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Director, Professional Development
Director, Professional DevelopmentPhelps Dunbar • Houston, TX, United States
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Director, Professional Development

Director, Professional Development

Phelps Dunbar • Houston, TX, United States
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Description

We are seeking a collaborative and innovative leader for this full-time position to direct the firm's lawyer training, evaluation, and career development programs. The Director, Professional Development will :

  • Lead professional development by designing firmwide and practice-specific training that enhances lawyer skills, client service and career growth.
  • Oversee evaluations to ensure accurate, efficient processes that inform compensation and development decisions.
  • Strengthen mentorship and retention by managing associate and partner programs, orientation and ongoing career support.
  • Advance inclusion efforts by supporting firm equity and inclusion initiatives and administering related surveys.
  • Ensure CLE compliance by planning and managing annual programs.
  • Collaborate across departments to align professional development with client service and business goals.

Ideal candidates are strong communicators, detail-oriented and trusted advisors with experience in lawyer or professional development, training, or talent management. Law firm experience is preferred.

Primary Goals

1. Lead Lawyer Training & Development - Identify, design, and deliver impactful firmwide and practice group training programs that enhance lawyer skills, client service, and professional growth.

2. Direct the Lawyer Evaluation Processes - Oversee firmwide lawyer evaluations, ensuring efficient use of technology, accuracy of data, and alignment with compensation and career development.

3. Strengthen Mentorship & Retention Programs - Direct associate and partner mentorship initiatives that foster career growth, engagement, and long-term retention.

Key Responsibilities

Training & Education

  • Identify training needs through feedback from partners, the Associate Development Committee (ADC), and lawyer evaluations.
  • Partner with practice group training liaisons and coordinators to develop and deliver targeted programs.
  • Oversee all logistics : presenters, scheduling, technology (Zoom, recording, editing), CLE accreditation, and post-program distribution.
  • Coordinate firmwide programs with internal and external speakers, tailoring content to firm needs.
  • Manage the Firm's Learning Management System (LMS) by curating and maintaining training content, onboarding users, and supporting lawyer access.
  • Collaborate with Client Relations to align training with client-facing initiatives.

    • Lawyer Evaluations

  • Design, develop and manage our processes for associate evaluations to be used in promotion and evaluation decisions for the firm's Policy and Planning Committee (PPC) compensation decisions.
  • Track lawyer goals, provide practice groups and marketing / BD teams with goal-related insights, and identify training opportunities from trends.

    • Mentorship & Associate Development

  • Manage the Associate Mentorship Program : surveys, pairings, communications, and feedback collection.
  • Support the Partner Mentorship Program for new partners, coordinating quarterly meetings.
  • Coordinate New Associate Orientation : content, presenters, and logistics.
  • Meet with lawyers (partners and associates) individually to provide support, resources, coaching, or referrals to external coaches when appropriate.
  • Lead the consolidation of information from each associate's evaluations, mentoring, work assignments and training to create an individualized action plan that supports retention and advancement or outplacement.

    • Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

  • Coordinate with PLI to host in-house CLE programs, maximizing opportunities for lawyers to earn live CLE credit.
  • Plan annual CLE offerings, oversee registration and reporting, and ensure compliance with MCLE requirements.

    • Equity & Inclusion

  • Administer annual self-ID diversity survey, ABA Model Diversity Survey, and client D&I requests.
  • Serve on the Firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

    • Committees & External Engagement

  • Support and prepare for monthly Associate Development Committee meetings.
  • Participate in the US Law Firm Group Professional Development and Women's Committees.
  • Assist with various firmwide initiatives including Firm Weekend and ad hoc programs.

    • Administrative Oversight

  • Support the firm's professional development strategy through innovation and cross-department collaboration, particularly with client development.

    • Requirements

    Personal Characteristics & Competencies

  • Collaborative Leader - Builds trust and works seamlessly with lawyers, firm leadership, committees, and professional staff across offices including HR and Client Development.
  • Innovative Thinker - Brings fresh ideas to professional development, mentorship, and training delivery. Harness the power of AI to provide efficiency and customized action plans for associate development.
  • Detail-Oriented & Organized - Manages multiple projects and ensures flawless execution. Candidate should have strong analytical skills and be adept at using a variety of talent management platforms.
  • Strong Communicator - Skilled at engaging lawyers at all levels, tailoring messaging, and facilitating discussions.
  • Client-Focused Mindset - Prioritizes lawyer development that strengthens client service and firm reputation.
  • Discreet & Trusted - Maintains confidentiality while handling sensitive lawyer evaluation and career development matters.
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    Director Development • Houston, TX, United States

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