Professional Development Manager - Armstrong Teasdale : Job Details

Job Title: Practice Group Manager

Reports To: Chief Legal Talent & Practice Management Officer

Summary Description: Armstrong Teasdale is seeking two Practice Group Managers to join its team.

Practice Group Manager - Corporate Services

Practice Group Manager - Intellectual Property

The Manager will serve as a key professional in the Practice Group to which the individual is assigned. This position is responsible for determining strategic initiatives needed to drive revenue. The Manager will play an active role in assisting with the execution of initiatives to help advance the business goals of their assigned Practice Group. The Manager receives direction from the group's Practice Group Leader (PGL) and works with other firm legal and administrative groups to support the Practice Groups' goals related to financial performance, business development, attorney development and support, and firm-wide strategic initiatives.

Essential Functions: A summary of essential functions is included below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Works with the PGL to develop strategic business goals, objectives, and tactics in alignment with the Firm's strategy, and partners with leaders in other practice groups to ensure alignment of identified strategies.
• Works collaboratively with peers across the firm's business support departments (e.g., Business Development and Marketing, Finance, Diversity, Human Resources) and other Practice Groups to manage initiatives and support business strategies as directed by the PGL.
• Assists in the day-to-day operations of the Practice Group.
• Collaborates with the Business Development & Marketing department on RFP responses and pitches as well as proactively seeks business development opportunities.
• Invests significant support time in onboarding lateral attorneys to ensure access, resources, and coaching are provided; thereby, ensuring immediate production of revenue by the new attorney.
• Communicates and coordinates Practice Group support staff needs for paralegals and other non-attorney timekeepers and legal practice assistants with Human Resources and Office Administrators.
• Plans, organizes, and supports Practice Group meetings including coordinating with appropriate administrative departments, preparing, and communicating agendas and materials, and developing and executing action items.
• Works with the PGL and Finance to formulate an expense budget and track expenditures to ensure they are within approved budget guidelines, recommending corrective action as needed.
• Reviews and analyzes monthly financial reports on productivity, inventory, alternative fee arrangements, budget, revenue, pipeline and other key performance indicators, and raises trends and highlights of analysis to PGL to ensure optimal practice performance. Works with colleagues in Finance to address specific reporting needs for the group and practice teams.
• Under the direction of the PGL and in partnership with the business development department, assists in the development and implementation of practice group annual business plans; works with PGL and other partners to execute tactical steps to accomplish goals and objectives of the plans. Explores cross-selling opportunities and tracks return on business development expenditures.
• Works cross-functionally to manage and promote attorney development and diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives.
• Works with PGL and practice team leaders, as well as with professional development colleagues to plan and coordinate formal training and mentorship programs for lawyers as needed.
• Assists with conflicts, credit allocation, time entry, billing and collection issues.
• Remains up to date on legal and industry trends to proactively identify ways for the groups to differentiate themselves within the marketplace and identify new, niche, areas for the firm to explore.

Competencies:

• Decision Making –Makes decisions quickly and potentially with limited information, structures and coordinates personal and team priorities.
• Communication –Communicates verbally and in writing in a clear, concise and organized manner, prevents miscommunication by clarifying difficult concepts and ensures understanding by others, knows the appropriate amount of information to share with various parties, ensures regular and consistent information is shared, understands the appropriate level of confidentiality.
• Leadership –Gives upward positive and constructive feedback and offers solutions, on-boards leadership, identifies overarching areas for improvement and presents solutions, distributes work amongst team, has vision to plan and execute long-term strategic goals.
• Continuous Learning – Identifies training needs and opportunities for self, team and firm; promotes changes and acts as a change agent.
• Teamwork –Inspires the team to drive for results, fuels passion, encourages team feedback, fosters an open-door policy with team and works with others to identify solutions.
• Alignment to Values – Influences the awareness and adoption of the Firm's values on a larger scale, influences the awareness and adoption of diversity and inclusion, and demonstrates respect by providing solutions and support.

Required Education: Bachelor's degree

Preferred Education: J.D., MBA or related advanced degree

Required Years of Experience: 5 years of practice management experience or comparable experience in professional development, business development, operations or other high level administrative experience within a law firm. Would also consider attorneys practicing law who want to transition to a practice management role.

Preferred Years of Experience: Project management experience and ability to utilize technology solutions is a plus, excellent in Microsoft Office, ability to leverage research and competitive intelligence to identify business opportunities, awareness of business processes and ability to identify areas for process improvement.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Indirect

Physical Activity: The employee will be required to sit for prolonged periods and work on a computer.

Travel Required: There will be time to time travel opportunities for domestic travel to our offices.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

EEO Statement: Armstrong Teasdale is an equal opportunity employer and will make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status or other protected status, in accordance with federal, state and local laws. At Armstrong Teasdale, we define diversity and inclusion broadly and focus on helping professionals of all races, religions, national origins, gender identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations and physical abilities feel a sense of belonging. Diversity and inclusion are core values of the firm, and we recognize the richness they bring to our workplace.