Senior Manager, Legal Recruiting & Strategic Growth

Job Summary

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

The Senior Manager, Legal Recruiting & Strategic Growth—Asset Management & Investment Funds (AMIF) & Key Practices is responsible for driving and advancing the firm’s recruiting strategy across the AMIF practice and other priority growth areas. Working closely with the Director, Legal Recruiting, Practice Area Leaders, Director, Practice Operations, and in collaboration with the Legal Recruiting team, this role operates at both strategic and executional levels to align recruiting efforts with firm growth objectives. This role will lead comprehensive recruiting strategy for the AMIF practice and other strategic growth areas, while also contributing to broader legal recruiting team transformation initiatives related to market intelligence, process optimization, and scalable recruiting models across the legal recruiting department.

This role will serve as a key point of contact for Asset Management & Investment Funds and other strategic growth practices, representing the firm in the market and partnering with stakeholders to deliver a high-touch, responsive, and effective recruiting experience. This individual will also play a central role in shaping effective recruiting approaches and enhancing candidate experience through cross-functional collaboration and the execution of high-impact hiring strategies.

Key Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

• Collaborate with the Director, Legal Recruiting in leading high-impact special projects, including: recruiting model innovation (e.g., pipeline acceleration strategies); development and implementation of scalable recruiting frameworks for practice-specific hiring strategies; stakeholder engagement models; and best practice playbooks that can be leveraged across the recruiting function
• Develop and execute recruiting strategies aligned with growth priorities for the Asset Management & Investment Funds and other key practices
• Lead and oversee recruiting efforts across lateral partner, lateral associate, and entry-level hiring for the Asset Management & Investment Funds practice, ensuring consistent execution and alignment with business needs
• Support development and apprenticeship of practice dedicated legal recruiters, including creating a talent development and training program to scale a practice-based recruiting strategy
• Represent the firm and the AMIF practice and other key growth areas to help articulate the firm’s value proposition, attract high-caliber talent, and foster a deep candidate pipeline through networking, targeted outreach and industry engagement
• Build strong relationships with key industry contacts, including search firm partners, professional associations, law schools and networking groups to enhance visibility into emerging talent pools and boost the firm’s brand
• Build and maintain robust market intelligence across AMIF and adjacent practices, including competitor activity, compensation trends, and talent movement
• Partner with the Practice Area Leaders, Director, Legal Recruiting and firm leadership to support onboarding and integration of lateral hires into the Asset Management & Investment Funds practice
• Collaborate across the Legal Recruiting team to ensure alignment and consistency in recruiting strategy and candidate experience
• Manage relationships with search firms, including communication, performance management, and fee negotiations
• Ensure a seamless and positive candidate experience, from initial contact through the interview process, onboarding, and integration
• Maintain strict confidentiality and process integrity in all aspects of legal recruiting

Key Relationships: Practice Area Leaders, Practice Group Coordinators, Director Legal Recruiting, Directors of Practice Operations, Legal Recruiting Team, Legal Search Consultants

Experience And Skills Required

• Minimum of 8+ years of legal recruiting experience, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment
• Demonstrated experience supporting strategic and high-growth practice areas
• Experience leveraging market intelligence and insights to inform recruiting strategy across lateral partner and/or lateral associate hiring
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities
• Possess excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and a solutions-oriented mindset
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-demand environment
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization
• High level of professionalism, responsiveness, and sound judgment
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work across teams and functions

Compensation Salary $200,000 - $300,000

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

About The Firm

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

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Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Benefits

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

• Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)
• Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge
• Dental Insurance
• Wellness Program
• Vision Insurance
• Pre-tax Commuting Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Sharing
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Short- and Long-term Disability Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)
• Health Advocacy Services
• Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)
• Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance
• Parental Leave (18 weeks of which 6 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)
• Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service
• Paid Holidays (12)
• Addiction Resources
• Family Building Benefits
• Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employees also may be eligible to receive bonuses and certain expense reimbursements
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development and CLE Credit Opportunities
• 529 Deductions
• Relocation
• Accident Insurance
• Employee Referral Program
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Programs
• Bereavement Leave
• All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment, and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR@klgates.com .