, Management, or other related areas; JD or law firm experience preferred
• Extensive experience in Talent Management, preferably in a professional services environment
• Experience working across multiple locations and jurisdictions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail; fluent written and spoken English is required
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems and drive results with a sense of urgency in setting strategies and executing against the objectives
• Proven ability to influence, interact, and consult with senior leaders, strong collaboration skills, and effective stakeholder management
• Strong coaching, counselling, business acumen, and overall communication skills
• Knowledge of and involvement in the larger professional development/talent management community a plus
• Prioritizes collaboration and teamwork values

Location: Any Baker McKenzie Office in the US or Canada

Reports to: Director of Talent Management, NA

Travel requirements: Some travel is required.

Position type: Regional

Development framework: Manager

About us

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Additional Information

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates. Should candidates require any reasonable adjustments and/or accommodations when applying to or interviewing with our Firm, please notify [e-mail]

Pay Transparency

• This position is bonus eligible and includes benefits such as medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) based on number of hours worked.
• California notice:Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates.

If located in an office in one of the states below, the US base compensation for this position is expected to be in the range listed. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

New York

$165,000-$185,000

California

$161,000 - $200,000

Illinois (Chicago only)

$155,000 - $174,000

Washington DC

$164,000- $184,000

• The Canadianbase compensation for this position is expected to be CAN$120,000 to CAN$135,000 annually if located in Toronto. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.