Director, Legal Recruitment

Dentons US LLP is currently recruiting for a Director, Legal Recruitment. This position will report to the Chief Operating Officer with dotted line responsibility to the Chief Executive Officer to ensure coordination, implementation and leadership of firm wide recruitment best practice, policy and procedures. Working closely with the US firm leadership team, the role will lead and develop the recruitment support structures and resources required to enhance the ability of the US region to attract and successfully recruit lateral partners in alignment with the firm’s strategy for growth. In addition, the role will take responsibility for the execution of all partner hiring in the US region from initial engagement through to offer management.

The position can be based in any of Dentons’ US offices, although there is a preference for the candidate to be located in New York and Washington, DC.

·       Define, develop and lead implementation of best practice, policy and procedure in relation to the recruitment of partners, laterals and summer associates enabling Dentons US  to execute on its overall growth strategy.

·       Execute and manage all legal recruitment including the summer associate program, contract attorney hiring, paralegal hiring and occasional intern hiring.

·       Work with US leadership, heads of practice areas to understand and fulfil recruitment requirements in accordance with approved recruitment policy and procedure.

·       Collaborate closely with multiple Firm departments including Conflicts, Finance, DEI, HR, and Clients and Markets as part of the recruitment process.

·       Manage and develop the recruitment team.

·       Develop budget requirements for all recruitment initiatives and manage expenditure.

·       Monitor current trends and innovations in partner, lateral and student strategic recruitment practices, across professional services organizations and beyond, make recommendations and implement new processes and policies as appropriate.

·       Act as a key advisor and provide strategic guidance to US leadership on all recruitment matters for the Firm.

·       Work closely with search firms in key geographic markets.

·       Work closely with the Diversity Equity and Inclusion team to ensure the recruitment process supports the firms DEI strategy and delivers against its ambition and targets.

·       Other duties as may be assigned to fully meet the requirements of the position.

·       Minimum of 10 years’ of significant experience in strategic recruitment leadership roles with a high level of hands-on partner and lateral recruitment within a sophisticated, multi-office professional services organization.

·       Legal experience preferred.

·       Experience with student recruiting preferred.

·       Strong relationships with outside search firms in key markets.

·       Significant partner recruitment expertise of best practice and innovation in the legal or wider professional services market.

·       Strong track record of designing, completing and advising partners and other stakeholders in relation to LPQs.

·       Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple partners, business leaders and other stakeholders with gravitas and confidence to challenge where necessary.

·       Outstanding interpersonal skills and demonstrated success collaborating and leading in a large organization.

·       Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with all levels in an organization.

·       Demonstrated success leading, managing and developing a team.

·       Responsive, analytical and a demonstrated understanding of business, particularly in a professional services organization.

·       High level of emotional intelligence and intellectual ability.

·       Consultative, proactive and service-oriented approach to all aspects of partner recruitment

Salary: NY and Washington DC only DOE:  $215k to $315k DOE