Director, Professional Resources

We are currently seeking a Director, Professional Services to join our team in our Toronto office.

More About Us

With over 120 lawyers, Hicks Morley is a leading law firm in Canada focusing on the representation of management in Human Resources Law and Advocacy. Labour and Employment Law is the foundation of the firm’s growth—the depth and scope of our expertise in Human Resources Law is the Hicks Morley advantage.

Hicks Morley is a rapidly growing firm; we have five offices in Ontario: the main office is located in Toronto, and regional offices located in Waterloo, London, Kingston, and Ottawa. We act for over 1,000 employers in the public and private sectors.

The Opportunity

The Director, Professional Resources spearheads, champions and drives strategic initiatives and programs aimed at fostering Associate recruitment, engagement, development, and retention of top talent within the Firm, across its five offices. The Director, Professional Resources will also have operational oversight for the Manager, Student Program, who oversees all aspects of the Student Program.  This position has a dual reporting line into the Executive Partner, Professional Resources and the Chief Operating Officer.

Essential Duties

Drive strong Associate Development Programs

  • In support of our firm’s Strategic Plan, lead a robust professional development skill-building curriculum to support the growth, development, and client service skills of our terrific team of Associates.
  • Manage and continue to enrich the Firm’s Associate Mentorship Program by enhancing support for Mentors and Mentees through clear role expectations, comprehensive training, appropriate  support systems, and metrics focused on enhancing engagement and fostering career satisfaction.
  • Oversee a strong business development curriculum in partnership with the Director of Business Development to support optimization of client service teams.
  • Invest in Personal Growth Plans to empower Associates in achieving professional development, realizing career objectives, and maximizing career satisfaction.
  • Champion lateral recruitment and enhanced integration processes; identifying and addressing business needs, increasing engagement and supporting lateral lawyer success.
  • Champion the Firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Policy and Strategic Roadmap, including working with the Executive Committee’s Professional Partner and Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee to further develop and continue implementation of the Firm’s DEI Strategic Roadmap and related initiatives and systems; 

Workflow Allocation

  • Manage and enhance the Associate work allocation process; capacity management, promoting equitable access to appropriate work opportunities, supporting Partners in service team creation and maintenance initiatives, and investing in Associate’s aspirations and career satisfaction.

Performance Management

  • Partner with practice leads on goal-setting, business planning support, practice group integrations and succession planning.
  • Provide coaching to practice leads and mentors on providing meaningful regular and ongoing feedback to the Associates.
  • Conduct regular check-in and review meetings with mentors and professional partners, providing valuable and timely feedback for Associates.
  • Manage performance evaluation process; providing an in depth analysis of evaluation results and stage of practice, completed professional development, billable hour submitted, type of cases worked and partner feedback.
  • Support the Executive Committee Professional Partner in facilitating the Year End bonus recommendation process.  

Qualifications

  • A law degree, with a minimum of five (5) years of experience.  Employment and Labour or Litigation experience would be an asset;
  • Proven track record of developing, communicating and delivering successful development programs;
  • Strong leadership, coaching and communication skills;
  • Demonstrated proficiency in concepts of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with experience being an asset in implementation of DEI action plans; and
  • Excellent knowledge of standard Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Required Skills

  • Excel in fostering motivation and influence, driving collaborative success across teams and initiatives;
  • Self-starter who understands how to motivate others and leads by example;
  • Ability to plan, organize and prioritize multiple projects, is accountable and goal-oriented.

Application

If you are interested in applying, please send your resume to:

Cathy Foti
Associate Director, Human Resources
cathy-foti@hicksmorley.com

We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Every firm has a culture, and ours is no exception. We work in the human resources area, so we are ‘people’ people. We have a very diverse client base, from manufacturers to social service agencies – and are passionate about understanding our clients, their businesses, and their needs.

Hicks Morley is an open and respectful workplace which fosters creativity, legal innovation and excellence in our clients’ interests. We are committed to recruiting and hiring the best candidates for all roles, and from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Upon request, Hicks Morley will provide suitable accommodations during the recruitment and hiring process to candidates with accessibility needs due to disability.